800 numbers
 

when making copies of all your important documents, make sure you put all the 800 contact information on those copies this way if you lose your credit card you have the number to call hope this helps someone

The problem with that is that those 800 numbers frequently don't work from overseas and as far as I know, are not toll-free.

Don't most cards list a number to call from outside the US?

They do NOT work from overseas. You have to call collect. Those numbers are on the back of your credit card, so the advice to make a copy of your cards, front and back is a good one.

I tried the 800 thing and it didn't work. So be sure to keep handy the direct number of the service you need.

Correct, the 800 numbers do not work from Europe fpsoley. If you do not see a number to call collect on the back of your card do call the cc company, your ATM/Debit card company-bank and get the number. When you call the various places to let them know when you will be on your trip it doesn't hurt to verify that the call collect number is correct.

Also a suggestion. If you photocopy the back of your credit card you will be photocopying the last 3 digits on the back of the card which is an extra security feature. So I would NOT photocopy the back of any cc card. I include the phone numbers in the very small travel address book I take with me (kept in a zippered pocket of my shoulder bag).
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thank you all for your quick response on the 800 numbers i took your advice and got all the international 800 numbers thanks again one and all

What international 800 numbers?

Hi fpsoley, do you mean the NON 800 numbers, but the numbers that you can call collect from Europe to the US? I think that is what you mean, but am I correct?

Here in France - at least on private telephones - 800 and 888 numbers work. There is a recorded announcement when you dial that tells you if you stay on the line you will be charged international rates... if you don't hang up the call goes through.

I really don't know if this is a good thing, however, because usually I have to sit through one of those stupid "Menus" that make me want to scream.

Patricia

Patricia, that is interesting. But if fpsoley gets the correct non 800 numbers from his various credit card companies he would be able to call them collect, and hopefully he has done that.

But thanks for the information..I was under the impression one couldn't even dial the 800 numbers so that is good to know.

Wondering why all the suggestions to photocopy CCs.

Would you want a thief to get a copy of the front and back of your CC?

Why not just write down the necessary numbers?

((I))

Ira, I wanted to say that..I write the cc co's phone #'s in my small address book as well as other pertinent phone #'s including the bank, my stock broker etc. I have in another place my cc#'s, written in code (yes someone could figure it out I am sure) but the way I do it would take them awhile to figure it out I believe.

I leave all the information with my daughter and SIL also..just in case I lost everything, heaven forbid. I don't make photocopies.

Patricia did say from a private phone the 800 numbers work. I don't think they would work from a hotel or pay phone.

US "800" numbers work fine from the UK also. they just are not free but charged as any call to the US would be.

Hi Gretchen, I did take that in. Not sure if they would work from a cell phone either. I always have access to phones in houses in Italy..but come to think of it I don't know if just because one can call the 800# from France if that necessarily means one could from Italy or other countries in Europe.

When I was worried about my Irish car rental, MC Assist gave me a number that can be called by EuropCar when I got to Shannon, to verify insurance coverage. It was an 800 number, and she assured me it would work. It did. No charge. Evidently some do, but I would make sure and ask.

When you call your credit card company to tell them you'll be leaving the country and when (which you should do, so they don't shut your card off on you for fraudulent activity), ask them to confirm the collect number on the back of your card. Twice now I have found out that the number listed is no longer in service and I've had to beg for the new one. (Once, I found out while overseas that the number didn't work...how convenient -- not!)

amyb,

Isn't it the truth? Of the several credit cards I have, only MBNA has functioning non 800 number to call from overseas. I only get clueless "it should work" responses from others.

Even fraud dept non 800 numbers don't always work; they are only set up to deal with calls THEY initiated and get clueless response if I use the same number to report a problem.

Since most of my cards are connected to brick and mortar banks, I carry local branch office numbers and talk to the branch manager that if I can't get thru these (should-work 800) numbers), I can call the branch during the business hours to have them report problem to the cc dept. They usually agree to this arrangement.

I usually get some sort of "you call cannot be completed" error message when I call US 800 numbers from overseas.

Besides calling the "when outside of US, call collect #, you can also call the 800# COLLECT. It will be treated same as the other... goes to the same bank of phone lines. We learned this in error, and though I didn't have to do so, two people in my travel party had need to over the years. With either number, the financial institution pays for the call.