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Will My Card be Blocked Again?

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I need to fly to Australia this weekend (only booked today!).
When I went there 4 years ago,despite letting my card provider know I would be travelling,it was still "blocked" everytime I tried to make a purchase.(I can't remember,but I also may not have been able to use ATMs.)
Is there anything extra I need to do this time to avoid card being declined?
Wonder if I really need to take a great wadge of cash instead icon_eek.gif.
SPC #36 :staradminx 8.SPC7=£751.10 SPC8=£651.04 SPC9=£843.00 SPC10=£872.76
Pinecone £301,Valued Opinions £10.50





Comments

  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You never know. That's why you have to have at least two spare cards or, indeed, cash.

    Did you contact the provider after the card was repeatedly blocked 2-3 times?
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I need to fly to Australia this weekend (only booked today!).
    When I went there 4 years ago,despite letting my card provider know I would be travelling,it was still "blocked" everytime I tried to make a purchase.(I can't remember,but I also may not have been able to use ATMs.)
    Is there anything extra I need to do this time to avoid card being declined?
    Wonder if I really need to take a great wadge of cash instead icon_eek.gif.
    I would get some more cards with different banks and take them all.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • lynnejk
    lynnejk Posts: 5,732 Forumite
    Rampant Recycler Debt-free and Proud!
    Hiya


    Don't know which bank you are with but I have not had any problems last three years using my credit and debit cards abroad after informing the relevant banks. I always take three anyway.


    Suggest phoning the numbers on the cards tomorrow and telling them directly where and when you are going and returning rather than telling a minion in the branch.


    Could you maybe transfer some money into one of your family's accounts in Australia before you go ?? I know you will have to pay a fee but at least you will ensure some funds.


    Thomas Cook used to do an instant foreign money-card but I don't know if they still do. Might be worth having a look !!


    I would still take some cash, but obviously you don't want to take loads, and make sure you keep it in a pocket eh ;)


    Hope all goes as well as can in the circumstances
    Lx
    £10day.2014=3213/2015=3421/2016=3238/2017=2702/2018=498..APR=12.03/300
    GrocC.2014=2162/2015=2083/2016=218/2017=1996/2018=450..APR=17.13/200
    Bulk buy.......APR=233.76
    GC.NSD..2015=216/2016=213/2017=229/2018=39..APR=03/15
    SPC130:staradminx61..2014=1178/2015=1287/2016=4616/2017=3843
    OS WL= -2/8 ......CC =00......Savings = £13,140
  • eskbanker
    eskbanker Posts: 37,073 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    HappyMJ wrote: »
    I would get some more cards with different banks and take them all.
    Generally sound advice but not much use to OP leaving within a day or two!
  • Saver-upper
    Saver-upper Posts: 2,348 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thank you everyone.
    Sounds like it is just pot luck.
    I phoned my bank (Natwest) before travelling,despite this I was unable to pay about $1500 for internal flights and holiday for my family.Phoned Natwest and they couldn't understand why there was a problem.They couldn't see any problem at their end.Didn't do anything to help.
    I stopped using the card after a couple more failed attempts.'Twas getting embarrassing.I do have an account in Australia-might transfer some money into that and see if I have a card for it....
    Just remembered I opened a Halifax reward account last week.I wonder if that card will arrive before I go.
    Thank you for the couple of different suggestions lynnejk-going to try them all.I will also make sure notes don't work their way out of my pockets this time :eek:.Thank you for your wishes x
    SPC #36 :staradminx 8.SPC7=£751.10 SPC8=£651.04 SPC9=£843.00 SPC10=£872.76
    Pinecone £301,Valued Opinions £10.50





  • TheEffect
    TheEffect Posts: 2,293 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I travel quite often and have never had a card declined abroad. Some banks ask that you tell them where you're going (first direct, Lloyds), others (like Barclaycard) do not need to be told.

    I was in Spain a week or so ago and the card reader at a restaurant would not read any of my cards... I'm assuming that was their fault and not the banks. Luckily I was with someone who had cash.
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