Travel Advice: Tell Your Bank You're Traveling

[kevin_standlee]

If you are coming to Montreal from a long distance away, it's a good idea to tell your bank that you are doing so. This makes it less likely that they will see you trying to withdraw money from an ATM a long way from home, decide that it is suspicious activity, and lock your card down. I had to spend more than ten minutes on the phone with them -- while Cheryl waited for me to come back so that I could join her, John Mansfield (Anticipation's Fixed Functions division manager), and Ben Levy, (Dealers' Room area head) for dinner -- wading through menus, entering my ATM card number, and answering security questions so that they would turn the card back on. I don't really resent Bank of America for this; the pattern is suspicious. I meant to call them a week ago, but the hold-queue time was something like twenty minutes, and so I gave up, intending to call again, and I never did so again. I did advise my credit card issuer that I'd be on the road in Montreal this weekend and please don't shut off my card.

Edit, 0625: filled in missing name after prodding in comments.

Comments

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I had that happen when I simply tried to buy something from RoyalPost online.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

As did I when I renewed my subscription to a British railroading magazine. They are at least stepping up their fraud-prevention efforts. It did not stop one of my cards from catching a fraudulent charge a couple of months ago, but to their credit, they immediately dealt with it (and closed the account) when I pointed it out to them.

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

I think you mean Ben Levy, deguspice ...

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Ah, right. Thank you; fixed.

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. I was going to post something about stores in general not taking "American" credit cards. Mastercard in general. That was my experience in Vancouver, at least.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

In this particular case, it wasn't a rejection of a credit card, but a ScotiaBank ATM refusing a Bank of America ATM card for a cash withdrawal from my checking account. And ScotiaBank is BofA's Canadian partner.

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Understood, but I think it is good information to let fans know that stores do not take ATM cards even with V/MC logo. I had to pay for things in cash except for my hotel room and a few places downtown. I have never had this much CAN currency with me since my childhood!

[k6rfm.livejournal.com]

I've never had a problem getting charges cleared in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Quebec, Ontario, New South Wales, Tasmania, Saudi Arabia, India, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, England, Scotland, or the Netherlands. But trying to pay for a tank of gas around Tahoe always sets the alarms off.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Saudi Arabia?

Well, I'll make sure to carry cash to pay for fueling when I go up to the Reno Worldcon, which is likely to be the next time I'm in those parts.

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

I will be warning my Cards and M and T Bank. I don't think they have locations in Montreal, but will call them so see if they have a Partner Bank. I wouldn't be surprised because M and T Bank is based in Buffalo, NY.

[rwl.livejournal.com]

I've never had an ATM withdrawal challenged, and I've used ATMS in many differetn countries. The bank probably figures that a stolen card could not be used for an ATM withdrawal since a PIN number is also required.

I guess I'll have to check to see if BoA has reciprocity with any Canadian banks.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Ah, but in your case, I think you have a long established international travel record, whereas mine is rare -- probably the last time I used my ATM outside the USA was probably in 2005 in Glasgow, because we used Lisa's card for our Japanese cash.

My account is with Bank of America. Their reciprocity agreement is with ScotiaBank, the closest usable ATM appears to be three blocks up the hill from the Delta -- not too bad once you know where it is.

[tkunsman.livejournal.com]

This is real good advise. I actually told my bank that I was traveling to Boston (for N4) - and only told them this as I was placing the whole week of hotel stay on my card. I more than likely will advise any cards I take to Montreal also, since I will do some cash advances from some of them.