Say no to Nationwide cards for travel

macro_duck

I take a Nationwide debit and credit card with me for use on all holidays abroad. If one was lost or stolen I have other cards which I can use which I keep separately. I would not expect Nationwide to post a new card to me whilst abroad. I also have to use a card reader to transfer money between accounts but am happy to do so as it is for my own security.

Have found their card service abroad to be very good and have saved a lot of money avoiding the fees that I used to pay with my Abbey card.

rose28454

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

I say this time and time again, the Caxton card is the best travel card.

Better than Natwest, better than FairFx and better even than Amex.

my daughter who is travelling in Thailand got a Caxton Global card as recommended on here. She had been sold a STA travel card but the fees were high. However as she had the STA card she has taken it together with her Lloyds card as back up.

bagand96

I would close all my accounts with any bank that would send a new debit card to anywhere in the world!

How would they verify that 1) The report of it being stolen was genuine; and 2) When they deliver to some hotel thousands of miles away, it was actually me the card was going to?

There is a reason banks will only ever send a card to the address you are notified as living at, or a local branch where you can pick it up with ID.

Mr_Lahey

bagand96 wrote: »

I would close all my accounts with any bank that would send a new debit card to anywhere in the world!

How would they verify that 1) The report of it being stolen was genuine; and 2) When they deliver to some hotel thousands of miles away, it was actually me the card was going to?

There is a reason banks will only ever send a card to the address you are notified as living at, or a local branch where you can pick it up with ID.

Stop being such a drama queen.

When you get the new card is it that difficult to have to activate it by giving personal details etc over the phone.

You go abroad and lose your cards what are you going to do? Hitch hike home? Not me, ill have mine replaced thanks.

bagand96

Stop being such a drama queen.

Pardon me? I wasn't being a drama queen?

Nationwide are not alone in only sending debit cards to your registered address or a branch, due to the obvious security implications. And personally, with my bank account, I would be concerned if they are happy to replace cards anywhere in the world. I only stated my opinion. Sorry if it was too dramatic for you.

Credit cards are a different matter due to the extra protections they have. If I lost my cards abroad I would have options, I always carry 2 credit cards, one of which would be kept separate from the other cards, I also have suitable travel insurance. However what I would do is not the point.

Mr_Lahey

bagand96 wrote: »

Pardon me? I wasn't being a drama queen?

Nationwide are not alone in only sending debit cards to your registered address or a branch, due to the obvious security implications. And personally, with my bank account, I would be concerned if they are happy to replace cards anywhere in the world.

Credit cards are a different matter due to the extra protections they have. If I lost my cards abroad I would have options, I always carry 2 credit cards, one of which would be kept separate from the other cards, I also have suitable travel insurance. However what I would do is not the point.

Closing all your accounts if your bank sent cards to you abroad is being a drama queen.

But explain to me, why is sending a card to your address that doesn't need to be activated ok. But sending one to an address abroad that does need to be activated a safety concern?

Donnie

To be fair when Nationwide erroneously 'suspended' one of my cards when I was on holiday. After a mild earbashing by my partner they had an 'emergency' Gold card couriered to my via Singapore.
So it can be done in the right circumstances.

dickydonkin

Perhaps if you didn't lose your card in the first place?

I understand from the post that the cards were 'stolen' - not lost. So everyone who is being critical of the OP has never had anything stolen?

Although I am sure that many customers of Nationwide are happy with their service, I have had dreadful experiences witrh them. One particular incident with their credit card nearly left me stranded in the Far East.

Due to their abysmal customer and general services, I also became a 'Drama Queen' and closed all of my accounts with the bank that is 'proud to be different'.

Why should a bank/BS be any different from any other retailer or service provider? You get crap service or products - you take your custom elsewhere!

It is likely that generally The Nationwide is now just as bad as all of the other financial institutions and you have to go with the bank/BS that will give you less grief than the others.

Have found their card service abroad to be very good and have saved a lot of money avoiding the fees that I used to pay with my Abbey card.

But out of the Euro zone, Nationwide still load a currency transaction fee - Abbey/Santander Zero cards do not.

photome

dpassmore wrote: »

I understand from the post that the cards were 'stolen' - not lost. So everyone who is being critical of the OP has never had anything stolen?

Although I am sure that many customers of Nationwide are happy with their service, I have had dreadful experiences witrh them. One particular incident with their credit card nearly left me stranded in the Far East.

Due to their abysmal customer and general services, I also became a 'Drama Queen' and closed all of my accounts with the bank that is 'proud to be different'.

Why should a bank/BS be any different from any other retailer or service provider? You get crap service or products - you take your custom elsewhere!

It is likely that generally The Nationwide is now just as bad as all of the other financial institutions and you have to go with the bank/BS that will give you less grief than the others.



But out of the Euro zone, Nationwide still load a currency transaction fee - Abbey/Santander Zero cards do not.

Dont you have to be a mortgage customer with them to get it though

Tojo_Ralph

dpassmore wrote: »

Although I am sure that many customers of Nationwide are happy with their service, I have had dreadful experiences with them. One particular incident with their credit card nearly left me stranded in the Far East.

It goes without saying that if the potential consequences of the loss of or inability to use a single credit/debit card were to be stranded overseas, then the trip planner needs to shoulder a sizeable amount of the responsibility for not having ensured alternate payment/funding options were available.


Personally, all I can say about the Nationwide debit and credit card is that I wish everything in life were as reliable as those two pieces of plastic. I have had both for a number of years now, have used both on six of the seven continents and have yet to have any issues whatsoever.

Needless to say I appreciate that I could save a few sheckles by switching to the latest deal cards, however call me old fashioned but I believe in service and I reward good service with my custom, which is exactly why I stick with the Nationwide cards for personal spend overseas and recommend them to family and friends.