We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
MSE News: Avoid the blocked card holiday nightmare
Options
Former_MSE_Helen
Posts: 2,382 Forumite
"Many holidaymakers will soon be jetting off for the summer, find out if it's worth letting your card provider know..."
0
Comments
-
The bank having my normal mobile number won't help since I don't use it outside the UK. I've therefore registered a 070 number which I can redirect to several countries' mobile numbers for free, since it costs them 50p to call. Bonus - it costs them 50p to call my UK number as well0
-
I do exactly the same! I use Flextel who let me divert to almost any mobile number in the world at no cost to me, so I use local SIM cards rather than paying unreasonably high roaming charges. However, I do put a voicemail greeting on my UK mobile number giving callers my Flextel 070 number.The bank having my normal mobile number won't help since I don't use it outside the UK. I've therefore registered a 070 number which I can redirect to several countries' mobile numbers for free, since it costs them 50p to call. Bonus - it costs them 50p to call my UK number as well0 -
It may be worth adding that you it'd be worth taking note of a geographical number for your card provider, as sometimes 0845/0870 etc.. numbers don't work from abroad.0
-
I hope your voicemail warns them of the cost of calling your 070 number!!I do exactly the same! I use Flextel who let me divert to almost any mobile number in the world at no cost to me, so I use local SIM cards rather than paying unreasonably high roaming charges. However, I do put a voicemail greeting on my UK mobile number giving callers my Flextel 070 number.0 -
Why don't the card companies offer customers who have registered for online servicing a simple Web-based form for informing them that they will be travelling?
For frequent (and even for occasional) travellers, it's such a time-consuming pain having to call up two or three different companies before every trip...0 -
Barclays does exactly this. You can notify Barclays using online banking of the countries you will be visiting.Why don't the card companies offer customers who have registered for online servicing a simple Web-based form for informing them that they will be travelling?
Such a web form needs authentication (e.g. within online banking), otherwise a fraudster in the visited country could submit a notification.0 -
I noticed the 'MSE chart' says Barclaycard - makes little difference.
But on the Barclaycard website it says...
Before you go abroad, call us on 0844 811 9091
We'll implement proedures to reduce the chance that an overseas transacton will trigger a referral.
link...
http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/creditbuilder/fraud-guide/going-abroad/0 -
It's not just travelling abroad that's the issue. I've had my Santander debit card blocked on numerous occasions for suspected fraud....even when purchasing groceries in a shop in my own town that I've used hundreds of times!
The last time this happened I had to leave a bag of shopping and go home, wait 15 minutes in a queue for an operative in their Indian call centre who asked me lots of irrelevant questions before transferring me to a department in Spain who said they'd turn the block off. Back to the shop 30 minutes later to retrieve and pay for my shopping....my card was blocked again. Back home, another wait on the phone, another load of questions in India before being transferred to Spain. Was told the block hadn't been removed..but was now assured it was. Back to the shop - was third time lucky? Was it hell.....stopped again and AGAIN the block had not been removed.
I've also had it blocked at a petrol station where the attendant threatened to phone the police unless I paid (I only had my debit card on me and a few quid in change) before leaving.
I tell you when I didn't get it blocked though....when someone cloned the number and bought £500 of iTunes vouchers.“Don't do it! Stay away from your potential. You'll mess it up, it's potential, leave it. Anyway, it's like your bank balance - you always have a lot less than you think.”
― Dylan Moran0 -
I noticed the 'MSE chart' says Barclaycard - makes little difference.
But on the Barclaycard website it says...
Before you go abroad, call us on 0844 811 9091
We'll implement proedures to reduce the chance that an overseas transacton will trigger a referral.
link...
http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/creditbuilder/fraud-guide/going-abroad/
Ha ha! After reading your post, I have just rung Barclaycard only to be told that there is no need to tell them that I am going abroad.
Edit: If you want to hear for yourself, use this number 0800 917 7277. That way they won't profit out of providing misleading information on their website.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.6K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards