Baby boomers, do you call your credit card provider to alert them before leaving on a trip? Well, here’s why you should:
When Alan and I traveled to South Africa last year, Alan called VISA and American Express to alert them that we would be using the cards during our trip. The VISA representative took notes on all the countries we would be visiting and placed it on our record. American Express said, “We don’t bother with that.”
For most of the trip, we used the American Express card (to earn Costco dollars). But in Johannesburg, we had to show the VISA card at the South African Airlines counter to obtain an E-ticket we had purchased over the internet.
When we returned home, VISA contacted us about fraudulent charges that they had declined on our card, including thousands of dollars for cell phone coverage and clothes purchased in, you guessed it, Johannesburg. The only charge that slipped through was a $5 movie ticket. Why were the charges declined? Because VISA was aware of our travels and the charges didn’t match our buying habits.
After consulting with VISA’s fraud department, our account was closed and another opened. We incurred no bogus charges or fees. But what if that South African Airline ticket had been purchased through American Express who had no record of our travels? Would we have spent months sorting out the charges? Luckily, we didn’t have to find out.
The moral of our baby boomer travel story: We’ll be using the VISA card when traveling, especially on international trips. And, another tip, when VISA contacted us, we didn’t just pick up the phone to call the number back. Lots of scammers make bogs calls like that. We called the number on the back of our VISA card and asked for the fraud department.
Do you have a baby boomer horror story involving fraudulent charges incurred while traveling? Post a comment to tell me about it. And, remember, call your credit card provider before leaving home.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s quite a leap to assume Amex wouldn’t have blocked the charges just because they didn’t have your travel itinerary. Their level of fraud is far lower than Visa/MC and I’ve never ever had a problem with them reversing a charge that wasn’t mine. They don’t make you go through the hassle of calling them every time you leave the country because a large percentage of their cardholders are world travelers and they realize it’s a pain. I leave the country six times a year and every time I have to call my Visa or MC holder and wait on hold, just to tell them I’m off again.
But having said all that, I do call Capital One each time because Amex now charges a 2% foreign transaction fee. Incredibly short-sighted considering how many frequent travelers have stopped using it as their primary card abroad. (Most other Visa/MC issuers charge 3%, on top of the exchange profit they are scraping off the top, and on top of the merchant charges they are getting for each transaction.)
That’s quite a leap to assume Amex wouldn’t have blocked the charges just because they didn’t have your travel itinerary. Their level of fraud is far lower than Visa/MC and I’ve never ever had a problem with them reversing a charge that wasn’t mine. They don’t make you go through the hassle of calling them every time you leave the country because a large percentage of their cardholders are world travelers and they realize it’s a pain. I leave the country six times a year and every time I have to call my Visa or MC holder and wait on hold, just to tell them I’m off again.
But having said all that, I do call Capital One each time because Amex now charges a 2% foreign transaction fee. Incredibly short-sighted considering how many frequent travelers have stopped using it as their primary card abroad. (Most other Visa/MC issuers charge 3%, on top of the exchange profit they are scraping off the top, and on top of the merchant charges they are getting for each transaction.)
Twitter: DonnaLHull
March 5, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for expressing your views. Perhaps the fact that they do have more world travelers is the reason AMEX doesn’t feel it’s necessary to be notified. Personally, I feel more comfortable having it on my record and I think I should have that option as their customer.
I do agree about the Capitol One card. I know many travelers who have one just to use on their international travels. We have considered it.
Thank you for sharing this valuable info. I’ve been alerting credits cards for a while now but never new the ramifications/benefits if it is actually frauded. I’m passing your post on to all my travel friends.
Thank you for sharing this valuable info. I’ve been alerting credits cards for a while now but never new the ramifications/benefits if it is actually frauded. I’m passing your post on to all my travel friends.
I almost always call, especially if we’re going to a more far flung place.
Our local bank REQUIRES a call to alert them if you are going to be using your ATM card out of the country (also a debit card although I don’t use it that way). Last summer we used the ATM card in Turkey and when we returned, even though there were no fraudulent attempts to use it, the bank called and said as a precaution they were issuing a new card since they had seen incidents of fraud happen in Turkey way after people returned from their travel
A big advantage to calling is that they won’t decline a normal charge when they know you are in a foreign country – many people have had that happen and had to get in touch with the card company to tell them that all is OK. To me that’s more of a pain than calling before you leave. They all have intelligent fraud protection that will pick up patterns – ie a quick $5 movie ticket or gas purchase just prior to a big item purchase is a tip off.
I almost always call, especially if we’re going to a more far flung place.
Our local bank REQUIRES a call to alert them if you are going to be using your ATM card out of the country (also a debit card although I don’t use it that way). Last summer we used the ATM card in Turkey and when we returned, even though there were no fraudulent attempts to use it, the bank called and said as a precaution they were issuing a new card since they had seen incidents of fraud happen in Turkey way after people returned from their travel
A big advantage to calling is that they won’t decline a normal charge when they know you are in a foreign country – many people have had that happen and had to get in touch with the card company to tell them that all is OK. To me that’s more of a pain than calling before you leave. They all have intelligent fraud protection that will pick up patterns – ie a quick $5 movie ticket or gas purchase just prior to a big item purchase is a tip off.
I call them too, because one time my bank did freeze my account when it reached a certain limit with withdrawals abroad. I had no idea of that limit before that.
I always have at least 2 cards with me, just in case something happens.
I call them too, because one time my bank did freeze my account when it reached a certain limit with withdrawals abroad. I had no idea of that limit before that.
I always have at least 2 cards with me, just in case something happens.
Last year when I was traveling in Thailand and Bhutan, I did the right thing by calling my banks, including WAMU, before leaving the U.S. Seems they could TAKE a message but they couldn’t KEEP it.
I couldn’t use my WAMU debit card because they stopped allowing charges when one came through from, uh, Thailand. They marked it as fraudulent and I was stuck without the use of my ATM card for a couple of weeks.
I did have a credit card that worked as well as travelers checks.
Last year when I was traveling in Thailand and Bhutan, I did the right thing by calling my banks, including WAMU, before leaving the U.S. Seems they could TAKE a message but they couldn’t KEEP it.
I couldn’t use my WAMU debit card because they stopped allowing charges when one came through from, uh, Thailand. They marked it as fraudulent and I was stuck without the use of my ATM card for a couple of weeks.
I did have a credit card that worked as well as travelers checks.
Twitter: travelwonders
March 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I have used AMEX and Visa for years and twice mex have stopped my card while travelling overseas – very painful. No such experience with Visa. I similarly ring both to tell them I’m away. That being said, Amex have been excellent in removing fraudulent charges and have not required months of painful forms or anything liek that. Interesting article.
Twitter: travelwonders
March 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I have used AMEX and Visa for years and twice mex have stopped my card while travelling overseas – very painful. No such experience with Visa. I similarly ring both to tell them I’m away. That being said, Amex have been excellent in removing fraudulent charges and have not required months of painful forms or anything liek that. Interesting article.
Good advice and insights, Donna. I’ve always called before out of the country trips -but for fear of being declined for out of the ordinary spending.
I’ll always remember having to phone my credit card company while on “empty” at a gas pump (and racing to get somewhere) because I’d made a furniture purchase the day before. I know their diligence is for my own financial security, but…!
Good advice and insights, Donna. I’ve always called before out of the country trips -but for fear of being declined for out of the ordinary spending.
I’ll always remember having to phone my credit card company while on “empty” at a gas pump (and racing to get somewhere) because I’d made a furniture purchase the day before. I know their diligence is for my own financial security, but…!
Great article. Traveling is really crucial in the terms of using your credit card. Most of the traveler have complaints about high interest rates so before you travel you must call your bank and inform them about your plan so that you won’t be shock about your bill.
Your right! call the card company before you go travel to avoid any problem. You wouldn’t want to experience decline transaction in the middle of of your shopping or you can’t eat because your credit card is not working.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
March 5, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for expressing your views. Perhaps the fact that they do have more world travelers is the reason AMEX doesn’t feel it’s necessary to be notified. Personally, I feel more comfortable having it on my record and I think I should have that option as their customer.
I do agree about the Capitol One card. I know many travelers who have one just to use on their international travels. We have considered it.