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Friday, 20 March 2009 18:12
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- Use travel books to see which of your credit cards will be the most widely accepted in the area you will be visiting.
- Call your issuing bank or credit card company to ask about possible fees you might incur if you travel out of the country.
- Record the 800 number to call should your card get lost or stolen, and know the company’s policy on reissuing cards overseas.
- Let your card company know your plans ahead of time, so that they do not suspend spending privileges for fear of fraud due to spending outside of your usual pattern.
- Have your credit card numbers and security information in a safe place, for instance, in a password protected email, in case they get stolen and you need to call and report the information.
- Do not let all of the cards you take be from the same bank.
- Verify your credit limits and expiration dates on your cards.
- Always hold on to your receipts for a while, especially when traveling overseas.
- Bring two cards, but try and use only one.
- Before going to pay at an establishment, ask a worker if your card is accepted, even if the decal for your card is on the front window.
- Do not put your card on file (i.e. at a hotel) and then pay with cash because you run into the danger of double billing.
- If you leave a cash tip on the table but pay for your meal with a card, write “on table” on the tip line.
- For cruises, find out the return policy for unsatisfactory merchandise before shopping on the ship.
- Wear a discreet money belt to carry passports, cash, and credit cards.
- Call your bank to ask about fees charged at ATM’s in the area you will be traveling to. Also, ask if there are banks or ATM’s that are in your bank’s network.
- Know the amount that you can withdraw (i.e. your limit, in case of an emergency).
- Use a credit card over a debt card.
- You can usually get a better exchange rate for your cash by getting it at an ATM than at a money exchange.
- Make sure that you use an ATM in a safe, protected area.
- When you return, match your receipts to your statement, making sure that you were not double charged or given an incorrect exchange rate, and pay your bill.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 March 2009 04:59 )
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