Author Topic: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?  (Read 3335 times)

LifestyleDeflation

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Does anyone know of a debit or credit card that doesn't require you to notify the bank of the specific countries you're traveling to? I'm presently hitchhiking through eastern Europe, and getting really frustrated that every time my itinerary changes, I have to call three banks (debut card and two credit cards) to let them know, or get my accounts locked. Any ideas on how to get around this?

tccoastguard

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2014, 03:12:46 PM »
Last time I did this, I told the banks I was backpacking through western Europe for a specified time period and I was good to go. Might want to try that in lieu of listing specific countries.

fa

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2014, 03:23:29 PM »
I don't think notification is a requirement.  International charges/debits can flag your card as being stolen, prompting your bank to freeze the acocunt.  If they know you are in certain countries, you can prevent your account from being erroneously frozen.  I think it is just a good measure.  I have used cc or ATM overseas without calling the card issuer and without a problem.  So you may not have any issues anyway.

Gimesalot

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2014, 03:39:54 PM »
My AMEX Bule Cash Back Preferred doesn't require notification.  However, I doubt it will get much use in Europe since no one seems to take it.

orcas50

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2014, 03:43:55 PM »
Chase Sapphire Preferred has a chip, so can be used internationally. No phone call required as far as I know, but I've only used in in Canada so far. Also no fees for international charges.

hdatontodo

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2014, 07:58:37 PM »
I don't know about having to call, but I just had USAA send me the pin/chip + mag stripe version of their MasterCard.

AH013

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2014, 09:42:13 AM »
I don't think notification is a requirement.  International charges/debits can flag your card as being stolen, prompting your bank to freeze the acocunt.  If they know you are in certain countries, you can prevent your account from being erroneously frozen.  I think it is just a good measure.  I have used cc or ATM overseas without calling the card issuer and without a problem.  So you may not have any issues anyway.

+1.  The notification used to be mandatory when international traveling was rare (1980-mid 90s).  Now it has for the most part become something you optionally do to prevent your card from possibly being locked for fraud, although you can still be locked out.  When I first started traveling internationally (early 2000s), I used to religiously call the card companies to confirm my itinerary so I wouldn't be stranded without a card and potentially expensive (exorbitant) international calls to the issuer to resolve, until the CSR was completely perplexed that someone would do this.  Now that I have 6+ debit/credit cards and can use a $10 Android to do Wifi calling to US numbers, I care less about the risk of being locked out of any 1 card.  I don't think I've called the card companies the last few times I've gone to Mexico, and all over Asia, Africa, and Europe and haven't been locked out yet.

rugorak

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2014, 12:53:40 PM »
In 2009 when I traveled overseas they just put a note on my account. I would say just call them and tell them what you are doing and they should be fine. As everyone said it is more just to help them with the fraud protection.

Beric01

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Re: Debit/Credit Cards that don't require a call before international travel?
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2014, 12:57:32 PM »
It takes a simple call. One of my cards even lets you notify them online. Really really easy - not something I'd go out and get a whole new credit card for. It's a security measure!