Luckily the days of having to call an international number to report a stolen or lost card are gone. In most cases you should be able to notify your bank through the mobile app your debit card has been lost or stolen and they will deactivate your debit card immediately to stop unauthorised spending.
The pros of using a debit card overseas is that they are very convenient as you can use them when you return to Australia to pay for everyday items like groceries and fuel. They are generally accepted in most places around the world especially if they are linked to Visa or Mastercard. The cons of using a debit card overseas is that they can get expensive if you choose one with foreign transaction fees, monthly fees and fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
The first thing to look for are no foreign transaction fees, these can be between 3-5%. Second, you need to look for a debit card that does not charge for overseas ATM withdrawals, as these can be $5 per transaction plus 3%. Therefore a cash withdrawal of $300 will withdraw $314 from your account. Third, you need to look for a debit card with no monthly fees or account keeping fees. Finally you need to choose a debit card with good security and is easy to transfer money into while you are travelling overseas.
You can use most Australian debit cards overseas, if you advise your bank you are travelling overseas in advance. In some cases you can not use your Australian debit card overseas, so it is best to check before you depart Australia.
A good travel debit card will save you lots of money and does not charge monthly or account keeping fees. It does not charge a foreign transaction fee or fees to withdraw cash from ATMs in Australia or abroad. It has good security and is easy to transfer funds into when overseas.
A travel card is better for currency exchange rates and a debit card is better for convenience. Both are equally good for security. A travel card has a cheaper currency exchange rate around 2% however a debit card is more expensive at around 4%. A debit card can be used in Australia once your travels are over and if you choose Macquarie, Up Bank, Citibank, HSBC or ING you will not pay for foreign transaction fees.
Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.