Telling your bank/credit card co. that your are travelling abroad...

peachyprice

meer53 wrote: »

Why did you have to wait several days for it to be unblocked ? Usually a phone call is all thats needed to unblock it, or an email.

I have no idea why it took several days, perhaps because Barclays are pants? I wasn't going to waste more money on phone calls finding out, and wasn't going to waste holiday time searching for somewhere to access emails. I just used other cards until that one was unblocked.

peachyprice

The_Road_Warrior wrote: »

Are the reported 'declines' in reality due to a lack of funds, I wonder?

Absolutely not :rotfl:

Gloomendoom

peachyprice wrote: »

I have no idea why it took several days, perhaps because Barclays are pants?

I've been using Barclaycards and Barclays debit cards when working or holidaying abroad for over 30 years and I've never had any blocked yet.

Mind you, I've always let them know when and where I am travelling before I leave.

Bella_b

I've had an account with HSBC for many years and have been on several trips in Europe during this time.. to France, Spain, Italy, Greece.. I've never told them and have never had a problem at all.

Bob_the_Saver

Bella_b wrote: »

I've had an account with HSBC for many years and have been on several trips in Europe during this time.. to France, Spain, Italy, Greece.. I've never told them and have never had a problem at all.

I think it's less of a problem just in Europe

Gloomendoom

Bella_b wrote: »

I've had an account with HSBC for many years and have been on several trips in Europe during this time.. to France, Spain, Italy, Greece.. I've never told them and have never had a problem at all.

HSBC are another bank that likes to know your travel plans. Not telling them just increases the risk that your card may be blocked or used fraudulently. It doesn't make it a certainty.

Doshwaster

Bella_b wrote: »

I've had an account with HSBC for many years and have been on several trips in Europe during this time.. to France, Spain, Italy, Greece.. I've never told them and have never had a problem at all.

The trouble is that you can go for years without a problem - but as soon as you have one, it's a big problem. In over 10 years of regular overseas travel I had never had a problem - and then it happened and you find yourself in a foreign country without any access to money.

So, I would recommend
1) Tell you bank. It may not guarantee no problems but it will reduce the risk. HSBC do allow you to notify them of travel plans via online banking.
2) Have a backup plan with a card from another bank for emergencies.

Gloomendoom

Doshwaster wrote: »

The trouble is that you can go for years without a problem - but as soon as you have one, it's a big problem. In over 10 years of regular overseas travel I had never had a problem - and then it happened and you find yourself in a foreign country without any access to money.

So, I would recommend
1) Tell you bank. It may not guarantee no problems but it will reduce the risk. HSBC do allow you to notify them of travel plans via online banking.
2) Have a backup plan with a card from another bank for emergencies.

Yup. It happened to us on the second day of our honeymoon in the US with one of the 'good' overseas use cards. An ATM ate it and refused to give it back. Luckily my trusty Barclaycard and Barclays debit cards came to the rescue.

pimento

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Yup. It happened to us on the second day of our honeymoon in the US with one of the 'good' overseas use cards. An ATM ate it and refused to give it back. Luckily my trusty Barclaycard and Barclays debit cards came to the rescue.

This is my nightmare. When I asked First Direct (my bank) about this scenario she said it would take 10 days to get a replacement card to me (I'll be in New Zealand) but that they could arrange for me to draw cash out at a bank.

That's not much good really.

I decided that I won't put the card into an ATM and will get cash back when I buy food in supermarkets.

Backbiter

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I've been using Barclaycards and Barclays debit cards when working or holidaying abroad for over 30 years and I've never had any blocked yet.

Mind you, I've always let them know when and where I am travelling before I leave.

I rang them to say I'd be using my card in Germany last week and they told me it's no longer necessary to tell them you're going abroad. I used the card with no problems at all.