Help!!! I'm overseas and HSBC have disabled my card!

RedCanadaHat

Hi There,

i'm visiting canada this week and i recently went to the HSBC ATM to withdrawl some money and after several attempts the ATM has told me that my transaction has been denied and to contact my bank.

....I need your help here! I know i have money in my account but the only thing i can assume is they have cut me off because they think my card has been used by thieves...Its Sunday so i can't do anything at the moment but do you think if i went into the local HSBC branch where i'm at now (nova scotia) would they get in touch with my bank on my behalf and let me have my money??? Has anyone had this problem? Its very stressful time :-(

If the local hsbc bank can't help me do i just need to call the UK number (With what money i do not know) and just let them know i'm in Canada so they can make my card work again??

:-(

sturll

RedCanadaHat wrote: »

Hi There,

i'm visiting canada this week and i recently went to the HSBC ATM to withdrawl some money and after several attempts the ATM has told me that my transaction has been denied and to contact my bank.

....I need your help here! I know i have money in my account but the only thing i can assume is they have cut me off because they think my card has been used by thieves...Its Sunday so i can't do anything at the moment but do you think if i went into the local HSBC branch where i'm at now (nova scotia) would they get in touch with my bank on my behalf and let me have my money??? Has anyone had this problem? Its very stressful time :-(

If the local hsbc bank can't help me do i just need to call the UK number (With what money i do not know) and just let them know i'm in Canada so they can make my card work again??

:-(

Barclaycard do it to me every time i go abroad even though i inform them prior to travel. A 2 min call and its sorted.

nic_santorini

just to let you know, HSBC did this to me in Greece last year, it is because they think there is a fraudulent transaction or you have used a dodgy ATM that has a marker to shut down cards. Give them a call and explain and they should reactivate your account immediately, thats what they did with us - hope that helps

RedCanadaHat

^ i really hope that the branch here in NS will let me use their phone to call my branch in the UK! i also really hope a 2 mins call will sort it. otherwise i'm seriously screwed. thank you sturll

maryotuam

It happened to me a few years ago in Greece. Ring the bank, give them the phone number you are ringing from in case you get cut off or run out of money. My bank (the Coop) were great but it took 24 hours to get access to money. If you have access to the internet and can't reach them by phone, get in touch thast way.

Don't worry, this must happen to people quite often but hopefully you will be solvent in 24 hours time. You have a place to stay hopefully? If desperate (for food) go to a religious orgabisation with your passport and beg for a temporary (small) loan.
Good luck

dealsearcher

Indeed it is easier for fraudsters to take money with a cloaned card than for you take money out of your own account.

You are lucky if there is a branch of HSBC near where you are. When it happened to me in Italy with my Abbey card there were no branches of Abbey anywhere. I suggest you go into the branch of HSBC with photo ID and explain your problem to them. They should be able to help.

Normally you have to phone the bank in the UK or wait till you get home, relying on relatives or friends. Of course these things usually happen on a Sunday and, in my case, over the Christmas holidays!

RedCanadaHat

maryotuam wrote: »

It happened to me a few years ago in Greece. Ring the bank, give them the phone number you are ringing from in case you get cut off or run out of money. My bank (the Coop) were great but it took 24 hours to get access to money. If you have access to the internet and can't reach them by phone, get in touch thast way.

Don't worry, this must happen to people quite often but hopefully you will be solvent in 24 hours time. You have a place to stay hopefully? If desperate (for food) go to a religious orgabisation with your passport and beg for a temporary (small) loan.
Good luck

thanks/ i have access to internet banking but there doesnt seem to be a feature that lets me get in touch with them. all they have is phone numbers. i don't have any money to call them on a payphone so hopefully the hsbc branch can help me out on that front!

i really appreciate all the replies so far

NSSV05

Not sure if this helps but my bank card was declined in Canada a few times at ATMS a couple of weeks ago but I realised they didnt accept Visa.

All banks seemed to take different tyes of cards maybe worth trying a couple of other ATMS?

LeedsBurlesque

This happened to me in New York and I really panicked as I got paid the same day I went so panicked my money hadn't gone into my account! I then realised the bank had probably noticed a large transaction abroad and had cancelled it. I spent far longer than 2 minutes on the phone as got passed to two different people for security checks but got it sorted and was able to use it straightaway after. I suppose in one way its a good thing that they notice and stop your card but it is a hassle. Not looking forward to my phone bill though:eek:
I would advise anyone to tell your bank when you go abroad. I did this last year for a holiday and they put a note on my account. I forgot to do it this time which was own fault really.

M4RKM

*mumbles* always have money in pocket, as a spare, and take cash out abroad in advance. eg

ooh i have $100 left, i need to get some cash, yay i now have $400..

or ooh i have $100 left, i need to get some cash, oh, my bank have stopped my card... call them... still have $80 left, yay, my card now works..

i am rather organised though...

LeedsBurlesque

markymoo wrote: »

*mumbles* always have money in pocket, as a spare, and take cash out abroad in advance. eg

ooh i have $100 left, i need to get some cash, yay i now have $400..

or ooh i have $100 left, i need to get some cash, oh, my bank have stopped my card... call them... still have $80 left, yay, my card now works..

i am rather organised though...

I do carry spare cash and take enough with me, just I spent more than I had judged so had to get more out.