ABTA Release Credit Card Advice for Business Travellers

Thinking Money explains ABTA's Credit Card advice for Business Travellers and
announces that in a recession, protecting your business from credit card fraud
is more important than ever.

MANCHESTER, England, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- ThinkingMoney.org announces that
in a recession, protecting your business from credit card fraud is more
important than ever.

-- ABTA release advice to business travellers using credit cards abroad
-- APACS counts 17 million business card transactions made in 2007
-- Total value of business card transactions GBP2.23 billion
-- Simple steps can protect users from fraud and overcharging

-- MBNA offers tailor made business credit cards for frequent travellers

According to the UK payments association APACS, there were 17 million business
credit card transactions made abroad in 2007 with a total value GBP2.23
billion.

Small safety steps can spare users big issues
In ABTA's latest release, ABTA urge business credit card holders to maintain
up-to-date contact details, including a mobile telephone number. The card
company's 24-hour telephone number should be on hand at all times.

Thinking Money states the importance of awareness of any restrictions on where
a card may be used overseas and where it may not, although most major credit
card issuers will be usable and fully functional all over the world.

Also, business credit card users should check the card company's respective
fees and charges for overseas purchases and cash withdrawals. Typical charges
on business credit cards include foreign exchange rate commission fees, cash
withdrawal fees (typically 2%), card purchase fees and cash advance interest
fees.

Consider card's existing protection resources
Thinking Money points to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which states
that credit card purchases costing between GBP100 and GBP30,000 come with
extra protection if the goods are faulty or not delivered.

Card issuer facilities such as Verified By Visa, which provides a way to
password-protect your Credit Card when you use it on the internet, is offered
free with an MBNA business credit card. MBNA also offers full Payment
Protection coverage. Details of full coverage are available at
http://www.mbna.co.uk/business/mbnabusiness-secure.html.

Payment in local currency advisable
Thinking Money suggests that users check exchange rates charged for local
currency at the destination to calculate optimal means by which to get cash.
Users will take best advantage of favourable exchange rates by paying in the
local currency when using a business credit card.

MBNA leads the way in customer advice
Europe's largest credit card company offers a comprehensive list of security
tips on its website. Among the various safety precautions, MBNA makes an
appeal to its users to inform the card issuer of any trips abroad before
departure.

Thinking Money recommends checking receipts against card statements carefully
on return home and encourages the immediate reporting of any unfamiliar
transactions to the card issuer.

Business credit cards customised for travellers
Thinking Money advises credit card users who travel frequently to consider
tailor made card packages, such as the MBNA Business Credit Card offering
rewards with bmi.

On top of competitive fee-free introductory periods, the MBNA/bmi card awards
users with 20,000 destinations miles after the first purchase and one bmi
destinations mile for every GBP1 spent on card purchases. It also comes with
free worldwide annual travel insurance.

References:

Advice guide issued to keep consumers well-informed when using their cards
overseas (June 2009),
http://www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/advice_and_links/consumer_advice/
http://www.abta.com/
http://www.thinkingmoney.org
http://www.mbna.co.uk/business/
http://www.mbna.co.uk/business/business-cards.html
http://www.mbna.co.uk/security-tips.html
http://www.apacs.org.uk/resources_publications/key_facts.html
http://www.mbna.co.uk/business/mbnabusiness-secure.html

SOURCE Thinking Money

Mike Brains of Thinking Money, 0161 930 9000, mec.seo@gmail.com