MSE news: Going abroad? Avoid the blocked card holiday nightmare

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"If you’re going abroad soon ensure you take steps so you're not left stranded if your credit or debit card is declined.

This often means telling your bank or card company you are going away to prevent your card getting stopped ..."

Read the full story:
Going abroad? Avoid the blocked card holiday nightmare

Bob_the_Saver

Last winter in Goa everyone's cards seemed to be blocked even when they had informed their banks. People kept calling their banks who said there was no problem but they couldn't get cash. One provider's customers in particular were telling me they were having problems (can't remember which but they have branches Nationwide!).
One guy had repeated problems (he'd informed them before he went) told them he was going to ask the British Embassy for an emergency loan to get back to UK as he couldn't get any cash, then he was going around to his Solicitor to sue them before he went back to finish his holiday. The strange thing is that the card, on his account (£1000's in credit) started to work again about 5 mins later - strange that.
A prepaid card you can top-up via the internet (I use Fairfx) is a useful back-up
when they b****r you about.

nico26

My advice is go for cash during the morning because if the machines dont work you can get your passport and go into the bank and they will give you money.

Please dont rely on machines and for paying at restraunts with your card. Always have back up money on you.

I know its not always handy but getting stuck in a restraunt and not being able to pay is no fun either.

Singapore is bad for this as well.My hubby got stranded there as his flight got cancelled and couldnt get any money at all and the banks were closed.

From then on in I make sure we both have back up money on us.

pboae

I'm with the Co-Op and this causes me *so* much hassle. I ring them before I go away, give them the exact details of the holiday, which cards I will be taking, then phone back another day and double check they really have made a note and got the details right. Yet still they block our cards as soon as we get there, every single time.

Then the only way to get it sorted is to phone them, and sometimes they can unblock it straight away, sometimes it takes days, and other times you have to ring back during office hours and speak to the fraud department, it's a nightmare.

We went to Japan this year, and they blocked them from Day 1, after a lot of calls and hassle we got them unblocked, 12 hours later they were blocked again. Credit cards are not widely accepted in Japan, and making International calls from phone boxes is complicated (getting the right sort of pre paid card and the right sort of phone, and then finding one at the right time of day to catch UK office hours, then being kept on hold till your credit runs out, etc etc). So we were really stuck. We ended up running up over £30 of mobile phone bills in the end because we had completely run out of money.

I spoke to them when we got home and they were useless, and just said it's automated and gets referred to the fraud department, but that doesn't explain why it took more calls and a week long wait for the fraud department to do something about it.

On other occasions they have blocked them and then the fraud dept have phoned me at home. Obviously I'm not going to be there if I am on holiday, they have my mobile number, and the holiday details on my account, but they just don't seem to bother using the info.

I've been with the Co-op for years and I am really happy with them otherwise, but if they can't sort this out I am seriously considering changing banks. It just stresses me out so much.

roosterza

I always ring HSBC before travelling, to advise them of my departure and return dates, and as far as possible, try and tell them which cards I'll be using. On one occasion, I told them the date and time that I would be using my credit card abroad, to pick up my hire car.

Unfortunately, after that call, they hadn't made the note on my account that they promised they would, so they still blocked it.

I then had to ring them from abroad, and they released the card, but I demanded compensation for the call, and they conceded and offered me £10.
However, after 3 weeks I had to chase this, as they hadn't made a note of that either.

My advice is remember who you spoke to and on which dates, and if they mess it up, seek compensation for your time and phone calls (and keep a note of those conversations!).

Increasingly, banks are proving their lack of competence, and I've worked too hard for my money to let someone else muck about with it.

charlieboycat

Anyone any recent experience (good or bad) of using Egg Money abroad?

SES

I had a problem with Nationwide when visiting Vancouver who, after the original cash withdrawal, would not let me withdraw money. I rang them several times and they kept on saying there was no problem - except there was! I was able to use my debit card to pay for items in shops but not withdraw money. Eventually a kindly bank manager allowed me to withdraw money as I had my passport and didn't charge me the Visa charge (Canadians are very kind). I contacted Nationwide on my return and they were still unable to explain why I had a problem.

Forester

I was able to access my online account and transfer funds to a friends account to get by. and also had cash. HSBC refused to communicate online, and insisted on my phoning them at my cost, from a country without easy private and secure phones, e.g skype. I refused to do this as didn't want to broadcast my details in the middle of an internet cafe.

On return I was given £50 compensation on complaining. Unfortunately these banks havent a clue how hard it can be to communicate from such countries, which makes their process impossible to follow. I'll take a backup, cash loaded card in future and do not recommend using HSBC and I suspect the other big banks are the

Voyager2002

I have used Nationwide since 2001 and have almost never had any problems. Usually I don't bother to tell them about my travel plans. Countries where I have withdrawn cash include Ghana; Turkey; USA; Vietnam; India; China; Benin. However, my card did fail to work once in Vienna (Austria).

Recently I was unable to withdraw cash in Benin. I sent them a secure message and they said that my card had not been blocked, and perhaps there was a problem with the machine. The following day the same machine gave me money.

Voyager2002

I have used Nationwide since 2001 and have almost never had any problems. Usually I don't bother to tell them about my travel plans. Countries where I have withdrawn cash include Ghana; Turkey; USA; Vietnam; India; China; Benin. However, my card did fail to work once in Vienna (Austria).

Recently I was unable to withdraw cash in Benin. I sent them a secure message and they said that my card had not been blocked, and perhaps there was a problem with the machine. The following day the same machine gave me money.

patrick0

I had my card blocked by LTSB when in Thailand. This was a real issue for me as it meant being stuck with no money.

I spent a fortune calling their customer services centre who didn't have a clue. After about 10 calls I was eventually transferred to a department who were able to remove the block instantly.

I've had the same problem with a Santander credit card (ie. customer services were clueless).

It would be wonderful if MSE could compile a list of the phone number for each bank for getting cards unblocked. Calling banks when overseas on mobile roaming rates is an expensive business.