Beware: Tesco MasterCard Credit card not being accepted overseas

JonoTopMan

I have just returned from travelling to Rio in Brazil where upon checking into my hotel my credit card was not going through (I clear it every month, so my credit isn't a problem). Upon contacting my credit card Co (Tesco [MasterCard]) I was advised by Tesco that MasterCard are declining all transactions in Brazil due to fraud and have been doing so for 6months! This doesn't help me of course where I've had to find alternative means to pay my hotel bill but I wasn't able to use it anywhere e.g. even my Uber account failed. (btw the fact 'MasterCard are declining ALL transactions was not true, as I witnessed my friend using their John Lewis MasterCard credit card without problem).

Tesco have apologised but this didn't help me almost stranded some 5000 miles from home. Tescos helpline even says you don't need to tell them if you are going abroad. I'm furious and embarrassed, fortunately I had alternative means of payment but others may not be so fortuitous.

Tesco should advise their customers of this , how many other locations is this prevalent in?

So the moral is: Check your card will be accepted before you travel.

TheShape

JonoTopMan wrote: »

So the moral is: Check your card will be accepted before you travel.

And have another payment card/method of payment as a backup!

System

Wasn't Brazil one of the areas that their debit card numbers were being used fraudulently?

If so, and one would assume that it's not a top holiday location, means that it's probably easier for them just to decline largish transactions.

Ben8282

What I don't get here is if the transaction was initially declined presumably for a security check why Tesco did not then subsequently authorise the transaction after you had contacted them. They would have know it was for a hotel stay. They would know that the hotel had probably checked your ID etc. Very odd and unsatisfactory.

JonoTopMan

Ben8282 wrote: »

What I don't get here is if the transaction was initially declined presumably for a security check why Tesco did not then subsequently authorise the transaction after you had contacted them. They would have know it was for a hotel stay. They would know that the hotel had probably checked your ID etc. Very odd and unsatisfactory.

It wasn't declined for a security check (I would of understood that), it was declined as the Tesco operator told me as "MasterCard are declining ALL MasterCard transactions in Brazil atm due to high fraud, and have been doing so for 6 months"

This was NOT true as I witnessed my friends using their John Lewis MasterCard the next day without issue.

Even my Uber account failed and I had to make alternative arrangements.

Several calls to Tesco over the forthcoming week whilst still in Brazil fell on deaf ears, with the standard response being "we're looking into it, we appreciate you are overseas, but this can take up to EIGHT weeks to resolve" I'm back home now so fat load of good that was.

Candyapple

Why would you use a Tesco credit card abroad? It's not like it's a specialist travel card like Halifax Clarity or the Creation card.

I could never go abroad with just one credit card as form of payment. It's why it's often drummed into others on here the reasons why to always take a back-up card because you never know when you'll need it (or in the case of MSE'rs 3-4+ cards no doubt :rotfl:)

PeacefulWaters

Candyapple wrote: »

Why would you use a Tesco credit card abroad? It's not like it's a specialist travel card like Halifax Clarity or the Creation card.

I could never go abroad with just one credit card as form of payment. It's why it's often drummed into others on here the reasons why to always take a back-up card because you never know when you'll need it (or in the case of MSE'rs 3-4+ cards no doubt :rotfl:)

Only 3 or 4? I think I took eight with me to Malta last week!

JonoTopMan

Candyapple wrote: »

Why would you use a Tesco credit card abroad? It's not like it's a specialist travel card like Halifax Clarity or the Creation card.

I could never go abroad with just one credit card as form of payment. It's why it's often drummed into others on here the reasons why to always take a back-up card because you never know when you'll need it (or in the case of MSE'rs 3-4+ cards no doubt :rotfl:)

I guess I was just too loyal a customer expecting to be able to use my Tesco card overseas, after all I haven't had probs before. Lesson learned now, I know :T

I did have alternative cards [Debit] with me, so I wasn't 'stranded' as such, the purpose of the post is to warn fellow travellers about Tesco CC.

As for Halifax Clarity, I've applied for it now thanx

WillyWonga

Sounds like Tesco at fault and especially not the answer you want from a call centre whilst abroad. I always take one Visa and one MasterCard but sounds like it's an internal issue if other MasterCards were being accepted. Tesco was under RBS before it went alone as a bank in itself and maybe this newbie status is catching them out.