Cards blocked while overseas

[trippin_the_rift]

Every couple of trips I'll have the bank block my card and it's rather frustrating. Now I carry 3 different bank cards for when the inevitable happens and a card gets suspended.

How often does your bank block your card while overseas?

 

[Homer]

This has never happened to me. Which bank / card do you have?

 

[Simo]

Every couple of trips I'll have the bank block my card and it's rather frustrating. Now I carry 3 different bank cards for when the inevitable happens and a card gets suspended.

How often does your bank block your card while overseas?

Yes but some of the places you went on your last trip that I saw you check in on Foursquare I think you should be happy the suspended your CC.

 

[Simo]

I had them suspend my Amex in Php.

I was standing in a shop and the transaction come up declined and the guy looked at me strange.

Within seconds my mobile rang and I was told that a suspicious transaction had just been declined and I said I know I am standing at the bar trying to pay for another bottle of Scotch. Was quickly fixed and I went back to the hotel room and kept drinking.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

This has never happened to me. Which bank / card do you have?

Main offender is Citibank. Any POS purchase over $1000 will trigger a block. Generally they call within 30 seconds of the transaction so I wait for the call at the store but sometimes they feel its "too late to call" and I don't know til the card get rejected at the next store.
ANZ - just block cards and send a SMS, which costs me another 75c to receive....if my Au sim is even being used.

Yes but some of the places you went on your last trip that I saw you check in on Foursquare I think you should be happy the suspended your CC.

To be fair most of those stores don't accept plastic

 

[Cynicor]

Main offender is Citibank. Any POS purchase over $1000 will trigger a block. Generally they call within 30 seconds of the transaction so I wait for the call at the store but sometimes they feel its "too late to call" and I don't know til the card get rejected at the next store.
ANZ - just block cards and send a SMS, which costs me another 75c to receive....if my Au sim is even being used.




To be fair most of those stores don't accept plastic

It doesn't cost to receive SMS on the main 4 AU telcos while roaming.

And my cards have never been blocked oseas yet, but my citi used to be blocked every time it got home... I feel that is even less useful!

 

[DaveB]

Citi and Westpac are deadly if you don't tell them beforehand. Thankfully all trips are for leisure so one call gives them a headsup for the next 12 months.
Whilst in Europe last August, Citi didn't mind my card also getting a heavy workout from the office.

 

[RooFlyer]

Never had a card blocked in 30-odd years, using (over time) any number of card types and bank issuers (including ANZ Visa & AMEX at the moment).

As Dave8 indicates, the 'trick' is to tell the issuer (bank) the countries you are going to, and your Australian departure / arrival dates (even approx).

The cancellations are of course to protect you (and them!) against misuse.

Edit: But of course I mainly use 28 Degrees Mcard now-days

 

[here2go]

I let my banks know I am travelling. Never had a problem.

 

[robd]

Happened to me in France last year with my 28 Degrees MC, even though I had given them my travel details prior to leaving Aus. Phoned them from my mobile (Telstra sim) and it was reinstated on the spot, but it cost me $$ on the phone bill.

 

[Katie]

Never happened to me yet, though I did have a card cancelled after one of the big card scams in the US a few years ago (realised what had probably happened when I read about the scam in Wired!!).

 

[Archphoto]

Citi and Westpac are deadly if you don't tell them beforehand. Thankfully all trips are for leisure so one call gives them a headsup for the next 12 months.Whilst in Europe last August, Citi didn't mind my card also getting a heavy workout from the office.

I agree - Citibank is *the* worst; even when I did inform them of my going OS (regularly every 2-3 weeks), they'd still block the card. They never called to confirm the activity - sent a letter instead.

I even gave them both mobile numbers, but they were hopeless. I ended up cancelling the card. If they couldn't even bother to check the notes in my file, or call to discuss suspicious activity (or even to let me know they were cancelling the b****y thing AGAIN), why would I bother being a loyal customer.

Took out a Gold ANZ card instead - any transactions overseas they're fine with, and if it's a larger than usual amount, they call to confirm.

 

[anat0l]

I've never had such a problem. But like some others, I call all my credit card providers in advance and inform them where I am going. I'm told notes are added to my account to that effect.

I also call before large transactions, more particularly ones paid in international currency, unless it is a merchant which I've had such a large transaction with before.

 

[jlien]

Main offender is Citibank. Any POS purchase over $1000 will trigger a block. Generally they call within 30 seconds of the transaction so I wait for the call at the store but sometimes they feel its "too late to call" and I don't know til the card get rejected at the next store.

I had heard about people's difficulties with citibank previously, so before traveling last month, I rang them and gave them a heads up. They noted the countries I would be travelling to and my departure/return dates.

One of my transactions was for about 4k, whilst in Malaysia. Was worried it'd hit a snag but it went through quite ok. I guess the lesson is just to give them a heads up.

 

[TomVexille]

I've never had a problem, but I always inform my banks of where I'm going and for how long.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'm very surprised some of you inform your bank you're heading overseas.... surely most of the population doesn't do this?

 

[anat0l]

I'm very surprised some of you inform your bank you're heading overseas.... surely most of the population doesn't do this?

Beats me....though in a few credit card guides it does say it's a good idea to do this.

Of course, since plenty don't read any fine print before they take on a credit card, your assertion is likely correct. But you're also not the first, nor minority or last person, who has found their credit card blocked whilst overseas (let alone when making substantial purchases in a foreign currency).

 

[Archphoto]

I'm very surprised some of you inform your bank you're heading overseas.... surely most of the population doesn't do this?

Only time I've ever done it was with Citibank, simply because of all the hassles they gave me. Other card providers I rarely advise, although when I moved to BKK, I did contact Amex & ANZ to let them both know so that there wouldn't be any problems down the track.

Don't bother when I travel at all anymore - have had Amex contact me by phone to ask about some transactions on a couple of occasions, but it has all been fine. No blocking or cancelling.

 

[jlien]

I'm very surprised some of you inform your bank you're heading overseas.... surely most of the population doesn't do this?

I didn't use to with CBA. Though i've received calls from them whilst overseas after using my card (at my expense, thanks to roaming) But they've never blocked my card.

I knew I'd be putting through some sizable purchases on my card, and had heard horror stories about citibank previously, so I decided to play it safe. Seemed to work ok and it wasn't terribly onerous to give them a call.

 

[Grooba]

I'm very surprised some of you inform your bank you're heading overseas.... surely most of the population doesn't do this?

Never called the bank and never had an issue with cards being frozen.