Tourists making large purchases abroad have been advised to use their credit cards rather than debit cards by one industry expert.
Following a landmark ruling by the House of Lords in October 2007, consumers are protected under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 on overseas purchases using a credit card.
Backpacking travelers will often be required to carry out transactions in remote areas and according to a spokesperson for Apacs, using a credit card allows tourists to take advantage of this extra protection.
"If the transaction is between £100 and £30,000 then it is beneficial to use a credit card because you have that extra protection that you do not have with a debit card."
But he also warned that to avoid misrepresentation or breach of contract, "make sure to the best of your knowledge that it is a reputable company".
Meanwhile, citizens travelling within the EU can now take advantage of the Single Payments Scheme (SPS), where overseas payment charges no longer apply in participating Member States.
Book
hostels and budgets hotels worldwide with HostelBookers
