Best card for not getting blocked

eco_warrior

gordon_k wrote: »

I'm going to be abroad later this year, somewhere I won't have access to a mobile phone.

In general I'll be using currency, but I also want a card with me for emergencies.

Wondering what is the best credit or debit card to have for not getting blocked? I.e. a provider whose security systems aren't on a hair trigger and/or who'll let me warn them in advance I'm gonna be in country X, don't block my card.

At the moment I have a Nationwide VISA Debit and a Lloyds Mastercard Credit - but both of them have taken the route of "Good news - you don't have to tell us any more when you're going abroad." Which I'm reading as "No point in trying to tell us, because our systems will ignore your information and block you anyway."

Any suggestions?

I know some banks encourage the customer to advise them of travel plans but I wouldn't think it would guarantee anything. If you happen to be using your card in what's deemed a high risk area (and this would be dependent the current levels of fraud being reported to the bank at the time) then your card would be stopped regardless.


I also think if a card/bank was less likely to block cards then they would be targeted by fraudsters for that very reason.


Been a while since I worked in fraud but it wasn't uncommon for a customer to go abroad and use their card for a while before it was stopped. They would then contact us to get it unblocked and their card had actually been skimmed whilst they were on holiday.

Blocks are a pain but a necessary one.