Notify VISA Credit Card

Is there a way to notify VISA you want to use your card in Mexico ..... short of a phone call

sparks wrote:Is there a way to notify VISA you want to use your card in Mexico ..... short of a phone call

Nope

Nope, you need to call and answer their 20 or so security questions........then tell them you will be using the card in Mexico. I have to call and advise my MasterCard every year or so otherwise they shut it down.

There is a way to call collect if you can do that.  Outside US and Canada, cardholders can call collect using local operator 1-303-967-1096, if you want to avoid the long distance charges.

You don't need to notify VISA; you need to notify whomever you got the card from such as the bank or airlines. Many will have an online notification option rather than a phone call.

You should ask yourself if you really want to use your CC in Mexico; a lot of horror stories about someone using their CC here and within a few minutes, someone else used the card # and bought stuff.

Here is my suggestion.

I use BofA and it has a feature calles "Shopsafe." Basically it gives you a "new" cc number, X-date (60 days away) and a security # as would be on the back of your regular plastic CC.

You can have several for low amounts or whatever you want. Have the merchant key in the info and it's approved. Once you have used the limit of one virtual card, just use the next one; you can get several.

These are generally used for Internet purchases; I have used the many times. It's a good way also to stop some of these places that have you sign up for something and then keep charging your card every month.

Ask your bank if they have this kind of thing.

Gamina wrote:You don't need to notify VISA; you need to notify whomever you got the card from such as the bank or airlines.  Many will have an online notification option rather than a phone call.

Correct.

Gamina wrote:You don't need to notify VISA; you need to notify whomever you got the card from such as the bank or airlines.  Many will have an online notification option rather than a phone call.

That is correct, at least with USAA VISA.    We can do it online.   We go into the desired account, go to Manage Travel Notifications and set up the window specifying the first and last days of travel.     Each banking institution probably has its own  procedures analogous to that.

BOA has online feature for this. Works well.

These are the only things I can do with my CDN MBNA MasterCard online:

My Profile
Update my personal information
Request a replacement card
Add an authorized user to your account

Services for this account
Request a credit limit decrease
Manage your personal identification number ("PIN") - View, change or unblock your PIN
Activate your credit card now

Statements
Change paper statement preference
View/print paper statements

Get cash and consolidate your bills
Request a balance transfer to creditor
Request a transfer to a bank account
Request access cheques

I love my I USAA account and have had it for 29 yrs! They are so helpful over the phone, once answering the security questions that you originally set up. If you qualify, check them out.....

I'm in the same boat as Canuck Bob. I must notify VISA (Canadian) by phone of when and where I am travelling...not my bank. I've had my own VISA card since I was 28.
I've also used that card, in Mexico, for twenty years with only one problem. Never let your card leave your sight is the only rule that I keep.

I have to call when I travel to my Master Card and then shout & repeat the same info over & over because the recording never understands what I said. I wish I could do it online.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce VISA cards say you don't have to notify them of out of country travel....  their computer detects fraudulent transactions.  This is pasted from their FAQ web page:

"How do I set up a travel notification for my CIBC Credit Card?
You do not need to inform CIBC if you plan to use your CIBC credit or debit cards while travelling. No matter where you are, CIBC’s fraud systems will monitor your account(s) for suspicious transactions.

Should we need to reach you regarding the security of your account, please make sure your ‘My Profile’ section of Online Banking is up to date."

You have not needed to notify Royal Bank Visa of travel plans for several years now. From what I understand you don't need to notify any Canadian Visa cards of your travel plans.

Every time we travel to the states I call our credit card and let them know and every time they shut our cards down, then you call and they say oh we are so sorry we did that, and I say even after I alerted you, you still shut it down.

I have been travelling outside of Mexico with my visa from Bancomer and I was told "no need to notify anyone".. It worked while in Peru..

I'm with the Royal Bank in Canada, and indeed they do say you don't have to tell them. Nonetheless, I use an online message to say I'm going to be away for months.

BTW, I also always travel with An Amex free card. It's very difficult to replace a Visa if it is lost or stolen.

I don't need to notify RBC either. BUT, a few years ago, I went out and made $500+ purchases from Costco and WalMart in the same day shortly after arriving from NOB. That's when they blocked my card. Good thing I have more than one.
Getting my Visa replaced was quick enough when I lost mine in Chicago a few years back. Fedex delivered a replacement two days later. Might be different down here.

Pete