Travel credit card tips

For peace of mind, provide ANZ your overseas travel itinerary using ANZ Internet Banking.  That way, we know when you have used your credit card and other ANZ accounts overseas.  This helps avoid transactions being stopped by ANZ Falcon™ on your accounts when we detect overseas purchases.

Lodging your travel details is easy to do:

• simply log onto ANZ Internet Banking
• select ‘SecureMail’
• select ‘Create Message’
• select ‘Inform ANZ of your international travel plans’ and provide us your details.

Many countries now have security chip technology and require a PIN instead of a signature to authorise transactions on a credit card. Without a PIN, a merchant could decline a transaction when you try to use your credit card overseas. If you have forgotten or do not currently have a PIN, contact us to arrange for one ahead of time.

Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to consider taking additional ANZ cards, like an ANZ Access Visa Debit card and/or an ANZ Travel Card. This can also help when using ATMs that don’t let you choose between transaction accounts and credit accounts to withdraw money, which may lead to additional transaction fees being incurred on your accounts.

When you land in a foreign country, it’s good to have funds available in a variety of forms, and to have a small amount of local currency for small purchases. It’s worthwhile hiding some funds away in case of an emergency.

Managing your accounts using ANZ Internet Banking, ANZ Phone Banking or ANZ Mobile Banking^* can be both cost effective and convenient.

Not only is it convenient, but it also ensures that monthly credit card bills get paid on time and can help avoid unintended late payment fees. You can set up a future monthly payment on your ANZ Internet Banking.

Applying for new and replacement credit cards early in the planning stages of a trip can help to relieve any last minute anxiety. You can do this by calling us on 13 22 73.

The saying ‘If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to go’ holds true. If you have ANZ Platinum, ANZ Rewards Platinum or ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum cards you may have the benefit of coverage with Overseas travel and medical insurance at no extra cost^**.

Some important ANZ telephone numbers are listed below.

A credit card expiring overseas is an avoidable oversight that could also prove to be an annoying and costly inconvenience. If your card is close to expiring, call us on 13 22 73 to arrange for new cards before you go.

Know where your credit cards are at all times. For example, when you're in a restaurant, if possible walk to the counter or cash register to pay your bill instead of giving your credit card to the waiter, and never leave your credit card behind a bar.

If a merchant attempts to swipe your credit card through more than one machine, question the merchant and contact ANZ immediately if you suspect fraud.

If your credit card is lost or stolen, or you believe someone has unlawfully obtained or used your card details, it is essential you contact ANZ immediately. We will then put a stop on your credit card, preventing it from being used, and can arrange for the credit card to be replaced.

Consider whether a temporary credit card limit increase may suit your needs as a quick and easy way to access additional funds in an emergency while you're overseas.

Take an ANZ Travel Card as an additional way to access your money overseas, wherever Visa is accepted electronically. We recommend you keep your ANZ Travel Cards (primary and backup) separate, so that if one card is lost or stolen you can continue to access your money with the second card.

Keep all your receipts until you have reconciled your credit card statements. If you have a query or concern about any transactions on your statement, contact ANZ immediately.

Keep your credit card PIN secure and never disclose it to anyone or allow anyone to see you entering or overhear you providing it. Never write down your credit card PIN and, if you change your PIN, avoid choosing obvious numbers like your birth date or phone number or sequential numbers like 1234.

Keep us up to date with your immediate contact details, to make sure we can contact you while you are overseas.

Carry your credit and cash in a concealed money belt or other secure pocket to make access harder for thieves.

Keep a small amount of cash hidden away for emergencies.

Make photocopies of your passport and other important documents such as visas and insurance policies to take with you, email scanned copies to your personal email account and leave copies with someone at home.

Some merchants (such as hotels and car hire companies) may perform a temporary pre-authorisation transaction on your credit card as an estimate of the final bill or as a security deposit. Be aware that when this happens, your available credit will be reduced temporarily.

Register with the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade so that you can be contacted in an emergency and read the dedicated website for travel advice and information before you go.