British travellers and holidaymakers are being warned by Apacs, not to confuse overseas credit card protection for travel insurance.

Mark Bowerman, spokesman for the UK payments association said, “Under the Consumer Credit Act (1974), travellers are protected when making purchases abroad using their credit cards, but customers should not confuse this with travel insurance. If you are concerned about travel insurance then you need to seek advice from your insurance or Credit Card Company.”

Bowerman goes on to say that it is advisable to make purchases abroad using ‘popular credit cards' as they offer better protection than cash, under the Consumer Credit Act against falsely described or faulty goods.

Figures recently released by Sainsbury's Travel Insurance Company, suggest that 18 per cent of holidaymakers in the UK booked a last minute deal for their summer break last year, but worryingly 19 per cent of these people did not take out a travel insurance policy.