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4 July 2025
How Curve Pay Simplifies Spending Abroad

How Curve Pay Simplifies Spending Abroad

Travelling abroad is exciting—but foreign transaction costs, unfavourable exchange rates, and confusing card statements can quickly spoil the experience. Whether you're hunting for inspiration on holiday or representing your business overseas, managing money abroad shouldn’t be more complicated than at home.

Curve Pay simplifies your spending abroad by giving you one wallet that works seamlessly across the EEA and UK, better exchange rates, and smarter control wherever you go.

The Problem: Spending Abroad Is More Expensive Than It Should Be

Many banks apply foreign transaction surcharges—around 2.75%–3%—to non-GBP purchases. That’s about £27.50 for every £1,000 spent abroad. On top of that, their exchange rates may include hidden mark‑ups from the interbank rate. If you use a debit card, you often lose out on consumer protections and customer support.

These issues can quietly add hundreds to your holiday or work trip—often without realising until you check your statement after returning home.

How Curve Pay Works Abroad—And Why It Matters

When you use Curve Pay abroad, you get a smarter, more controlled experience:

1. Better Exchange Rates

Curve Pay uses the Mastercard wholesale exchange rate, which closely reflects the true interbank rate. That means no hidden mark‑ups—just the currency conversion you expect.

2. Avoid Foreign Transaction Surcharges

When you pay in euros, dollars, or any other global currency, Curve Pay routes the transaction to your underlying card—avoiding the typical 2.75% surcharge often applied by your bank.

3. Earn 1% Cashback Outside the UK and EEA

With Curve Pay, you’re not just avoiding fees—you’re getting rewarded.
Spend outside the UK and EEA, and you'll receive 1% cashback on eligible purchases.
That means:

  • Save on costs

  • Get rewarded for travelling

  • Earn while you explore

Cashback is paid directly to your Curve Cash card and can be spent instantly.

4. Universal Card Support

You can link Visa, Mastercard, and Diners debit or credit cards from any UK or EEA bank, including both personal and business cards. Curve Pay works with all of them—giving you consistent control, wherever your cards are from or what currency you’re spending in.

Go Back in Time® — Optimise After You Spend

Bought something abroad and later wished you'd used a different card? Maybe you wanted the insurance benefits or better rewards. No problem.

With Go Back in Time®, you can:

  • Reassign that card payment to a different underlying card—up to 120 days later

  • Optimise your rewards and protections after the transaction

  • Cleanly fix travel expenses or business spending mistakes

It’s a post-trip financial safeguard and optimisation tool rolled into one.

Section 75 Protection Abroad — Even on Debit Cards

When you spend over £100 on travel or holiday bookings, Curve Pay gives you credit‑card‑level protection via Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act—even if you're using an underlying debit card.

That means if something goes wrong—like faulty goods or services not delivered—you have legal recourse through your card issuer, giving your purchases extra peace of mind.

One Wallet, One App, Real Assurance Abroad

With Curve Pay while travelling, you get:

  • One digital wallet for all your cards

  • One app to manage spending and card settings

  • Instant transaction alerts and clear exchange rate information

  • One-tap freeze/unfreeze for all cards if your phone or wallet is lost

No need to top up, carry separate travel cards, or worry about payments being declined. Curve Pay just works—wherever you are.

Updated Comparison Table: Curve Pay vs Bank Cards Abroad

Feature

Traditional UK/EEA Bank Card

Curve Pay

Foreign transaction surcharge

2.75% typical surcharge

Avoids surcharge via routing

Exchange rate mark-up

Often hidden

Mastercard wholesale rate

Card acceptance abroad

✅

✅

Freeze all cards quickly

❌ Individual card only

✅ One-tap wallet freeze

Reassign transactions post-trip

❌ Not possible

✅ Go Back in Time®

Section 75 protection on debit

❌ Not available

✅ Available via Curve credit layer

Cashback abroad

❌ Rare or card-specific

✅ 1% outside UK/EEA on eligible spend

TL;DR — Travel Spending Made Smarter with Curve Pay

  • Get access to fairer exchange rates abroad

  • Avoid standard foreign surcharges on your cards

  • Earn 1% cashback on spend outside the UK and EEA

  • Use any Visa, Mastercard, or Diners card from the UK or EEA

  • Reassign payments after the trip with Go Back in Time®

  • Benefit from credit card protection, even on debit

  • Manage everything in one app, with control and clarity

All your cards. None of the compromise. More value abroad.

Read more about Curve Pay plans.

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