Q: I use my credit and debit cards all the time but I've heard that some banks put a stop on the cards when transactions are made abroad. How can I stop this happening?
A: In short: tell your bank when and where you are going particularly if it is a bit out of the ordinary and give them a means by which they can contact you securely. Nowadays banks are vigilant to card fraud which overall is in our best interest. Any unusual transaction especially in certain parts of the world flags a warning to the bank who then put a stop on the card until they can verify that it is legitimate. Not great when you can't pay the restaurant bill. We forgot to do this on our last trip and had exactly this problem in India during Diwali.
Tip: If you are having trouble getting cash out of an ATM it may not be that your card is the problem but the ATM itself. Many malfunction and give quite misleading messages. Try another machine if you can find one before you panic.
Use the internet to keep abreast of the latest credit cards deals and rates before you travel. Sites such as Money Saving Expert in the UK do all the legwork for you.
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