Banco Santander Zero card declined abroad

kfsimpson

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

No worries - we all do so sometimes - makes us human!

I'm truly amazed that Abbey National's conversion was that long ago! As a pedant myself, I fully agree with being challenged, and am relieved that I didn't write 'Abbey National Building Society'. The branch where I went to complete the application and supply the proofs of ID etc was definitely still Abbey, as was the first card.
If you look at the BIC and IBAN codes on your Banco Santander statements they are still the ABBY ones. Annoyingly, both Abbey National and Halifax were among the few demutualisations on which I missed out.
Thanks both and keep up the pedantry!

ThinkingOutLoud_2

kfsimpson wrote: »

...Wish I could remember where I read that they are one of the banks who don't require customers to notify. ....

...Therefore I am now looking for a backup fee-free or low fee card. ...

Ok so the decline may not be a a flat no because you are abroad. The anti-fraud measure see even valid attempts decline from time to time. In the uK you might see a retailer willing to call the card company and then hand the phone over - but abroad they are going to say no give me cash ...

As regards a backup card or even card of choice - take a look at the prepaid cards you load with currency up front - I have one that gets me a great rate and I pay nothing for cash withdrawal or card transaction at point of sale. It does mean you need the cash up front - but as you can transfer balance left at the end of the holiday to another currency often including Sterling - it is not a burden unless you need credit.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards

joedenise

If you intend to travel to more than one country it's easiest to just phone them and tell them which countries. I have to do this when we go on holiday to Europe in the motorhome as never sure which countries we'll actually end up in! A lot depends on where the sun is shining, LOL!

Denise

Nebulous2

kfsimpson wrote: »

Unlike Nebulous2, I never use them at home, always using my cashback cards.

Fortunately my Nationwide select card is a cashback card!

I also got the fiver a month from Halifax as well - though that has stopped now.

Multi-country stuff is what discourages me from reporting. Two years ago I took a boat to Bilbao, spent some time in Spain, and then returned through Calais. I didn't know when I was crossing from Spain to France, dependent on several factors, including the weather, and notifying that was very difficult. I wasn't allowed an overlap or even to be in two countries on the same day. Last year I didn't bother and all was well, so I have got out of the habit of notifying them.

eskbanker

kfsimpson wrote: »

I have always believed, and am sure I have read somewhere in the past, that Banco Santander does not require customers to advise them in advance when travelling abroad

kfsimpson wrote: »

Wish I could remember where I read that they are one of the banks who don't require customers to notify.

The fact that you're not required to notify is covered at http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/credit-cards/credit-card-faqs

If you are travelling outside the EU, let us know so we can place a note on your account to say you are travelling. This is not a requirement, but may help if you are concerned about your card use while abroad. Please speak to us on 0800 9 123 123 to do this.

You don’t need to tell us when you are travelling in the EU. As the EU has a high coverage of Chip and PIN, we are able to identify you and will monitor for fraud in the same way as if you were using your card in the UK.

eDicky

I simply tell Halifax to have my Clarity card cleared for use in all countries, this can be done for a year at a time. Perhaps Santander accept something similar.

In the Halifax app it is also possible to to notify that you are in a certain country, perhaps where you unexpectedly find yourself, and within an hour or so it is cleared.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

eDicky wrote: »

I simply tell Halifax to have my Clarity card cleared for use in all countries, this can be done for a year at a time..

Of course the point of this is that if the card is stolen - they can block fraudulent use if the thieves take the card abroad or try to use online from another country.
You option means until you realise and get the card blocked...they can be used anywhere.

eDicky

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Of course the point of this is that if the card is stolen - they can block fraudulent use if the thieves take the card abroad or try to use online from another country.
You option means until you realise and get the card blocked...they can be used anywhere.

If you mean that I am defeating their fraud prevention to a certain extent, and taking on more responsibility myself for the security of my card, you are quite correct. However I don't think it will affect my being reimbursed if ever I do become a victim. For me, and perhaps for others whose movements tend to be uncertain, it's worth the flexibility. Last week I was able to hurriedly buy a ticket online with CopaAir in Panama using my Clarity, when my first attempt using Revolut blocked that card.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

eDicky wrote: »

If you mean that I am defeating their fraud prevention to a certain extent....

Agreed, you are not improving their antifraud measures.

chattychappy

I have also had Zero since it was branded Abbey. (Which means I've had it since 1964.)

I don't tell them in advance my travels. It has rarely blocked, but when it has I've called them to unblock it. They have then told me they are "noting" where I am - but this hasn't prevent subsequent blocks. I have also had cards blocked, but then after a few days they start working again.

I use Zero every month at the very least, in the past (before I had Clarity) weekly.

Overall my experience it this: telling a card company in advance of your travels makes no difference as to whether it will get blocked. However, if they do know you are travelling somewhere - either because it's a regular haunt or because you've told them, they may unblock a day or so later it without your having to call them.

Of course, I travel alot so perhaps I've got to the stage where they reckon any foreign transaction could have been made by me. In the case of Clarity, the first time it got blocked was when I used it to draw cash in the UK.

I always have backups, when outside the UK I take:

For cash:

• Clarity
• Zero
• Barclaycard as a backup

For purchases:

• Nationwide Select
• Post Office Mastercard
• Clarity as a backup
• Zero as a backup

For an extra emergency backup:

• MBNA - because it has a high limit (22K).

These are for trips of anything between 3 weeks and 3 months. Although I pack them, I don't carry all of them all of the time. Typically I keep 3 in my wallet, though it depends on location. (Eg I travel to Vietnam alot. There I will carry more cash, and typically just have 1 card with me.) The ones I'm not carrying generally stay locked up at the hotel, my flat etc.