I followed all of the rules, told Barclays bank when and where I was travelling, and when the first large charge went through they put a hold on my card and called my home phone for verification. Could not pay restaurant or hotel bills. Make sure you give them an international cell phone number for them to call. The large charge was for 3 days limo, driver and guide for 4 people and some clerk could not believe that a limo could be $2,000 and questioned the charge. The only way to be safe is to give them a valid, reachable phone number or you will be at the mercy of idiot at the bank.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
How frustrating for you! Even giving them the intl cell # may not work but is worth a try. Best to have at least two ATM cards and two credit cards, if possible.
Posted by
OP
richmond
77 posts
Make sure you carry a couple of each (in fact I did). Bank of America's security people input my travel dates wrong and shut down my ATM card also. I had to call them from Rome to determine the problem and get the card back on line. If it can go wrong, it will, you can thank our wonderful education system and the idiots it turns out.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
It might be a good idea to give the CC companies a heads up about any specific LARGE charges that you anticipate, so maybe that will make it into your file and they won't freak out like they did.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
Ron you are so right. I always ring my credit card provider and let then know exact dates, places etc. I have emailed in the past but have found that it doesn't necessarily get to the right person. Last year I was in NYC shopping up a storm in the Thanksgiving sales and my mobile rang. It was a call from my bank in Australia verifying I was in NYC and using my credit card. I was a able to assure them the charges were valid and they would see a lot more going through. Even though I had rung before I had left they still wanted verification, so a number you can be contacted on anytime is essential.