Credit card safety and security

Traveling requires a little preparation before you go for peace of mind involving your credit and security, for your money and identity. Travelers sometimes are victimized by crime or theft, or may experience unexpected difficulties that can be averted by following these tips.


Steps before you go:

1. Select appropriate credit cards for your destination - Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted cards
2. Check your card to make sure it doesn’t expire while you’re traveling
3. Confirm your credit, your account balance, and verify your daily credit limit if you plan to use your debit or credit card during your trip.
4. Record your credit and debit card numbers, issuer phone numbers, and keep them in a safe place, in the event your card is lost or stolen.
5. Never write down your PIN number.
6. Before you leave, let your card issuer know that you plan to be traveling to avoid having your unfamiliar transactions flagged as suspicious.
7. Purchase tickets using your Visa card. This gives you a proof of purchase if your tickets are lost or stolen or your trip is cancelled.

Steps to follow during your trip:

1. Don’t leave cards unattended in your hotel room, in recreation areas, or in a vehicle - locked or unlocked.
2. Use the safe or security box provided by the hotel for your valuables.
3. Save all of your receipts for proof of purchase so when you get home you can carefully check them against your monthly statements.
4. If you notice any suspicious charges on your statement report it to your credit card company.
5. Beware of duplicate charges. This may most often occur when you have used a credit card to hold a reservation for lodging or car rental, and then you pay the bill in cash instead.
6. Keep some cash on hand, enough for a day's safety net in the event that you run into problems with your credit card.