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

duchy

NatWest block my card on a regular but unpredictable basis when I'm in the US. They have told me there's no point in telling them when I'm going away !! Sometimes it's the first transaction -sometimes not for several days and once in a while not at all. I've never managed to identify a pattern. Unblocking is one quick phonecall and done straight away.

Last year I spotted a transaction for an eating place in Las Vegas (three months after my visit to the city- I've never eaten at this resturant) -I called -explained it wasn't mine and they removed the transaction -cancelled my card -and told me that was the end of the matter. Over the weekend more transactions from Vegas appeared. I had to call to get them removed -but this time it wasn't imediate and in the end I raised a complaint. I was gobsmacked to discover in their apology letter that they had "forgotten" to cancel the card when I reported the first transaction.

Chomeur

Had my Halifax credit card blocked while in Kenya earlier this year. It seems they do want you to notify them and you can call them, although it's quicker and easier to write to them and avoid their phone queuing system. Nationwide have a system on their website where you can notify them for the purposes of your debit card.

Would be good if there could be a summary of different card issuers' requirements in regard to going abroad at the beginning of this post. Could that be done?

Neil49

I recently got a Halifax Clarity card and when speaking to them to activate the card they asked if I was going abroad as they do require such information.

My statement from them also clearly stated that you should contact them by phone prior to using it abroad as they require locations and travel dates.