Having my Santander VISA card sent to me abroad

Peggy23

I've been out of the UK since March 2020 because of the Covid restrictions in the UK. I realised that my Santander visa card would expire at the end of June. Called Santander and told by their rep to complete the change of address form, send a copy of my passport and a covering letter explaining it's a temporary change because of the situation. I sent these to my daughter in the UK who posted them on 11 June 2021.Santander said they hadn't received them so she took a copy into the branch who said they'd fax them through and get it expedited quickly.After many phone calls I've now been told they've sent a letter (to the UK address - very clever when I'm not in the UK) saying they need proof of my overseas address. It's not like the UK here, there is nothing with my name and address on. My visa card was my lifeline, I used it to withdraw cash (which is needed to pay for many things here) and to pay in shops.Now I've no card and no way of getting my money. Santander really don't care that I'm stuck in a country with no money and no way of accessing my money. Anyone any ideas?

colsten

Not that it helps you but thank you for posting this tale. It should serve as yet another warning to people to never rely on a single method of payment, particularly if they go abroad.

General_Grant

Peggy23 said:

I've been out of the UK since March 2020 because of the Covid restrictions in the UK. I realised that my Santander visa card would expire at the end of June. Called Santander and told by their rep to complete the change of address form, send a copy of my passport and a covering letter explaining it's a temporary change because of the situation. I sent these to my daughter in the UK who posted them on 11 June 2021.Santander said they hadn't received them so she took a copy into the branch who said they'd fax them through and get it expedited quickly.After many phone calls I've now been told they've sent a letter (to the UK address - very clever when I'm not in the UK) saying they need proof of my overseas address. It's not like the UK here, there is nothing with my name and address on. My visa card was my lifeline, I used it to withdraw cash (which is needed to pay for many things here) and to pay in shops.Now I've no card and no way of getting my money. Santander really don't care that I'm stuck in a country with no money and no way of accessing my money. Anyone any ideas?

Is that a credit card?  I hope not if you were using it to withdraw cash.

If it is a debit card then can you not access your account online and transfer funds to your daughter who sends you money via Western Union? 

PRAISETHESUN

Worst case scenario could you request a replacement card to your UK address and then have your daughter mail it to you overseas? I'd also start looking into backup options for how you avoid this problem again in future - I agree that you shouldn't have a single point of failure like this.

Thrugelmir

Peggy23 said:

I've been out of the UK since March 2020 

Is the UK still your permanent place of residence or have you retired abroad?  

Peggy23

It's still my place of residence, I've asked for a temporary change of address until I can get back to the UK.

george9071

I agree with @General_Grant , if you have online banking then follow the steps PP has mentioned above.

molerat

george9071 said:

I agree with @General_Grant , if you have online banking then follow the steps PP has mentioned above.

I wonder if they will hit a problem doing that.  OP's other post  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6282698/regulatory-docementation-requested-by-santander#latest

callum9999

General_Grant said:

Peggy23 said:

I've been out of the UK since March 2020 because of the Covid restrictions in the UK. I realised that my Santander visa card would expire at the end of June. Called Santander and told by their rep to complete the change of address form, send a copy of my passport and a covering letter explaining it's a temporary change because of the situation. I sent these to my daughter in the UK who posted them on 11 June 2021.Santander said they hadn't received them so she took a copy into the branch who said they'd fax them through and get it expedited quickly.After many phone calls I've now been told they've sent a letter (to the UK address - very clever when I'm not in the UK) saying they need proof of my overseas address. It's not like the UK here, there is nothing with my name and address on. My visa card was my lifeline, I used it to withdraw cash (which is needed to pay for many things here) and to pay in shops.Now I've no card and no way of getting my money. Santander really don't care that I'm stuck in a country with no money and no way of accessing my money. Anyone any ideas?

Is that a credit card?  I hope not if you were using it to withdraw cash.

If it is a debit card then can you not access your account online and transfer funds to your daughter who sends you money via Western Union? 

Santander has/had numerous credit cards that charge no FX/cash fees - this may be one of the rare scenarios where they could be better off using a credit card in the ATMs!

I'm not sure that Santander would accept they're still a UK resident anyway. I know they're claiming they can't afford hotel quarantine, but they were already abroad for at least the whole year before that came in. They haven't said where they are, but presumably they can stop in a third country on the way back for 10 days and avoid it.

born_again

Just how much is it costing to stay abroad? 
Many banks will not deliver to a hotel. And time taken will be a lot longer.

greyteam1959

The OP should be dealing with Santander via email NOT by post.
Just a little tiny bit quicker.