Will My Card be Blocked Again?

Saver-upper

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 .

grumbler

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

Saver-upper wrote: »

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 .

I would get some more cards with different banks and take them all.

lynnejk

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

eskbanker

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

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

TheEffect

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.