Banco Santander Zero card declined abroad

PeacefulWaters

adindas wrote: »

I have both Santander Zero Debit and Creditcard. I travel to EU countries probably about 15 times a year. When I travel to EU countries I do not inform them anymore.

Once I traveled to Asia, I forgot to call them. I can not withdraw cash using my Santander Zero. Fortunately I have quite a few spare cards I could use.

Coming back in the UK when I called them to inform this they told me that I had to give them travel notice when traveling outside EU countries. Since then, I would not take a chance. Anytime I travel outside the EU countries I will let them know.

It is quite annoying and sort of waste of time waiting for your turn to be answered by an agent. I have not searched for this option but is there anywhere in Santander online banking where we could just send secure message for travel notice instead of calling ??

Somebody did post that Santander now have this enabled online. I'll let you search for it as I've not looked myself!

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Seems best not to make it up and do what they suggest...

Here you go from an FAQ there is no exact url for - so pasted relevant parts below...

"Before you travel abroad make sure your contact details, especially your mobile telephone number are up to date.

You can do this in three ways:

• Via Online Banking
• Call Santander -Debit and Credit cards - 0800 9 123 123. Lines open 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 9pm Sundays.
• Update your details in your local Branch

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.

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."

chattychappy

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Seems best not to make it up and do what they suggest...

Forgot to mention that most of my Zero transactions are in Asia, the last one being a few days ago in Taiwan.

It will certainly do no harm to "do what they suggest", but people should realise that this will not prevent blocks. It might reduce them, or it might not. It might mean that after a block, they will unblock without further intervention because somebody/an algorithm reviewing the account "sees the note". I've had a block after using a specific ATM only to phone through, been told it will be fine now, and for it block again on the same machine.

Also, I've realised that the block is often delayed. Ie after making the "suspicious" transaction, you maybe allowed a couple more (perhaps even back in the UK) before you find the card blocked.

We sometimes see threads from people moaning how they were "left stranded" or were "embarressed and humilated" when their card was rejected overseas. To some extent the marketing drives false expectations - cards are promoted for the purposes of travel and worldwide acceptance is boasted of. The reality is that the whole system depends on connections over different time zones and jurisdictions between different banks, networks and other organisations. You can suddenly pitch up miles away from home and the ATM/POS equipment has to get an answer in seconds as to whether to allow a transaction.

I'm amazed it works at all - and 95% of the time it does work for me. But backups are the answer... Whatever they tell you, you can't rely on cards working as they are supposed to.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

I agree.

Never rely on one solution.

Remember that if one are transaction attempt is not connecting to the UK for authorisation - other cards may have the same issue. I saw this in the USA for several hours no one from the UK seemed to be able to use any cards.

Anti fraud measures does not simply stop and unblock everything because you said you were in France.

There is an eye watering level of fraud they are trying to prevent. That won't go away. They rather avoid a grand of fraud than authorise.

But telling them does no harm.

eskbanker

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Seems best not to make it up and do what they suggest...

Here you go from an FAQ there is no exact url for - so pasted relevant parts below...

"Before you travel abroad make sure your contact details, especially your mobile telephone number are up to date.

You can do this in three ways:

• Via Online Banking
• Call Santander -Debit and Credit cards - 0800 9 123 123. Lines open 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 9pm Sundays.
• Update your details in your local Branch

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.

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."

Remarkable similarity to post #16 from the day before yesterday!

ThinkingOutLoud_2

eskbanker wrote: »

Remarkable similarity to post #16 from the day before yesterday!

True, but the subject was still being discussed and I like they had also missed the URL in the middle of your quotes. Prize for first place is yours