Sending a credit card abroad

robonz

My Halifax credit card is due to expire at the end of this month. I am currently in Asia so I need it sent out here. It will be delivered to my home address, where I have someone who can send it on for me.

So my problem is how best to send it on and to where as I'm travelling around. I contacted DHL to see if I could have it delivered to one of their depots in a major city in Asia where I could pick it up. But they told me they don't do deliveries of credit cards! I was very surprised about that. Depending when it arrived I could try sending it first class recorded delivery but I might not have enough time and its still very risky sending that to a hotel somewhere. I don't know where else it could be sent to.

I actually requested a replacement card awhile back in order to get a new expiry date, perhaps in about 3 years time like I have done before with debit cards but it seems credit cards are different and my replacement card had the same soon to expire expiry date! I went into a Halifax branch and they told me I cannot get a new expiry date until the old one expires, which can only be sent to my home address. Forwarding it on was basically then my problem. Its not possible to expire the card early. So now I find myself in this predicament of needing to get my replacement card sent out with the risk of it being lost.

Any ideas anyone? I have other cards to use but they have high overseas withdrawal charges unlike my Halifax Clarity. I'm away until well into next year so I would rather not have to pay these additional charges with another card due to no longer have my Clarity card.

jollyme

When faced with a similar problem , one of having a card delivered abroad to family members the only reliable way is to have it hand delivered by a friend or reliable friend of friend who is travelling out. I have used normal mail with the card 'hidden' in folded A4 sheets to a PO box number - but cringed at the time - it did arrive but....
Most developing countries this is very risky. I would advise not declaring the contents as a credit card. I shall be watching this thread with interest,

robonz

If I get it soon enough, I believe it wont become active until the 1st Nov, so if its posted and doesn't arrive by then, I can cancel it but I still wont have the card and will have to get a replacement and try again.

As I travel a lot I've given a lot of thought to bank card security. I usually have one main card I use, currently the Clarity card as its the best value and the others are back ups. What would be useful for added security is the ability to login to my online accounts and put cards I don't use much in a dormant non-active state. i.e. the card can't be used by me or anyone else. In order to use it again I would then need to login and reactive it. With such as system my back up cards could be put into the non-active state until needed for added security and peace of mind. Also it would be nice if I could set other criteria online such as selecting which countries the cards can used in. I am quite a cash person so tend to use my card to withdraw cash from ATM's and online purchases. I tend not to use it in shops to buy stuff. Therefore I could provide this criteria online so as it can't be used at shops unless I changed that option, again adding more security.

I have also have as a back up and prepay FairFX card. I haven't activated it yet. No point until I need it. I can do that by my online account. It would be nice if I could then toggle it being active or non-active even if it needed say 24 hours between changing active status. It seems an unnecessary security risk having active cards that are rarely used being continually active.

marty2be2000

The card will typically run from the start of the month it was created in, so that you can use it as soon as you get it. I just got a replacement Debit card and it was valid from date was the start of September 2013, the previous card expired at the end of September 2013.

bigadaj

Could the OP report it as lost or stolen, advise the bank and get a new one issued and explain that he is abroad currently when they might deliver it? I think amex would do this but then they have local offices I guess.

reclusive46

bigadaj wrote: »

Could the OP report it as lost or stolen, advise the bank and get a new one issued and explain that he is abroad currently when they might deliver it? I think amex would do this but then they have local offices I guess.

He could call the local MasterCard number for the country he is in and say his card is damaged and needs an emergency replacement, although the card won't work at ATMs, only for purchases.

robonz

It doesn't seem right to have to report it stolen or damaged when its not. I don't think they would do that anyway. Anyhow, my card has just arrived at home but unfortunately the start date has already started so there is no safe period for it to be sent out and hopefully received before it came live as its already live. Damn you credit card companies. Hasn't any of them given some thought to how their card holders in a different country when their cards are due for renewal are going to receive their cards with no or minimal risk.

grumbler

Take a note of the CVV number on the back side, then destroy it, say, with a knife or a soldering iron. I think it'll be pretty safe to send the card after doing this. Stick it between two pieces of thin cardboard and added !!!!!! of paper in A5 envelope (to make it less obvious) and send by DHL without declaring that it's a card. I think they allow checking the progress of delivery online. If anything goes wrong report it stolen ASAP.

gt94sss2

You can either send the card via DHL but don't tell them its a credit card or see if the country you are in offers a Post restante service.

Regards
Sunil