what is an 'unusual' spending pattern ?

Incyder

Good afternoon viewers.

I, due to my self employed job, have not had a holiday in 10 years, or indeed I have not even left the small town I live in to go even 5 miles away in all that time. Really.

I use Lloyds, and my card use will show that I have not used the D/D facility in the last year and that all I do is draw out cash from the main Lloyds cashpoint in town.

So, I am thinking its about time to plan a trip.

I aim to take my tent up to Loch Ness in Scotland and have a good hunt about for the monster.
Whilst there, I will be wanting to use my card for cash withdrawals and maybe even direct debit purchases.

Do I need to inform Lloyds of my trip before I go?
I do not want my card being sucked into a cashpoint machine or a purchase being declined due to my temporary, but unusual, spending pattern and being 540 miles from home

Many thanks.

balmk

No harm in letting them know

LilacPixie

I think each bank closely guards their criteria so fraudsters don't use that info to scam more cards... If in doubt just tell them.

As an example Santander gave me a fraud automated call because I had dared use my debit card to pay for parking in a city centre car park in my home town (something that happens every month or 6 weeks) because the machine wouldn't take my 50p's. £2.70 parking charge triggered it

backinbusiness

Have you seen the weather forecast for the Highlands?

I'd wait a bit if I were you.

BiB (The Highlands)

jennifernil

It seems to vary a lot. Despite the fact we rarely use our debit cards for buying stuff, HBOS didn't bat an eyelid when someone paid almost £1500 by debit card from our main account for hotel rooms in the US!!

They did refund it within a couple of days......but even so!

For stuff in the UK, I would not bother, but then we rarely withdraw cash and mainly use CCs. Going abroad, we always tell the banks we will be using our cards in the relevant countries.

Incyder

backinbusiness wrote: »

Have you seen the weather forecast for the Highlands?

I'd wait a bit if I were you.

BiB (The Highlands)

I was thinking about may/june when the sun gets up to Scotland.:D

tanith

If I am going abroad I always just tell them not sure if I would if staying in the UK but can't do any harm..

moonrakerz

Incyder wrote: »

I was thinking about may/june when the sun gets up to Scotland.:D

.............and the midges !!!

izools

There won't be any issues using it in a cashpoint. Don't worry there.

If your card is declined at point of sale, simply call them, ask why, they will ask you some security questions, and un-block the card.

I rather embarrassingly was declined for a purchase in Burger King the other week (I hear you ask, what was more embarrassing, being seen in BK, or having your card declined?).

I called the bank, they asked me some questions, verified the attempted transaction and prior few were mine, all confirmed OK and card unblocked.

They say the purchase in BK was very unusual. Which is true.

I like my bank very much for this, they are looking out not only for my finances, but also my health and image :beer:

[Deleted User]

izools wrote: »

There won't be any issues using it in a cashpoint. Don't worry there.

If your card is declined at point of sale, simply call them, ask why, they will ask you some security questions, and un-block the card.

I rather embarrassingly was declined for a purchase in Burger King the other week (I hear you ask, what was more embarrassing, being seen in BK, or having your card declined?).

I called the bank, they asked me some questions, verified the attempted transaction and prior few were mine, all confirmed OK and card unblocked.

They say the purchase in BK was very unusual. Which is true.

I like my bank very much for this, they are looking out not only for my finances, but also my health and image :beer:

good thing for banks to do
had mine declined whilst setting up mobile banking :P

lilac_lady

You could start drawing some money from a local cash machine for a couple of months before you go on holiday. The bank will be used to cash withdrawls from your account by the time you really need them.