$US from reception?

[clo]

5 minutes ago, clo said:

Here's some more info:

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/unauthorized-credit-debit-card-charges-29654.html

And here's more info

https://www.thebalance.com/lost-debit-card-315030

[sunlover12]

12 minutes ago, clo said:

And you base that on what? Did you read the link I shared? We very much protect our money and we study how to do that.

 

I base it on my own experience and I did read the link.  The link says to contact the bank immediately. I have been pickpocketed in Italy and the thief spent $1700 on my credit card in 90 minutes. It was probably an hour or so before I discovered my card had been stolen. I was in a public area and called the bank immediately.  In a public area, it would be a very bad idea to log into your bank account. There is no time to wait until you get to a secure wi-fi. If you use the bank's website only to look up their phone number that is fine. Maybe that's what you are referring to. 

 

I protect my money too and always carry a list of my cards with account numbers and phone numbers. I'd also like to add that I never use a debit card to make purchases, including in the US.  There is better protection with credit cards. 

 

 

[clo]

7 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

credit card

You are only responsible for the first $50. And our banks don't even charge us that.

 

8 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

There is no time to wait until you get to a secure wi-fi.

Sure there is.

[sunlover12]

My bank didn't charge me either.  However, I do care about charges being racked up while I wait to try to get to a secure wi-fi. Someone has to pay for that.  That would be the bank and they're going to pass along costs to the consumer.  Do what the advice says and that is to contact the bank IMMEDIATELY.  A phone call is more immediate.  Again, IMO.

[clo]

20 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

 A phone call is more immediate.

As one of the articles commented you can't necessarily reach your bank on the phone 24/7. And, again, your opinion isn't facts.

 

[Paulchili]

4 hours ago, StanandJim said:

I was using 800 number generically, I should have said "toll free number".  

In the United States at least, only a small Savings Bank or Credit Union would not have an international toll free contact #.  

Obviously there is no issue calling the bank with a toll free number when in US/Canada.

The question was how to do a toll free or collect call when one is traveling outside of US. The phone numbers on ALL my credit cards are either domestic toll free or a regular number for international calls with a note in parenthesis (call collect) - as mentioned by ORV

No international toll free number is listed on any of my cards. I am thinking that if they had one they would list that rather than say "call collect".

Back to the original topic.

Edited December 15, 2019 by Paulchili

[Paulchili]

3 hours ago, clo said:

And you base that on what? Did you read the link I shared?

I did read it.

This is one of the things they say:

 

In either of the above situations, however, it's important to notify the card issuer as soon as you know of the theft—by phone and in writing

 

There is no mention of contacting them online which is not instantaneous, especially on the weekends.

I believe, although I am not certain, that the emergency numbers are available 24/7, Especially the international as there can be a significant time difference and being available only during US "banking hours" would be useless.

Edited December 15, 2019 by Paulchili

[Mura]

We also had a problem on one trip to Barcelona.  And I know about all the typical scams ... but somehow didn't think (until it was too late) that the guy saying "the bird upstairs shat on you, let me help you" was the same scam as the person smearing mustard all over you and offering to help, meanwhile taking your valuables.  I finally figured it out but being oh-so-polite whispered to Howard not to trust this guy, which of course he didn't hear!  And then suddenly the guy ran off with his credit card.

 

We immediately returned to our hotel and were able to call VISA.  We weren't out any money immediately but somehow very small metro charges started turning up on the bill every month.  It's like they only used it for individual trips!  Each month we told VISA these charges were invalid and they erased them.  We finally got irritated enough to point out to them that a charge that is invalid one month will also be invalid the next month ... especially when we are home in NYC.

 

Mura

 

 

 

 

[Earl Rosebery]

The best thing is to open aUS dollar bank account in Vancouver.  Then get a US dollar credit card.   If you must have US $ in cash ( the tour operators are trying to beat their local tax collectors) you can keep it in your cabin safe. The best exchange rates in Vancouver are at the Vancouver bullion and currency exchange.

[clo]

10 hours ago, Paulchili said:

in writing

Writing on line. We've had this happen twice, once with stolen cards that hadn't been used, and once with a electronically stolen #. Once in Spain and once in SE Asia. Handled it both times successfully online.  And with the 15 hour time difference between W. Coast and Bangkok, talking to someone would have been difficult. You do what you're comfortable with and we'll do what we know works quickly and well.

[marylovestotravel]

16 hours ago, Earl Rosebery said:

The best thing is to open aUS dollar bank account in Vancouver.  Then get a US dollar credit card.   If you must have US $ in cash ( the tour operators are trying to beat their local tax collectors) you can keep it in your cabin safe. The best exchange rates in Vancouver are at the Vancouver bullion and currency exchange.

 

For US and Euros, I prefer Charlies's Currency Exchange. Very reliable.

 

Mia

[rallydave]

On 12/14/2019 at 11:23 AM, Paulchili said:

I have to look into that.

I thought the 800 numbers do not work from outside of US/Canada. I guess I am showing my age 🙂

You are mostly correct Paul.  Most 800 numbers in the US are only for the US and perhaps Canada.  Overseas they mostly don't work.  When in Barcelona last year found that I could NOT make a collect call.  Had no idea but, appears collect calls are a thing of the past like many things we remember.  Then I remembered wifi calling and just used my cell phone in my room on wifi to phone the banks that issued the stolen cards.

 

Can't speak for O regarding this but, a few years ago on a Norway cruise had a small fender bender with a rental and wanted to notify the credit card insurance that would eventually cover the cost of the damage.  Went to the front desk of the cruise ship and then dialed the call for me and I put the insurance on notice.  This was a Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the rental company provided all I needed for the recover of what went on the card and actually had a check for the amount charged to the card even before the statement closed for that charge.  And the rental company paid under liability for the other party so got off scott free.

[Paulchili]

7 minutes ago, rallydave said:

Had no idea but, appears collect calls are a thing of the past like many things we remember.  Then I remembered wifi calling and just used my cell phone in my room on wifi to phone the banks that issued the stolen cards.

That was my thinking as well (see my post #36 above).

But as I had said before, while wifi calling works most of the time, there were times I could not use it despite having wifi connection.

[clo]

22 hours ago, Paulchili said:

That was my thinking as well (see my post #36 above).

But as I had said before, while wifi calling works most of the time, there were times I could not use it despite having wifi connection.

Okay, kids, here's a visa link anyway. You're welcome 🙂

 

Wherever you are, operators are standing by. Cardholders in the U.S and Canada can call Visa Global Customer Care Services at 1-800-847-2911. Outside US and Canada, cardholders can call collect using local operator 1-303-967-1096, or alternatively call your local toll-free number.

 

 

www.visa.ca › en_CA › support › consumer › lost-stolen-card

 

Report a Lost or Stolen Card | Visa

[Paulchili]

25 minutes ago, clo said:

Okay, kids, here's a visa link anyway. You're welcome 🙂

 

Wherever you are, operators are standing by. Cardholders in the U.S and Canada can call Visa Global Customer Care Services at 1-800-847-2911. Outside US and Canada, cardholders can call collect using local operator 1-303-967-1096, or alternatively call your local toll-free number.

 

 

www.visa.ca › en_CA › support › consumer › lost-stolen-card

 

Report a Lost or Stolen Card | Visa

Clo - that link provides no new info.

Only the phone numbers that are listed on the back of the cards and no toll free number from abroad (only collect).

Also, there is no mention of email or secure message notifications - ONLY phone numbers.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Paulchili

[clo]

2 hours ago, Paulchili said:

cardholders can call collect using local operator 1-303-967-1096,

So that doesn't work for you? We'll stick with online reporting.

[Paulchili]

19 minutes ago, clo said:

 

2 hours ago,  Paulchili said: 

cardholders can call collect using local operator 1-303-967-1096,

So that doesn't work for you? We'll stick with online reporting.

Clo - this comes back to my original question - how does one make a collect call from a cell phone?

How would that work in, say, Vietnam? Would the “local operator” know what I am talking about (or even understand me)?

I am sure I could make that call from a hotel but I suspect that I would be charged for it - thus it would not likely be a collect call.

[Mura]

Paul,

 

Our experience is SO very limited but when we had a theft in Barcelona some years ago and called VISA from the hotel, they did *not* charge us for the collect call.  Even if they had, I think we'd have been willing to pay just to get the report in to headquarters. 

 

This was at the Continental Palacete which is the higher end hotel of the two around Las Rambals.  I rather think the cheaper hotel (we saw lots of backpackers there on an earlier visit) would have done the same.  The hotel was VERY helpful in resolving our problem.  But neither hotel is a five star!

 

Would that be true today?  I don't know!  And we have never used our cell phone in Europe since we use Consumer Cellular which really only works in the U.S.  I used a european phone from Mobal later on (which had a UK phone number) for a while, but not at this time.  Now we have an iPhone and sometimes I can figure out how to use it in Europe ...

 

Mura

 

 

[Paulchili]

Thanks Mura.

I agree that if one has to use a phone to call the bank, asking the hotel to make a collect call is the way to go - whether one gets charged for it or not.

[rallydave]

49 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Thanks Mura.

I agree that if one has to use a phone to call the bank, asking the hotel to make a collect call is the way to go - whether one gets charged for it or not.

Well, Paul, that's exactly what I tried in Barcelona after I was mugged and they were the ones who told me I couldn't make a collect call???  Still not sure about that but, that's what happened and with good wifi, no problem using my cell.  Just be sure your phone is in airplane mode.

 

Got a rude awakening in Barbados when everything I read said even if not in airplane mode when outside your regular calling area the phone automatically uses wifi if available.  In Bardos, gote a rude awakening with a $21 bill when I was sure I was using the internet!!!!

[Paulchili]

Thanks Dave.

I try to make it a habit to put my iPhone in airplane mode as I board to plane for an international flight and leave it there until I land back home 😊

In fact, 99% of the time I use my iPad instead which only has wifi - it does ALL the things that my phone can do in wifi mode (including making calls) with extra sense of security of not bing overcharged and a much bigger screen that my aging eyes greatly appreciate.

I essentially use my cell phone only for emergencies while abroad.

Edited December 17, 2019 by Paulchili

[clo]

11 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Clo - this comes back to my original question - how does one make a collect call from a cell phone?

How would that work in, say, Vietnam? Would the “local operator” know what I am talking about (or even understand me)?

I am sure I could make that call from a hotel but I suspect that I would be charged for it - thus it would not likely be a collect call.

And since I have no desire to do it by phone, considering our success with doing it online, I shall retire from this convo.

[TrulyBlonde]

9 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Thanks Dave.

I try to make it a habit to put my iPhone in airplane mode as I board to plane for an international flight and leave it there until I land back home 😊

In fact, 99% of the time I use my iPad instead which only has wifi - it does ALL the things that my phone can do in wifi mode (including making calls) with extra sense of security of not bing overcharged and a much bigger screen that my aging eyes greatly appreciate.

I essentially use my cell phone only for emergencies while abroad.

Same for me Paul, always turned off. I always add International with Verizon in case something happens as an insurance policy. My iPad only has WiFi and I can FaceTime with my kids etc and tell everyone to just email me. If gone for a long period of time, I check voicemail once a week. If our house burns down, someone will figure out how to contact us. 😉

[Classiccruiser777]

On 12/12/2019 at 9:21 AM, marylovestotravel said:

Is it possible to get US dollars from reception? What would be the best way to do this? Can I cash in travellers cheques? Do you know if there is any handling charge for the service. How about getting cash from onboard credit?

Mia, I’m presently on board the Sirena and just talked with reception regarding your question. Following is what I was told:

 

1. There is an ATM in the casino. Each withdrawal is charged a flat fee of $6 per transaction regardless of the amount. This doesn’t include any of your bank’s fees.

 

2. American Express traveler checks, and only American Express, may be cashed at reception at par, no fee applies.

 

3. Cash advances against your registered credit card may be taken for a 5% transaction fee.

 

4. Refundable on board credit may be “cashed out” but ONLY one or two days prior to the end of the cruise.

 

Happy sailing!

[Paulchili]

53 minutes ago, Classiccruiser777 said:

Mia, I’m presently on board the Sirena and just talked with reception regarding your question. Following is what I was told:

 

1. There is an ATM in the casino. Each withdrawal is charged a flat fee of $6 per transaction regardless of the amount. This doesn’t include any of your bank’s fees.

 

2. American Express traveler checks, and only American Express, may be cashed at reception at par, no fee applies.

 

3. Cash advances against your registered credit card may be taken for a 5% transaction fee.

 

4. Refundable on board credit may be “cashed out” but ONLY one or two days prior to the end of the cruise.

 

Happy sailing!

Very informative and up to date - thank you.