Easier way to handle overseas credit card payments

kokkolatjej · Post by **kokkolatjej** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:04 pm

Hello. Have a US credit card and live in Finland. So far I periodically transfer money into a US account to pay the bill. Aktia charges me 12€ each time, and I have to go there, wait in line, fill out the papers, etc. Anyone know an easier way until I am eligible for Finnish credit? I'm wondering about Paypal, or perhaps ringing my US bank each month and making the payments via phone with my Aktia Visa Electron. Would be grateful for help or directions to previous posts handling this question. (I looked but couldn't find one.) Cheers.

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automagic · Post by **automagic** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:53 pm

Hi OP,

I have a similar situation with you as well, even though my credit card is not based in the US. Nonetheless, what we did was we just use the regular international interbank transfer thru our account from Nordea online, to our foreign account. From there, we pay the credit card bill using the bank's online service. The charge by Nordea - 6,25€ and the destination bank only took about few Euros depending on the exchange. So in all, we are happy with the arrangement until we finally pay off the bills there

kokkolatjej · Post by **kokkolatjej** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:57 pm

Kiitos/Tack. I will check to see whether Aktia has the service you mention. Best, Penny

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:56 pm

12€ seems kind of high. I think Nordea is cheaper than that for those kind of payments. If I was you I would open an account in Nordea and apply for one of their MasterCards. I dunno if you have a job or any other stuff about you for that matter but why don't you try getting a Finnish CC?

kokkolatjej · Post by **kokkolatjej** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 4:21 pm

Thanks, seems it would be a good idea to look into Nordea. My husband is a die-hard Aktia devotee, so I automatically opened my account there.

cressers · Post by **cressers** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:54 pm

i pay my amex card direct. I need to do wire transfer to a transfer bank (Chase in this case) and it costs €6.50 - email their customer service, takes some perseverence, but its the cheapest and easiest way. Takes 3 days to post to credit card.

kokkolatjej · Post by **kokkolatjej** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:58 pm

Thanks. These are all good suggestions.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:34 pm

Is your mailing address on these accounts in Finland?

Funny, I can't remember how I handled statements and payments on American cards while I lived in Finland.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:42 pm

In your time it must have been carrier pigeons and pony express

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:26 am

jas_rho wrote:12€ seems kind of high. I think Nordea is cheaper than that for those kind of payments.

No, it is not if one insists in going to the bank in person and paying there:
https://www.nordea.fi/Personal%2bcustom ... 12722.html
Actually, based on their online price lists, Aktia charges 6.5€ for the online transfer while Nordea does it for 6.75€. Problem has nothing to do with the bank and everything to do with the method of payment.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:35 am

Rip wrote:
jas_rho wrote:12€ seems kind of high. I think Nordea is cheaper than that for those kind of payments.
No, it is not if one insists in going to the bank in person and paying there:
https://www.nordea.fi/Personal%2bcustom ... 12722.html
Actually, based on their online price lists, Aktia charges 6.5€ for the online transfer while Nordea does it for 6.75€. Problem has nothing to do with the bank and everything to do with the method of payment.

Oh that's interesting. I've never gone in to do it in person so I wouldn't have known that. I do as much of my banking things online as I can

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:06 am

The banks have a fee of bringing in sand onto their carpets, online banking is the way to go - though if things get complicated then you're pretty much on your own.

kokkolatjej · Post by **kokkolatjej** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:30 pm

Thanks, people. Am going to give it a whirl.

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