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- Chase Freedom Foreign Transaction Fee
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a 3% foreign transaction fee, as does its cousin card, Chase Freedom Flex℠. This means the fee charged will be 3% of the total transaction amount. Transaction fees are charged in addition to the cost of the purchase that triggers the fee. So, if you had a $100 purchase with a 3% foreign transaction fee, the fee would be $3, and the total charge would be $100 + $3 = $103.
The foreign transaction fee applies to transactions made in currencies other than U.S. dollars. This fee also can occur if your transaction passes through a foreign bank.
These transactions can happen while you are physically outside of the U.S. and make a local credit card purchase. However, foreign transactions can also occur while you are within the United States. For example, an online purchase made in a foreign currency may be treated as a foreign transaction by the credit card company.
You can find out if a credit card charges a foreign transaction fee by checking the pricing and terms document in the cardholder agreement. The pricing and terms are typically provided in the same envelope as your physical card. You can also go to the credit card's website to find a link for the pricing and terms.
Foreign transaction fees will be listed in the "Fees" section, usually under "Transaction Fees." If you don't see a listing for the foreign transaction fee anywhere in the pricing and terms documentation, this typically means the card does not charge a foreign transaction fee.
Although 3% may not sound like a lot, it can certainly add up over the course of a trip abroad or with a few large purchases in other currencies. If you're on a tight $1,000 budget for your vacation, you don't want to waste $30 on unnecessary fees. Thankfully, it's easy to find rewards credit cards without foreign transaction fees.
Several other Chase credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, including many in its travel credit cards lineup.
Outside the Chase family, several no-annual-fee credit cards offer 0% foreign transaction fees. All Discover credit cards, for instance, charge no foreign transaction fees.
The Ascent's detailed credit card reviewChase Freedom Unlimited®
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The Ascent's detailed credit card reviewChase Freedom Flex
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About the Author
Brittney is a credit expert and card strategist whose advice has been featured by major publications and financial sites across the web. A spreadsheet and data obsessive, she believes most problems can be solved with the right research, and she specializes in translating complex topics to educate and empower readers.
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