Topic 3.6 Making Payments when Abroad when people travel to different countries they can pay by using, cash in the local currency, a debit card, a pre-paid travel card or travellers' cheques. Using Debit Cards Debit cards can be used in stores, hotels, restaurants, etc, that display the logo of the card company, such as Visa or MasterCard. The transactions will be made in the local currency and the provider will use an exchange rate to translate this amount into pounds. Cardholders may be charged a fee for using their debit cards abroad. Pre-Paid Travel cards These are plastic payment cards that can be loaded with money and then used to make payments in other countries, wherever sellers accept the brand. They can also be used to withdraw cash at ATM's. Pre-paid travel cards operate like an electronic purse and can be topped up with additional money. People can choose which currency to load onto their travel card and are not restricted to paying in this currency because the currency can be converted to the local currency at the point of sale. Travel cards are quick and easy to use, They are also a safe way of carrying money when travelling. If the card is lost or stolen the card can be blocked and the remaining balance refunded. Travellers' Cheques These are pre-printed cheques for set amounts of currency, such as 50, 100 or 500 US dollars. They can be used to pay in shops and hotels, for example, and can be exchanged at banks for local currency. Travellers’ cheques are easy to use, accepted by a wide range of sellers and safe. People usually need to show photographic identification when buying travellers’ cheques
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