Do you ever call your credit card company to warn them?

[zzyss]

I usually call because I know they won't be able to get in touch with me while I'm overseas (i.e. I don't carry a roaming mobile) and I don't want the hassle of having to deal with a blocked card.

Although I do it for all trips, I would advise at the minimum, calling in for multi-itinerary trips, and ones to known "dodgy" destinations (e.g. South-East Asia, Eastern Europe...)

I've never had the opportunity to make a large transaction on my CC, but my gut feeling would be that if we're talking overseas, then it'd be covered by the phone call above. Otherwise for a large transaction on home soil in local currency, I wouldn't bother.

 

[notzac]

I always make a point of calling - mostly because I don't want the irritation of having to deal with a blocked card when I'm travelling, but also because it only takes a couple minutes for each card.

 

[BVT]

I always call AMEX and MasterCard. I have done so for the last five years or so, ever since stranded in Bangkok - luckily on my last day of a six week jaunt!

Last week AMEX called me. I made four flight bookings with three different airlines (QF,JQ and LAN) in about 30 minutes. Nice to know that someone is keeping an eye on things; or was it just a random check?

M

 

[pauly7]

I always call AMEX and MasterCard. I have done so for the last five years or so, ever since stranded in Bangkok - luckily on my last day of a six week jaunt!

Last week AMEX called me. I made four flight bookings with three different airlines (QF,JQ and LAN) in about 30 minutes. Nice to know that someone is keeping an eye on things; or was it just a random check?

M

Do you call MasterCard direct or the bank that issues it?

 

[BVT]

Do you call MasterCard direct or the bank that issues it?

Ah. Yes good question. My bank. I give them dates of travel and general geographic information. Ie: North America/SE Asia etc. Sometimes that ask for more specific information, but not often.

 

[cove]

I call my credit card companies just prior to travelling with the dates of travel and countries being visited.I only plan to use two cards for overseas expenses despite having more cards so it is just 2 calls.
Have received a call just as we were leaving Nordstrom SFO and to be honest I am happy that my banks are watching out for fraud.
In the olden days you only knew Amex was watching when it came up "check ID" when buying $20 of gas for the hire car!
The next thing is to keep a spare credit card completely separate in case you get mugged or lose your wallet.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I stopped calling Amex years ago, and have never had any trouble. I imagine that once you set a precedent of frequent international card-usage, they stop worrying.

True, it's based on algorithmic patterns. Some programs are quite sophisicated in picking up place time and type of transaction, as I am told by those that write them

Cheers

Spruce

 

[docjames]

I always call based on:

1. it's a two minute job.
2. it'll be a lot more than 2 minutes to sort out if the card gets cancelled whilst i'm overseas.

 

[codash1099]

I alway call any institution that might be affected (or might affect me). This includes Amex, banks for both credit cards and any withdrawals I may make, insurance company and even neighbourhood watch.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[notzac]

Do you call MasterCard direct or the bank that issues it?

You should always call the credit provider. To the best of my knowledge, neither Visa nor MasterCard directly issue any credit cards, so it would follow that you wouldn't be calling them.

 

[ellen10]

Always wise to call, we did when we were overseas and had no problems. Both debit card and credit cards and told them our travel dates they said they would note our file. Our friends didn't and had their card stopped which caused lots of grief. Better safe than sorry.

On the other hand a friends daughter had transactions racked up on her card after she had returned home. She did not notify them of her travel. Bank didnt contact her, her dad noticed it and it took a long time to sort out and lost of inconvenience.

 

[NYCguy]

On the other hand a friends daughter had transactions racked up on her card after she had returned home. She did not notify them of her travel. Bank didnt contact her, her dad noticed it and it took a long time to sort out and lost of inconvenience.

Yeah, see, it's always vitally important to check the statements to see if there is anything unusual there.

 

[Mundi]

I make a point of calling now. One weekend trip to HKG I couldn't be bothered, made a significant purchase of camera gear and my mobile rang before I had left the shop, with the bank enquiring if I was in fact making the purchase. Same thing has happened with jewellery purchases in OZ.