Italy - Clarity Card

jl45

It is viable to withdraw from a cash point using Clarity card at the airport in Rome? I'm wondering if mastercard cash points are easy to find in Rome...

How easy is it to get a card unblocked if it somehow becomes blocked whilst abroad?

grumbler

Reportedly, you can withdraw even in UK:
Getting USD/Euro fee free without a loaded exchange rate

For Roma see http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-services/atm-locator.html
(use 'View Results" menu under the map or, possibly, some more specific location).

What do you mean by 'blocked'?
You really don't want it to get PIN-blocked (locked?) abroad: Change debit card PIN abroad?

jl45

grumbler wrote: »

Reportedly, you can withdraw even in UK:
Getting USD/Euro fee free without a loaded exchange rate

For Roma see http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-services/atm-locator.html
(use 'View Results" menu under the map or, possibly, some more specific location).

What do you mean by 'blocked'?
You really don't want it to get PIN-blocked (locked?) abroad: Change debit card PIN abroad?

I mean sometimes credit card company block your card if they suspect fraud, i have read it happens sometimes even if you tell them you are going abroad. If this happens how do I go about getting it unblocked? I'm concerned about being left with no money.

YorkshireBoy

jl45 wrote: »

If this happens how do I go about getting it unblocked?

You call them from abroad, answer a few questions, and the card will be unblocked.

I'm concerned about being left with no money.

Why? You'll be taking other cards with you...won't you?

SnowTiger

jl45 wrote: »

I mean sometimes credit card company block your card if they suspect fraud, i have read it happens sometimes even if you tell them you are going abroad. If this happens how do I go about getting it unblocked? I'm concerned about being left with no money.

Coincidently, my Clarity card statement was produced today and contains the following advice:

Travelling Abroad

To use your credit card hassle free when you go abroad,
remember you can notify us before you travel. Adding a
travel flag will make us aware you're abroad and your
transactions are more likely to be approved. You can let us
know by contacting card services on 03459 444 555.

It's also a good idea to save our overseas number
+44 (0) 1733 573 189 on your mobile in case you need to
get in touch with us whilst you are abroad or would prefer not
to use the 0345 number.

Make sure you know your security details and that they're up to date so you can access customer support.

There are no guarantees that a card will work abroad or even in the UK.

Here in the Philippines my Clarity card has been rejected a few times for no obvious reason. I strongly believe it was due to a fault with the terminal or data connection.

PeacefulWaters

You can register your travel locations online with Halifax now.

Although it doesn't let me be in different countries on the same day!

chattychappy

I have long since stopped telling CCs about my travel plans. When I did, it didn't stop cards being blocked. Not telling them doesn't seem to cause cards to be blocked. Perhaps if you tell them in advance, after your card is auto-blocked maybe they will manually unblock it without your needing to phone them. Certainly I've found that blocked cards sometimes come back to life without the need for a phone call. I can only assume that somebody has reviewed the account and seen that my usage pattern is not abnormal.

I've used Clarity in France, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, UK. Never called them and so far pretty "block free". In most cases I withdraw the maximum allowed in one go (£500 worth).

Similar list for Santander Zero which I've had for much longer. It has gone through spells of getting itself blocked in particular locations. In these situations a phone call has sometimes unblocked the card only for it to immediately get blocked again next time around.