Creation Credit Card-Something Holiday Maker Should Know

The_Jester

Last month I travelled to South East Asia. I took out a Creation Credit Card as there were no charges for withdrawing from ATM's abroad. It was highlighted on this very same website as a good card for holiday makers.

I contacted Creation and informed them which countries I was visiting etc. So everything at my end was done....or so I thought.

About a week into my holiday I was refused money from an ATM. I contacted Creation (cost me £18 for the call but that's another story). Creation told me as I had made several withdrawals in the space of a week there were 'parameters' in place which automatically stopped any further withdrawals. They couldn't tell me what the parameters were.

I explained surely as I had informed Creation where I was travelling to and when this shouldn't have happened but the chap wasn't concerned.

I asked that surely now that I've called and let you know it was me making the withdrawals surely I can withdraw cash now? "Errr no" he replied "you'll have to leave it for a few days"!!!!!

It was a good job I brought a back up card so I used that and enjoyed the rest of my holiday. Some may not have a back up card and their holiday would have been ruined. Maybe best letting people know.

I'm not sure if all credit card company's are the same but Creation suck big time. What's the point of informing them before holiday if they'll stop your card anyway?????

bigadaj

Submit a complaint, you should get your call charges back at least.

Providers procedures are obviously not public as this would make fraud easier, however they should take responsibility for leaving you without easy access to credit and cash, might be soem compensation in it particularly as if you progress through to the regulator they may well be charged for the complaint.

At the end of the day you do need multiple forms of accessing cash and credit, and you had this so it court have been a lot worse.

eDicky

Are you sure the reason was not because of daily or weekly cash withdrawal limits? These may vary according to your credit limit, but some have reported a limit of £300 per day and £500 per week.

Biggles

Standard advice is always to take a backup card; I never travel abroad without at least three cards.

Something's always more likely to go wrong when travelling than at home and, when something does, the last thing I do is spend money phoning home, I just pocket the offending card and use another. Last time the problem was that the chip had developed a fault (prob from being in my back pocket). Not much good phoning home for that.

GingerBob_3

Don't forget also that if a particular company does cause you grief like this when travelling, close the account when you get back, tell them in no uncertain terms why you're doing so, and give them as much bad publicity as you can, as per the OP here.

Roger1

The_Jester wrote: »

... Creation suck big time.

Nonsense!

I've had no problms using my cards, but then I do use them as credit cards.

What's the point of informing them before holiday if they'll stop your card anyway?????

To let them know you'll be using it as a credit card (noting the other comments about cash limits)?

You did read the terms and conditions, didn't you?

FWIW they haven't stopped my cards.

meer53

People do lose or have their cards stolen whilst abroad. It would be pointless for a card issuer to allow ALL transactions to go through just because you told them you were in a particular country. Fraud checks still happen wherever you are, even if you've let them know.

Yawn

Roger1 wrote: »

Nonsense!

I've had no problms using my cards, but then I do use them as credit cards.To let them know you'll be using it as a credit card (noting the other comments about cash limits)?

You did read the terms and conditions, didn't you?

FWIW they haven't stopped my cards.

I haven't had any problems with them yet, though I've only used the card within Europe so far.

Have to say though that there customer service just feels more amateurish than that of the big banks, so not surprised that they can come across as insensitive...

eDicky

meer53 wrote: »

It would be pointless for a card issuer to allow ALL transactions to go through just because you told them you were in a particular country.

Why would it be pointless? What would alert for possible fraud if loss or theft has not been reported?

It's not clear why the OP's card was blocked.

The_Jester

Roger1 wrote: »

Nonsense!

I've had no problms using my cards, but then I do use them as credit cards.To let them know you'll be using it as a credit card (noting the other comments about cash limits)?

You did read the terms and conditions, didn't you?

FWIW they haven't stopped my cards.

Troll somewhere else

The_Jester

eDicky wrote: »

Why would it be pointless? What would alert for possible fraud if loss or theft has not been reported?

It's not clear why the OP's card was blocked.

I was well within my credit limit and I fully intended only to use from ATM's as this was the best option as I'm wary about carrying sizeable sums of cash with me. Plus the fact as it was advertised on this very site there were no charges for withdrawing cash from ATM's abroad. It was by far the most sensible option.

The reason they stopped the card was because they had said I had withdrawn money in an 'irregular pattern' although they couldn't tell me what this was and how to avoid it in future. From memory I think I had withdrawn about £600 in the first week. People do tend to spend a lot when they're on holiday.

I paid my card in full when I returned which I intended to do anyway.

I did have three cards with me. Two credit cards and my visa debit card which had plenty in it to cover the whole holiday. I just wanted to avoid paying to withdraw my own money.

I just thought others should know for future reference to always take back up cards.