using credit cards abroad for how long?

jackyskis

I know one has to inform the banks when one is going to use their credit card abroad and they ask for outward and return travel dates;

my son has a secondary card on my account and will be using it while abroad on his gap year; how will the banks feel about this and will they balk at me informing them that it may be used abroad for up to a year?

thanks for any feedback. Jackyskis

YorkshireBoy

You don't need to inform the provider beforehand if you (or any additional cardholder) intend using the card abroad.

If you do tell them they may put a note on the account, that could speed up proceedings if their detection systems pick up on it...but it won't necessarily stop the card being declined. For that reason your son should have secondary, and even tertiary, methods of payment available to him.

On the plus side, and being as you're the primary cardholder, at least you'll be immediately contactable (won't you?) in the UK should the card be declined/account blocked and they need to talk to you to unblock it.

chattychappy

I suppose you could take a precautionary approach and just tell them he needs to use the card overseas for a month. Then later phone again....

I used Nationwide Visa for 2 years continuously overseas without ever calling them and without ever having a transaction queried. When I got Abbey Zero and phoned them they were very clear I should tell them each time I changed country. I was on a business trip and was changing countries every 2 or 3 days - but they insisted they needed to know which country and which dates. So after about the 4th phone call, I didn't bother and still continued to use the card without a problem.

I just used the Post Office card in Europe - didn't bother to call them - and no problems either.

Perhaps you should re-post to say which bank you are with so that someone with experience of that particular bank can let you know their experience. I do think they vary.

Whatever, he should take at least a couple of cards. My experience has been that networks don't always connect up and people do have unexpected problems. I used to play host to a number of British travellers in asia and there isn't much logic to when problems occur. But in general I would say Nationwide gives the least trouble, and Barclaycard the most.

chattychappy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

You don't need to inform the provider beforehand if you (or any additional cardholder) intend using the card abroad.

Some do say in the "welcome" leaflet you should call them before intending to use the card overseas, though as you suggest it's not compulsory and seems to be advisory.

jackyskis

many thanks for the comments; it's a Nationwide credit card, which I traditionally use whenever I go abroad; he also has second cards on my Cahoot and Sainsburys credit card accounts, which I very rarely use. Lucky boy; also, lucky me that I actually trust him to not go mad and max out my cards AND to pay me back when he starts earning!

flutterbyuk25

I've always told Nationwide when I'm going abroad. Although that's mainly because i only ever use the card abroad and don't want them declining it thinking it's a fraudulant transaction!

I worked in America for 4 months last year and Nationwide were fine with that, they asked me to give them rough dates I was to be abroad that's all

x

Inactive

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

I've always told Nationwide when I'm going abroad. Although that's mainly because i only ever use the card abroad and don't want them declining it thinking it's a fraudulant transaction!

I also only use my Nationwide card abroad, I never tell them when I am going, I have never had a problem using it abroad.

I think that Nationwide know that they have many customers doing exactly the same thing.;)

moonrakerz

I think most of the card companies use an automated monitoring system based more on the other vagaries of the transaction rather than where it takes place.

I have had several calls from Barclaycard querying my spends in the UK where I have conducted several fairly small value transactions with the same vendor rather than a single one.
You are more likely to have a query on half a dozen transactions with a UK railway company in the same day than for a large bill for a meal in Hong Kong !
Have travelled all over the world and have never had a problem with my credit card - have never informed the card issuer that I was going anywhere.