Traveling with Credit and Debit Cards
Safety Tips for Using Your Credit or Debit Cards While Traveling
1. Talk to Your Credit Card Issuer About Your Plans
Banks looking out for fraud will take notice if they see unusual spending patterns coming from a credit or debit card. Making a transaction from a location that is not normal for you, such as a gas purchase in another state, will activate a fraud alert to your credit or debit card issuer. To help avoid problems, contact your card issuer and let them know about your travel plans.
2. Know How Much Your Card Will Cost You
It is important to do a little research before you travel and find out which credit or debit card is best to travel with. Figure out what each card will charge for ATM withdrawals and foreign transactions. Choose the credit or debit card that will cost you the least and cause you less headaches when the bill comes after your trip.
3. Take Only the Cards You Need
It is a good idea to decide which cards are important to travel with and which credit or debit cards should stay home. Those cards staying home should be locked up securely while you are traveling.
4. Card Purchases Should Be Local
When traveling with a credit or debit card, transaction fees can be brutal. When traveling aboard you should be asked if you would like to have your credit or debit card transaction processed in U.S. currency. To save money and avoid merchants tacking their own currency conversion charges to what your card issuer will be adding on, choose to have the transaction processed in local currency.
5. Make Card Copies for Your Safety
If your credit or debit cards are stolen while you are traveling, you will need to have your cards and your issuer's contact information. To be safe, scan copies of both sides of the cards and leave them home with relatives or friends you trust in case of an emergency. Leave the copies home and don't bring them with you in your luggage, purse, or wallet where they could be stolen.
Published by Mike Burnside
Mike Burnside is a successful small business owner as well as a published writer. Mike continues to contribute to several publications about his passions in small business, parenting, relationships, health,... View profile
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Post a CommentImportant, vital information~You can't be too careful these days~