Make sure you have debit/credit cards from more than one bank when travelling

[StillGoing]

We are currently touring. We have 3 Santander debit cards between us. The cards work fine for contactless payments. However, we have only been able to successfully make one chip and PIN payment at the start of our holiday. Since then all attempts at paying by chip and PIN have ended in card declined for all 3 cards. Santander tell us there are no blocks or restrictions on our cards.

I’ve asked Santander why the cards are being declined and they have so far not given an answer. Given that Santander advertise their cards to be used while travelling, I’m disappointed that they don’t seem to be bothered when their cards don’t work. I’ve given up on getting any help from Santander. Quite frankly, they have been useless.

Luckily, we have cards from other banks which are working fine.

The lesson from this is, if travelling, take cards from more than one bank and ideally have a least 1 Visa and 1 MasterCard.

 

[carolyn]

We do have a variety of fee free cards and always have our normal ones as backup. Must admit that over the years they’ve all be changed from Visa to Mastercard. I don’t think any are still Visa. Don’t know why. Presume they’re cheaper for the banks.

For travel we do have Santander Zero, Starling , Revolut and normally Monzo but I’ve lost my Monzo annoyingly just before our trip annoyingly. Probably in a safe place! Only 57p on it but no time to get a new physical one.

 

[StillGoing]

Visa cards do seem to be harder to find. Nationwide is Visa as is Barclaycard.

 

[bobnick]

I've noticed with my Master DC from Nat West every 12 transaction no matter where i am or how much i have to insert and pin. All other times the contactless is fine.

 

[StillGoing]

I've noticed with my Master DC from Nat West every 12 transaction no matter where i am or how much i have to insert and pin. All other times the contactless is fine.

With contactless there are different limits depending upon which country you’re in and sometimes which retailer. Exceed the limit and you’re into chip and PIN. If chip and PIN doesn’t work……

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[fishplug]

I've got the interesting scenario where one of my cards won't work contactless or with Chip & PIN - however I can use the same 'card' contactless from the 'wallet' on my phone....

Around the same time I got a message from the bank saying they needed to verify a transaction and to call them....

Very easy when travelling to simply call the number in the message, but I'm not very trusting of unsolicited communications of any kind so I checked and sure enough it was not a legitimate number.

So, be careful out there - I don't know if the two things were just a co-incidence or if it was a more sophisticated attack but I'm very glad I'm not currently stuck abroad with no access to funds while trying to sort out a fraud claim with the bank.

Instead I've just had some coffee and breakfast and catching up on a bit of internet before watching the sunrise and going for a walk in the woods.

 

[bobnick]

With contactless there are different limits depending upon which country you’re in and sometimes which retailer. Exceed the limit and you’re into chip and PIN. If chip and PIN doesn’t work……

I thought that but no. I have bought very low value in a high limit country and at the 12th ish transaction i still have to chip and pin.