topic Re: Call cards companies before travel? in Credit Cards

Call cards companies before travel?

craigatcraignet — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:16:37 GMT

Hey camper;

The wife and I don't travel much. This april, however, we will be traveling to several different states. Would it be a good idea to let the card companies know we are traveling so they don't think the cards were stolen?

Thanks.

Craig, an IT guy.

If you build a mile of road, you can only go a mile, but if you build a mile of runway, you can go anywhere!

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Strepthroat — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:32:57 GMT

No harm in it, as a matter a fact, you wouldn't want to be somewhere and have your transactions declined because it's outside of your normal area of usage.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:34:53 GMT

I typically do because I had an incident where my card was flagged while I was on travel and that can be a hassle to clear up.

Several of my cards have the ability to "notify us of upcoming travel" via online account management. This is even more advisable if this activity will be seen as "unusual" for your card (i.e., don't use the card out of state much).

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:37:17 GMT

Oh, and it might be a great excuse to ask for a CLI at that time. Who knows what you'll wanna buy while you two are gallivanting about?

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:13:32 GMT

I concur with everyone else - do call (or do it online if that's an option). Especially if you are going to multiple places in a short period of time, they might think it has been compromised if you don't. Also, because you don't travel much, that's another flag for them normally.

Just give them a general time of dates and places - you don't have to be super specific. Do it for all Debit and CC you plan on taking with you and at least 24 hours before you leave so it gets into the system.

I did this when I visited canada and my friend did not - result? My card worked and hers did not - and not much she could do on a weekend to fix it.

Enjoy your trip!

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:21:50 GMT

Call!

I called Wells Forgotmenot twice before traveling overseas. My job took me internationally almost every month. On one particular occasion, the Winter Olympics in Torino, I had my son with me.

Called before I left. Gave them very specific dates of travel, and a list of all countries being visited. WFugguped was a Visa card.

Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Spain.

We were going to be gone for a month straight. I needed access to my bank accounts while there for personal purchases AND for the tickets to Olympic events (they are NOT kidding about MC not accepted, only Visa)

That same message was given to my CC company at the time too (Cap 1, two cards, BOTH MC, not Visa).

See where this is going?

WF screwed up. While standing at the ticket counter with my pretty WF Visa, I was declined for the GOLD MEDAL round of men's hockey, AND the closing ceremonies.

It did get straightened out but it is really hard to do so from 7000 miles away. Also, my Cap 1 cards had no issue... they just are not accepted by IOC.

Call!

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Creditaddict — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:57:01 GMT

I would always call unless it's American Express... they don't really want to hear from you for things like travel.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

amp0804 — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:47:31 GMT

Calling is not needed anymore, maybe 8-10 years ago. The reason why you dont need to tell them is because

they only way they consider fraud of any sort is if your on vacation and your making purchases then out of no

where in between the timeline your away you start having charges accross the other side of the country they get

suspicious. Amex, Citi and Chase have all said this to me when I have called over the years to let them know. Now I dont call

anymore and I dont have any problems.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Creditaddict — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:52:37 GMT

@amp0804 wrote:
Calling is not needed anymore, maybe 8-10 years ago. The reason why you dont need to tell them is because
they only way they consider fraud of any sort is if your on vacation and your making purchases then out of no
where in between the timeline your away you start having charges accross the other side of the country they get
suspicious. Amex, Citi and Chase have all said this to me when I have called over the years to let them know. Now I dont call
anymore and I dont have any problems.

I disagree... Citi blocked my account after just a couple charges in NYC

Chase had me on the phone for 45 minutes in the middle of Coach doing security questions that came from stuff that was over 10 years old... mind you it was over a 7k charge but none the less...

Amex is the only card I have ever carried that told me to stop calling when I'm going to be traveling and they have never shut my account off while traveling.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:59:44 GMT

@amp0804 wrote:
Calling is not needed anymore, maybe 8-10 years ago.

Wrong. I traveled two years ago to Mexico and my card was flagged.

Call. With identity theft running rampant, let the card company beware so YOU don't end up standing there feeling like a dolt.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

vish1 — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:07:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@amp0804 wrote:
Calling is not needed anymore, maybe 8-10 years ago.

Wrong. I traveled two years ago to Mexico and my card was flagged.

Call. With identity theft running rampant, let the card company beware so YOU don't end up standing there feeling like a dolt.

It can't hurt to call all companies but amex. Looks like amex had enough of those calls and they have put it on their website (when I log in to my zync) that they dont need to be told about travel.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

craigatcraignet — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:15:40 GMT

Good news everyone.

To all those that have said "Call" I will do just that.

Thanks.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

amp0804 — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:24:26 GMT

Well sorry that happened to you. Im just repeating what many CSR from a vast majority of CC companies have told me.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

vish1 — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:32:10 GMT

@amp0804 wrote:
Well sorry that happened to you. Im just repeating what many CSR from a vast majority of CC companies have told me.

I do agree that you are just saying what you hear and am glad that you never had a problem.

On the flip side, we have also heard people getting into problems at times. In addition to that, there is no assurance that the companies won't change their risk management algorithms over time.

I would rather be cautious and call the CCCs if the travel is not frequent and even more if the spending is going to increase in either volume over a period or average transaction size.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Creditaddict — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:36:14 GMT

In the beginning when I WAS calling Amex, they never cared were I was going, they would just ask how much I thought I would be spending... I usually told them 10-15k and they would tell me I don't see why that would be a problem, have a good trip!

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Watchmann — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:49:31 GMT

In the past it really wasn't necessary to call, but with the rates of fraud now occuring many cards will block usage out of the US unless notified. Take 5 minutes and give 'em a heads up, it's just a new hassle we now have with the crooks and bums wanting to steal from the CCC's.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:52:28 GMT

I am kicking myself for missing a prime opportunity for a CLI. The last time that I called about travel plans, the CSR asked a question along the lines of "do I anticipate out of the ordinary usage" or something and after I hung up, I realized that I could have made a strong case for needing an additional $2K cushion for hotel authorizations (you know, caviar at the Burj al Arab - in my dreams). anyway, I really think that's a great excuse for a little unschedule bump in the 'ol CL. It really is valid when you're on travel. But really, call, for heaven sake. Computers are running these fraud detection algorithms and any strange out of the ordinary-ness will set up a big ol flag.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

ficonightmare — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:24:02 GMT

@amp0804 wrote:
Calling is not needed anymore, maybe 8-10 years ago. The reason why you dont need to tell them is because
they only way they consider fraud of any sort is if your on vacation and your making purchases then out of no
where in between the timeline your away you start having charges accross the other side of the country they get
suspicious. Amex, Citi and Chase have all said this to me when I have called over the years to let them know. Now I dont call
anymore and I dont have any problems.

As others have said, sooooooooooo wrong.

Between Citi and Chase, I can't even begin to count the number of times my card's been flagged. Never happens if I'm traveling in the US/Canada though. Only Europe/Asia.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:17:26 GMT

I agree with the others. The last thing you need is your card being declined for security reasons.

One thing you have to look out for is the ETF fee and that is charged when you use your credit card outside of the U.S. There are a few cards who don't charge an EF but most of them do. I believe Capital One and the Charles Schwab 2% card don't have ETF fees.

Re: Call cards companies before travel?

craigatcraignet — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:13:12 GMT

Hi again;

Well we won't be in europe or asia. Nope. We're going to Branson!

Face/Palm

Wife's idea for 25th anniversary.