GSteed

Please visit your local post office. Inquire about 'Global Express Mail'. Our last delivery from US to Poland was at a cost of $5 with delivery to our door in a matter of 2-3 days.

Patrick

Leslie, no I'm nobody special at Bank of America. Just a regular customer so far as I know.

Eccomi

Rather than activating the cards before you send them, I would note all the pertinent information and do it once I know he has received the package. If the cards are stolen in transit, they will not be able to be used. Yes, those activation calls need to be made from one's home #, as far as i know.

NYCFoodSnob

I'm sure glad flanneruk wasn't my parent. "And you're failing in your responsibility to the rest of society" Gag me!

I'll never be too old to remember my first catastrophe in Italy when I didn't know anybody and couldn't speak the language. It all seems to work out but at that moment it sure is awful.

dutyfree, I've sent travelers checks via FedEx with no problem. Just don't tell FedEx and don't claim any value. Sometimes keeping quiet gets the job done quietly. I usually tell FedEx it's business correspondence. If anything bad happens (I doubt it will) remember, it's only money.

There was no lost card involved but when I sent my Godson to college in Bordeaux, the joint ATM I set up hadn't arrived before he left. He asked someone in the university's office if he could address the package to her. She said yes and I FedEx'd the card to her. I'm confident you'll find a way to work this out and you'll be a great resource of information for the next mother who experiences something similar.

mrwunrfl

flanneruk, I think you pretty much nailed it.

dutyfree, I don't get the part where you said: "The nearest US consulate is in Milan which is about 2 hours away". In the context that it was written, it sounded to me like this was a problem. I mean, it sounds like you were saying that, because of the distance, going there was not an option. Just wondering if it was Sinatra who identified this as a problem.

Bitter

Threads about a parent babying his/her adult son had come up recently, so I topped them, only to realize it was by the same person as this thread. With tongue in cheek, I was going to suggest that the poster immediately fly over and take care of his/her adult child, perhaps bringing some chicken soup, then I read with amazement that that the author was actually considering making a house call! I have come to think that this is a very sophisticated and patient troll. No one could be this protective of their adult child and no adult child would allow such babying. Anyway, you got me, dutyfree. Very clever. Even if fictional, let this be a tie-in to the recent money belt thread.

NYCFoodSnob

Hmmm...what a shame, Bitter, if you're correct. But, I know several Ohio and NYC mothers who have never been abroad and sent their 20-year-olds off to Europe and couldn't sleep a wink that first week. Some actually made dutyfree sound calm. Let's hope the information helps others.

andy

I too have BANK OF AMERICA- and I also LOST a card in the states..

Bank of America took 2 days to get to me and the FED EX was free..and no , I was NOT a gold BOA member--just a basic customer....

You can also get an AMEX card and FED that to him at the nearest AMEX office..With that card,he will be able to make up to $1000 witdrawal at ANY AMEX Office..

We ran out of card ( did not bring an ATM card) in England-- and ,even though it took over an hour to get approval, they even UPPED the allowable amount to $2000 cash so we could continue our trip and not lose any days of vacation..

Even tho everyone always slams AMEX, I am one of the loyal supporters and I don't leave home without it!!

LN

I also have Bank of America and have had good relationship with them. In my travels I've not had conversion fees charged, my debit card has always worked in any foreign country, and when I get to an internet cafe I pay any bills I need to using my online account. I'm also not a BA employee - just a satisfied customer like Patrick and Andy.

teach905

As I said above Amex was the first that got to my son, and he was able to do cash withdrawals from them. He was traveling and it took his Mastercard awhile to catch up with him. As we all know Italian mail ...He never starved. Strange kids that he met up with heled him out. They understood. As he said, he later met up with kids who had similar problems and he paid it forward.

He will be fine, but it is a hassle!

Diane

Diane

Marilyn

Some children are adults at 21 and some are still children. If this had happened to me at 21, I probably would have been better equipped to deal with it than my parents, neither of whom traveled outside the US.

I also know some 21-yr-olds who have never worked a job in their lives or been responsible for their own well-being. So I think parenting advice isn't really what's called for here, when we don't know what dutyfree's son is like. (My earlier post contained suggestions that were meant to address dutyfree's frustration and annoyance, not her parenting skills.)

uhoh_busted

Some kids are more independent than others. Some people are more willing to help others, no matter what their relation is. Some kids don't even acknowledge their parents and some parents are totally uninvolved in their childrens lives. Just because someone turns 21 (or 18 or 30 for that matter) doesn't mean you suddenly don't have parents who will be your safety net and available to help you when you have problems, be they financial or emotional, if that is what your relationship has been your entire life. Let "dutyfree" help her kid as much as she wants to and is able to. What good do unsolicited parenting "tips" have to offer in solving problems about replacing IDs, credit cards, when you are traveling in Europe.

Scarlett

I have a son living in Japan and while he has not lost money/cards/etc while living there, I do want to say that as a parent, it doesn't matter how old your 'child' is, you worry about them. They may be perfectly capable of taking care of themselves in another country, far from home and friends and family, without speaking the language, but as a mother, it is still nerve wracking and upsetting.
Obviously, flanneruk has no children. This thread is much like the baby sitting threads, where all the "experts" bash each other over their child care efforts.
Dutyfree, we wanted to send gift money to Japan once and had a problem with cash/checks,being sent, American Express checks might help, if you could see about sending those to him, Fed Ex. Good luck!

dutyfree

For those of you who thought that this was a troll,I am so sorry. I have been on this board(under another name) for many many years and have made some wonderful friends on the internet through giving and receiving advice. I posted this question/concern and as you see from the time-it was late,I was upset and yes,my husband and I were worried.I probably have traveled more overseas than most of you and perhaps that is why I was VERY concerned for my son.Parenting(even for 21 year olds) does not stop and particularly when one is in trouble and alone in a foreign country without the language. Since I have never been in involved with theft in Europe(only Canada from my car) that is why I was asking for some imput as to what others might have done or thought.I had suggested the flying over strictly for speed and security reasons in transporting such important information. Just an FYI-the ATM and the visa cards can and will not be sent directly from the companies to Italy(that was why I was concerned).I really appreciate the wonderful advice from the others who understood my plight and offered some wonderful suggestions.To those of you who were rather nasty-I apologize to you for asking the questions and hope that you are never in the same position when you are overseas.

StCirq

To Queenie, and just as a general point of information:

I have never been able to call a U.S. 800 number from Europe. Is there something I don't know, or is it just certain 800 numbers one can call?

allovereurope

You can dial them--at least I do . They just aren't free, and cost the same as a regular call. Most companies (I know Amex at least does) let you call internationally collect. So you'd ask to make a collect call and give the country code for the US (00) followed by the number (ie, 00-1-800 FODORS). Since I live in Europe, I just dial the 1-800 number and pay for the call--it's only a few cents and much quicker.

dutyfree

In rereading this I would like to add or remind people that he DOES NOT have a bank in Italy to use and his ATM card is affliated with our (hubs and myself) company here in the states.The reason for that was fees and convenience for transferring money,etc.and the recommendation of the university consortium.His credit cards are with Citibank and with Capital ONe and they said that they would NOT send them to Italy but to our house instead which adds at least another week on.This really isn't the scenerio of "I lost my American Express card in Rome" type deal and can get a replacement from them in hours. There is no one over there to help with replacements. The travel books with dictionaries really don't give you alot of scenarios for talking to police/filing reports,going to the consulate,etc. and NO,this area is not known for alot of English speaking people in the regular sector.I do appreciate the support from other parents who understand this situation and the stress.

Jacqui

Sorry, I don't think it is much of an issue to want to help family members who have suffered a theft overseas.

I know it me that cancelled credit cards, called passport office and wired money to my PARENTS when they sufferred a similar loss in France and I would fully expect them to do the same for me if the need arose.

Tere

Gosh, mean people really do exist! And so many bad parents out there! Dutyfree, I do hope you can solve this problem quickly. You're doing the right thing, being a mother.

BTilke

I know you're annoyed, but maybe he'll pay more attention to you in the future. I wouldn't rub his face into it too much though...nothing is more prickly than that young male ego ;-)
Best bet is to Western Union him enough cash (just barely--make him stay on a tight budget) to get by for about two-three weeks and get his passport replaced. Then DHL the replacements after they arrive (and after you activate his cards as per the bank's instructions). DHL is used more commonly in Europe than Fedex. As noted by TeaTime, do NOT put a cash value on the cards or he'll have to pay a VAT on the declared value (VERY irritating!).
I had a similar experience getting cards sent from the States earlier this year (not theft, but suspicious charges to my card [not by me] at a hotel in Vienna). My ATM card did have to be activated in the States, which was done by my sister-in-law.
You're right to be irritated, but as family crises go, this really is fairly small potatoes.