Credit Card Tips While Travelling Abroad

Hey guys,

I want you to read this article on credit card tips when traveling
abroad.Detective Kevin Coffey is the founder of Corporate Travel
Safety, which specializes in travel safety seminars, training tapes
and travel safety products. Its a very good article.


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By Detective Kevin Coffey

I have heard many for her stories involving people traveling with their credit cards. But with all the stories and I've heard, many of them might have been resolved with minor disruption, if the travelers would have done these simple things.

Number 1:
Anytime you travel you should make photo copies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back. You should leave these photocopies with a friend, and had a copy of these Xeroxes in your luggage. That way if you ever lose a credit card you can get it canceled right away. The majority of problems with the cancellation of credit cards occur when you travel internationally. Many travelers forget who the credit card is with, it's then many wasted hours calling United States and trying to find out which bank or institution the credit card was with. That's where the photocopies come in handy.

Number 2:
If you travel with someone, especially a husband or wife, I would make sure you travel with individual credit cards in separate names. The reason for this is simple. Many families have one credit card issued to them. Many families have one credit card account number one have individual cards issued to each person. The problem with this is if one person were lose their credit card, the others person's credit card would be canceled also, and you would have to wait until card was sent to you and three to five days. By each traveler having his or her own separate credit card, if one was lost, you could survive on the other credit card for a few days until the other is replaced.

Number 3:
Automatic Credit card deactivation can spoil a vacation. Some banks and credit unions cut off credit cards that are used 6 or more times in one day, to try and stop thieves from using stolen cards. If this happens to you overseas, you may find it difficult or impossible to have your card reactivated. Before going on an overseas trip on which you will use your credit cards, notify your credit card companies that you will be away overseas. This will let then know that your card has not been compromised.

Number 4:
You always read tips about making photocopies of your credit cards when traveling and placing these copies in the bottom of your luggage. This tips is given by individuals in the proper spirit, however this can actually put you at greater risk of experiencing credit card fraud. Anyone who winds up with your luggage will have access to your credit card numbers and expiration dates. Anyone rifling your suitcases can take the copies or make copies of your copies for their use, ordering merchandise via the telephone.

Instead, if you want to keep a copy of your credit card numbers, do so of the front and back so you have the phone numbers to call your bank if needed but most importantly, block out (making sure it cannot be read) or cut out the expiration dates and names on the face of the cards. This will make it harder if the copies fall into the wrong hands.
While your liability in stolen credit card cases is limited to $50/card, this can quickly add up if multiple cards are involved.

Number 5:
When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the conversion fee that many banks charge to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars. As with traveler's check- some banks do and some banks don't charge a fee, generally 1% of the purchase amount. So if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one offers the best deal on foreign currency con- version. Then weigh this against other factors. Note: The conversion fee is not included in the legally required disclosure box that appears in credit-card promotional material. Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.

Important:
Have your PIN number converted to four digits before
departing on a trip, as most foreign ATMs will not
respond to six-digit PINS.

Many foreign ATMs only accept four-digit PIN numbers. If your PIN is longer, check with your financial institution about changing it before you leave the country. Sometimes it's as simple as going to your own bank's ATM and changing it yourself.

Apart from ATMs, the best locations for exchanging U.S. into foreign currency are banks, the biggest ones you can find. They offer fairly decent rates and low fees, and do much better for you than the commercial money-changing kiosks and storefront establishments. Never use the latter.

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