UK payments association Apacs and the Association of British Travel Agents have offered joint advice for those using cards abroad.
The two groups have offered guidelines entitled Using Your Plastic Overseas which provide useful tips for domestic and business travellers.
Statistics released by Apacs suggest that there were 309 million overseas transactions carried out on UK-issued cards last year. Card purchases were reported to have accounted for 50 per cent of all overseas spending.
"As a nation we are all using our cards more frequently abroad so it pays to be aware of any extra costs that may be incurred for using them overseas, as well as taking steps to protect them from fraud," said Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs.
The groups have made the guidance available online on two websites. Topics covered include ways to reduce the risk of fraud and ensuring against loss or theft.
Debit cards are becoming increasingly popular with UK consumers, with recent Apacs statistics suggesting that the plastic option is replacing cheques across retail sectors.
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