Having your credit card declined when you know you’re up to date on your payments can be a nerve-racking experience, but having it happen when you’re travelling can be even more stressful.
“It’s a very complex engine supported by machine learning, supported by fairly complex algorithms and AI,” she said of the decision-making process used by card issuers to determine if a transaction is legitimate. But the systems aren’t perfect and sometimes a card can be blocked even when it is being used correctly.She says it is important to have a copy of the contact phone number printed on the back of the card so you have it even if you lose it and need to call the card issuer or bank.
Some cards, in addition to earning reward points or cash back, offer rental car insurance as well as emergency medical insurance in addition to trip interruption insurance. Some premium cards will even get you into airport lounges, offering you a quiet refuge during a long layover. Jones added that it is always important to make sure you know how much room you have left on your credit limit and that you’re not in past due status so you don’t get declined.