Credit Cards abroad NB

[Chris_Robb]

When ever I go to France with my VISA card and make a transaction over about £200, the transaction is not accepted. - Any other tranjsactions are then blocked what ever the size. However - if I use a Master card - the transaction always goes through even at £1000.

The VISA card supplier (Co-op bank) say that it is standard procedure to block an unusual transaction and that there is nothing they can do about it.

There is not much point in having a card that won't work abroad!

Anyone know what I am doing wrong (I believe credit worthiness is NOT a problem!!!)

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[ccscott49]

I let my credit card company know where I am, then they dont stop transactions, as they realise I am out of the country, works for me.

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[Robin]

I use Visa and Mastercard both from Barclaycard for personal use and they ask you to let them know if you plan to be abroad, had no problems. Tell them you will change cards, bet they will find a way round it then!

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[TwoStroke]

There isn't too much you can do. Have the same problems even when informing c/c company of going abroad. Usual trick is to give them a call after card blocked, immediately unblock and all ok for rest of trip.

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[Chris_Robb]

Problem here is that it takes so long to go through the queuing system that the call to unblock will cost a fortune (£1 per min from France- so possible cost £20).

Easy answer is to use the MBNA card that has never blocked a transaction yet. I suppose the pin number change will increase security - when they finnaly get round to implementing them.

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[TwoStroke]

From what I can gather, they are already changing over to pin number. My new replacement card has come with the new pin. Just hope I can remember it when I have to! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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