Should you notify Credit card company?

[TheBlundells]

Only just got my Post Office credit card today, must read throught the bumf to find the number to ring them on! I only got it just in case we have an emergency...

The number is on the back of your card. Called them today and they wanted the details of when will be away etc.

 

[wayneg]

The number is on the back of your card. Called them today and they wanted the details of when will be away etc.

Just looked didn't know it was on the card, I got it from my statement.

Another thing for everyone to do is enter all the card emergency numbers into your phone(or write them down) When I got to Amsterdam airport couple of years ago I had lost my wallet with all my cards and all cash(£500-600) the police were useless, Your mind goes totally blank, what cards were in your wallet? I always take 5 or 6 CC incase I have problems with any, cancelling them all in a foreign country with no numbers is not easy. Disn't help it was bank holiday Sunday 5pm either, couldn't get money sent over.

 

[~Piglet~]

The thought has never occured to me that I should let my CC company know when I was away! I only have a Nationwide card at the mo, but will be applying for a PO card for next years trip. Thanks Wayne, i'll definitely keep the PO updated

 

[scousemouse09]

The number is on the back of your card. Called them today and they wanted the details of when will be away etc.

Ah, so it is! Thank you

 

[Mpet]

Another thing for everyone to do is enter all the card emergency numbers into your phone(or write them down)

I photocopy my cards and write the contact telephone numbers on the sheet of paper. As you say - it's easy to forget which cards you have taken with you

 

[TOONMADLAD]

Last year I was in Walmart buying a laptop when the credit card kept getting knocked back, luckily I had a phone card with me, telephoned the Halifax (3am UK time) to see what was going on, they told me that due to the amount it automaticly gets refused unless I had previously informed them that I was going to the USA, strange thing is earlier in the day I had bought $100 worth of food stores on the credit card, so if I had continued to keep purchases under $100 it would have still worked BUT thats the Halifax for you.

 

[Ware Bears]

I've always phoned to let them know, they've always asked for dates and details, even Nationwide.

 

[DISWolves]

Another thing for everyone to do is enter all the card emergency numbers into your phone(or write them down)

A good tip Wayne
Another thing that I do is scan most of my travels docs and mail them to my web email account. then I can access them anytime if I loose my duplicate paper copies

 

[stba2006]

We fell foul of this last year with Abbey. We only found out when we got to one of the Malls and my card was declined on a Saturday. When I phoned the 24 hour overseas help-line, I was told that there was no-one there that could help until Monday 9-5 UK time. I wasn't very happy , but I will always make sure i notify my card companies in future .

 

[Twilight Terror]

I made a point to call Lloyds and Marks and Spencer last year before I left. They both took the details, but both also told me there was no need to inform them! They would call me to confirm any foreign transactions anyway. Got the same answers when I went to Poland earlier this year too.

My mum just has the text system set up on her account, so she doesn't have to inform the bank of anything. Every time a foreign transaction goes through on her card, she gets sent a text message that says "a transaction of £##.## has just been made in WHATEVER COUNTRY. If you are not expecting this payment, please call us immediately!" <-- I like that system!

 

[Netty]

we always inform the cc company when we go away. we did have a problem though in kmart when the card was refused and we had to phone them, they said it was because of unusual activity on the card!! we had used the card-amex -3 times in a short space of time between walmart and kmart

 

[Mrdudecool]

We had major problems one year on a credit card of my dad's. I think it was a Tesco Finance one.

We went to the malls and there is 3 of us kids and we all wanted new clothes. So we went to all the popular ones, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle etc. So we made a few transactions then I go to purchase a few things in Aeropostale and this was about 3pm on a weekend. What happens, 9th transaction so the card is blocked. The shop had to call the bank to try and get it authorized which at 8pm on a weekend is a hard job to do. Finally, after 1hr it was authorized for $60 but if it was $6, $60 or $600 the transaction wouldn't have gone through. We had to call the UK the next day which cost £27 (got it back) to unblock and so they wouldn't do it again needless to say the person on the other end was not helpful at all.

Another year we were paying points and money for the hotel at OKW. We try to pay for it on the card, wouldn't go through and getting through to the UK at 3am in the morning is even a harder task. Used a different one and it went through.

In future now any credit cards we plan to use abroad, we tell them just to be on the safe side.

 

[Cinderella2006]

I work for a well known bank on the high street and we have lots of customers asking us the same questions.
Most banks will prefer you to call them prior to you going away. The reason for this is when you use your card abroad it can trigger a fraud security check which will put a block on your card until it is taken off. This can be very distressing whilst on holiday and embarrassing if you have no other way of payment. If your debit or credit card is declined whilst on holiday it would most likely be a fraud check but of course it could be lack of funds if you spend like me

This security check can be easily removed so no need to panic. Ring the number on the back of your card and make sure you tell them you are abroad. To prevent this happening i would suggest to ring your bank prior to this so they can put an amendment on your account.
If your bank does not have the technology to make this amendment e.g Lloyds tsb it would be worthwhile asking for the direct international number for the fraud department; this will save time waiting on the phone.

Hope this helped

 

[tigger137]

Strange really in this day and age when we are supposed to be so safety conscious, yet we are happy to tell a complete stranger on the phone when and where are going on holiday!!

Claire

My sentiments entirely!
I really don't like the idea that somewhere on a database would be the dates I will be away and where I'm travelling - the same database, of course, which contains my address.
Which is why my CC which says I should tell them loses my business when I'm overseas, and I use one which doesn't need this information.