Travelling abroad must be an exciting and enjoyable experience free from any challenges caused by credit card declines.
Credit Card
Exploring the streets of a foreign city is an unforgettable experience-unless your credit card gets declined while making a purchase. This little disruption is followed by payment inconvenience, looking for alternatives and stress.
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Most credit cards are accepted across the globe. However, you should be aware of certain factors like foreign transaction charges and currency conversion fees. Continue reading to learn how you can avoid a credit card decline when travelling abroad.
Tips To Avoid Credit Card Declines While Travelling Abroad
When travelling abroad, make sure to follow the tips given below to avoid a credit card decline.
Inform Your Credit Card Issuer or Bank
Before you take off abroad, ensure that you inform your credit card issuer or bank about your travel plans. Financial institutions or banks often flag your foreign transactions as suspicious to prevent any fraud. Hence, notify them in advance to avoid any sudden declines. Also, share your travel dates and destination to make sure that your cards are authorised to use cross-border.
Learn About Foreign Exchange Fees
Foreign transaction charges might be an unpleasant surprise. These charges typically range from 1% to 3%, and you have to pay them for any purchases you make outside your home country. Hence, make sure to research and select a travel credit card that comes with no or low foreign exchange fees. This not only helps you save money but also ensures that your card does not get flagged for any unusual activity.
Ensure Your Card Is Valid and Activated
Before leaving for your trip, make sure to verify that your credit card is activated and not expired. An expired or inactive card will eventually result in declined transactions. Hence, make sure to check the expiration date of your credit card and request a replacement if needed. In addition, check any specific activation if needed for international use because certain banks need additional steps for their cards to function across borders.
Use Credit Cards That Are Accepted Internationally
Not every credit card is accepted across the globe. Certain major networks, such as MasterCard, Visa, and RuPay, are well-recognised. However, others might come with limited acceptance. Make sure that your credit card is part of an extensive major network so that your transactions do not decline. In addition, be sure that you have a travel credit card that is designed for international usage, provides travel-specific benefits, and is widely accepted.
Secure Your Credit Card Information
Security is crucial while travelling. Ensure that you protect your credit card information from any fraud and theft. Make use of blocking wallets to protect your funds against electronic pick-pocketing and prevent sharing details on any unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Monitor your accounts regularly for any suspicious activity and inform your issuer immediately.
Prepare for Emergencies
If your credit card gets lost or is declined, you must be ready with solutions and emergency contact. Make sure to keep a list of all your bank's international contact numbers. Several banks provide 24/7 customer support for users. Stay familiar with the process to report stolen or lost cards, and learn how you can request emergency card replacement if needed.
Track Your Account
It is crucial to monitor your credit card regularly to detect any potential issues beforehand. By using online banking or mobile banking applications, you can track all your transactions. This practice lets you catch any unauthorised charges and address them with your bank.
Summing Up
Travelling abroad must be an exciting and enjoyable experience free from any challenges caused by credit card declines. Use a credit card EMI calculator online to compare travel credit cards and choose the best option with low foreign transaction fees. Get yourself the right travel credit cards to make sure that your international trips are financially smooth and stress-free.
FAQs
Q1. How can my credit card be declined abroad?
Due to large purchases, an activity that seems unusual or charges from international merchants, your bank may freeze your card usage to avoid any fraud.
Q2. Should I use a credit or debit card when travelling abroad?
To make payments in a foreign country, you should use credit cards as they come with enhanced protection and allow you to dispute unauthorised charges. Hence, it is a super safe and desirable method to make payments abroad.
Q3. How can I fix a declined credit card?
You can fix your declined credit card in the following way:
- Protect your credit card information, and do not enter it for multiple online purchases
- Ask your bank or card issuer to reopen your account
- Pay your balance completely every month
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