Using Debit Credit card

Metheven

OK I need some help here. Last year because the inflexibility of Halifax online banking not allowing overlapping dates for travelling in or through different countries that would allow my cards to be used, I nipped into the branch and she did it on the banks
system.

Obviously touring without booking allows me to stop and go when I please so cannot use fixed dates. This year she tells me that the bank cannot do flexible dates so my cards would not be accepted if they fell outside of the given dates for that country.
This would be fantastic if I was at a toll booth in France when and my bank expected me to be in Italy

What does your bank do in these circumstances, I know about other cards but I want to use my standard Debit and Credit cards for emergencies or when I have no other option available.

Tammygirl

We have Nationwide debit and credit cards, we also have CaxtonFX and Tesco credit card, no problems with any of them and no charges either other than the NW debir card, but we don't use that its just a back up. We don't have to inform the bank when we are
away or anything. Not had a problem and we've been going away abroad for the last 5 years with the van touring for up to 3 months at a time.

EJB986

We use normal debit and credit Barclaycards. It hasn't been necessery to inform them of foreign visits recently.

Many countries and many visits.

It seems Draconian that you have such restrictions on your card use?!?!

We are motorhomers and travel on spec!

Oneputt

We have a Halifax Clarity and never had a problem despite dates changing

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ValDa

We have Halifax cards, (Clarity and another) and have had no such problems so I'm really surprised to read your difficulty.  Every year we holiday flexibly, and there's never been any problems in using the cards wherever we've been.  My OH does it and tells me that he just tells them when we go away, when we'll be back, and the countries we'll be visiting but not specific dates.

We also have an (old type) Nationwide card, and again just let them know when we're going away and when we'll be back.

I no longer have to inform my bank - as being 'over there' is now seen as a regular pattern of my spending habits, and so nothing is flagged up.

KjellNN

We have Halifax Clarity, we just tell them we are taking the ferry to wherever, on a certain date, returning to UK on a certain date, and will be touring with caravan in countries A, B, C, D, E etc.

Not had a problem at all.

We also have Nationwide CC as a back up and tell them the same.

JVB66

We have Halifax debit cards and Tesco credit cards and have never had any problems when travelling , we have never told either that we going "over there"

Metheven

Thanks for your replies, panic over I rang the Card helpline and immediately moaned about the inflexible dates when touring over the water. He then tells me the local branch banking employee was wrong in what she told me, he only needed my departure and return date plus first country to put a marker on my account for guaranteed use abroad.

I was all ready to change banks to one more akin to the caravanning / motorhoming fraternity.

Thanks all.

ValDa

Good to hear that you've got the answer you want, Dave!  That's where Club Together 'togetherness' can really help!

Metheven

Cheers Val, had me worried for a bit. I believe the local branch employee may need a little training

The card helpline guy said he has set the marker on my account for 'Worldwide' travel and needs no other countries.

EJB986

Thank goodness....good luck!

KjellNN

Hmmmm.  Have you read the "small print"?  Somewhere, it also says that although they like you to tell them you are going abroad, it actually guarantees nothing!

So make sure you have a "plan B".

Just in case.

Have a good trip!

Metheven

Yes 'K', my usual Credit and Debit cards that have been cleared are the plan 'B'. They are for emergency and last option use and if one fails I'm hoping the other doesn't, or should I have a plan 'C'

Thanks

comfrylass

in all of our 16yrs going to france,we have never informed our bank we are going.

davebakerpurton

In all our years of travel we have never informed any card issuer of any travel plans, home, continental or further, the fewer people who know you are away the better.

DavidKlyne

I find it strange that people say they have not informed there bank/card issuer that they want to use their cards abroad. Between us we have products from Natwest,Nationwide,Halifax, John Lewis and Tesco. (not all credit cards!) All but Tesco need to know
if you intend using our cards abroad and of the other four all but John Lewis have a facility to do that online.

David

TheAdmiral

Nationwide Debit and Credit cards, no hassle, and a SANEF Tag for the Autoroutes in France, that's all you need

Admiral 

SteveL

With our NatWest MasterCard we had to tell them. They entered start and end dates and any countries to be visited, but no specific dates. They gave us a phone number to contact for updates if anything changed. I am all for it, anything that stops fraudulent
use has to be good.

hitchglitch

The credit card companies have extremely sophisticated software to monitor expenditure patterns so if you comply with "normal behaviour" there is a good chance that there will not be a problem, however, I have had a credit card refused in the USA (despite
being a regular traveller on business) followed by receiving a call from the credit company's security department and it was very inconvenient. Always best to tell them where and when you are going overseas.