Today’s post is inspired by a reader who learned the hard way why you should notify the bank of travel plans. She shared her experience trying to use her bank debit card on a recent vacation,
We were in Pittsburgh, PA from 8/17 to 8/20. Our bank put a stop to our debit card, so we were not able to use it as a debit or credit card while out of state! I understand that it’s for fraud prevention, but geesh it was embarrassing to be declined when you are buying souvenirs and such and you KNOW you have the money in the bank. We had to verify purchases one night and the very next day we were denied again. It was frustrating, and scary at the same time. But we finally got it straightened out after speaking to a live person about it! So just from experience, CALL THE BANK before you go on vacation!!!!Thanks for writing all the little bits of information for those of us who want to travel but don’t have a clue how to go out about it reasonably without a travel agency!
How-to: Notify bank of travel plans:
- Contact your bank and/or credit card company before travel, especially if traveling outside the country. As the reader stated, banks and credit card companies put holds on cards when they notice suspicious or unusual behavior on the account. Those who don’t travel often or whose spending changes significantly are most likely to be flagged.
- Find the contact number on the back of the card or on the monthly statement.
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Speak with a customer service representative to provide travel dates, destination and expected expenses. The more information you provide, the better they can protect your account.
That’s it! It’s also wise to give a trusted friend or family member the company’s emergency contact number, just in case your card is lost or stolen during vacation. At the very least, keep a list of contact numbers. The bank or credit card company can locate your card number when you call to provide necessary assistance.
Of course, I hope you never lose your cards on vacation! Use the tips provided throughout this site to prevent stress and chaos when traveling.
Thank you to the reader who provided today’s topic: How-to notify the bank of travel plans! Learning from experience is frustrating, but once that lesson is learned, it is never forgotten!
Remember: It takes just a few seconds to notify the bank of travel, but that might save hours and hours of frustration!
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Great feedback – What do you think of your bank automatically placing a travel note on your account when you book your travel plans online (ie – expedia, Priceline, etc)? Good idea?
Hudson
Hi Hudson,
Interesting question. I am not an expert, but personally, I don’t want to link my bank account to online businesses. But, I’m really conservative. I don’t store any of my bank info on any sites.
What’s your position? Why?
Do you mean have those travel companies automatically notify your bank of your travel plans?
What if someone stole your card in your hometown and booked two seats to Australia online? It would tell the bank that YOU are traveling and all purchases made there are okay.
When you notify the bank by phone, they ask you questions to verify your identity. Questions that a thief hopefully will not know.
Hi Ranka,
What I mean is that YOU, the cardholder, should call the bank or credit card company before you travel to inform them of your travel plans. That way someone else wouldn’t be able to use your card if you lose it or they steal your number.
As to your card being stolen at home, everyone should check their statement each month and notify the bank or credit card company of any suspicious purchases. Credit card companies, in particular, will investigate to determine if fraud occurred. If they find evidence of fraud, you are not responsible for the charge.
I've had a credit card cancelled by a bank whilst abroad and it's absolutely horrible, your literally left stranded in the middle of nowhere and if you don't have your phone, you can't even get the messages the bank has left you!
This is a great tip. We've had our bank call us many times but never considered being proactive about it.
Leigh,
I'm glad you found everything and didn't have to call the card companies. The photos of your trip are fabulous!
Karen
This is a very important tip. I've had issues with my credit cards overseas and had I not notified them in advance, coming up with a solution would have been a lot more difficult.
Karen – I almost lost my WHOLE wallet a coule of days ago on vacation – cards, cash etc were all there when I found my bag where I left it. God was looking down on me that day for sure! REminded me to make copies of al cards and leave it at home….
Leigh
That would definitely be frustrating! We travel a lot, but have never notified our bank beforehand.
Thanks for sharing your tips,
Kristina
Yes, yes, yes. You definitely need to do this. Sometimes I forget and I don't have a problem. But, as you said, if you're going out of country, definitely remember!! I didn't even think about it one time we went to Canada, now I try to remember if we're gonna be gone for a while.
This is a good tip and one I'll have to remember when I travel out of country in a few months.
Wow, I would never think to do this. This is great info.
Yes, seriously, this is good information. Thanks. I remember being young, something similar to what Pamela described happened while we (my family) were on the road traveling. I don't remember having too much difficulty setting things straight, but it is definitely best to do these things before you go out of town. THanks for sharing!!
I learned the hardway, when we were in FL a couple years ago, I had debited out a large amount, and then the next day did it again, and it said I couldnt! Then the bank called my cell phone, to see if it was me that was making the debits! So last year when we went away I called my bank and there was no problems.
Such an enthusiastic response. Thanks readers!
We always call our credit card co. and our bank before we go, and they note it. This was a really good share!