Beware automatic fraud checks if going abroad, especially on a cruise

rufford155

maisie_cat said:

The advice to inform the bank has been around for a long time.
I remember letting FD know that I was travelling as far back as 2000

Halifax told me several years ago no need to bother anymore.

Growingold

When travelling you shouldn't just rely on one card just in case something like this happens.  I remember a few years back I was away, though only in UK,  noticed some fraudulent transactions on my card and contacted the credit card company who immediately blocked the card from further use.   Luckily I had a back up card with me.  Else I would have been stuffed.

rufford155

I was able to use a back-up card which gave no problem at all.
Lloyds card, same group as the blocked Halifax - go figure !

hugheskevi

Regarding informing card providers of overseas travel, for the last 13 months I have been travelling through the Americas with my wife.

I mostly use my Chase debit card, and often use a Barclaycard credit card for which I am a second card holder of my wife's account.

Occasionally we have used other cards (Virgin, Starling and Halifax) when ATM limits are very low and we have to make multiple withdrawals - these look very suspicious, as they are maximum withdrawal for both the primary and secondary cardholder, and sometimes for 2-3 days in a row where local ATMs restrict withdrawals to 1 per card per day.

None of the card providers wanted to be informed about overseas travel, and despite the long trip and unusual withdrawal patterns (with often months between use for some of the cards), we have not had a single problem with fraud checks or purchase/withdrawal declines.

eskbanker

maisie_cat said:

The advice to inform the bank has been around for a long time.
I remember letting FD know that I was travelling as far back as 2000

Wouldn't your DeLorean take you any further?

And, as above, the advice to inform the bank was around for a long time, but that doesn't mean it's still applicable these days....