What is a credit card travel notice, and should you set one?

There was a time when credit card issuers and banks requested travel notices. But that’s generally a thing of the past.

Even so, it’s still helpful to check that your contact information is up to date in case you need to be reached while traveling. 

What you’ll learn:

• Setting a travel notice can alert your credit card issuer or bank about credit card transactions you might make while away from home. 

• Thanks to improvements in fraud detection and security, you may not need to notify your credit card issuer or bank of your travel plans. 

• Capital One doesn’t require travel notices. Plus, your Capital One credit card is covered for unauthorized purchases if it is lost or stolen.

• It’s a good idea to make sure your contact information is up to date in case your credit card issuer or bank needs to reach you during your trip.

Setting a travel notice with your credit card issuer or bank is a way to alert it about your upcoming travel plans. Doing so lets it know to expect charges from another city, state or country.

But the requirement to set a travel alert before taking a trip is mostly a thing of the past.

Many credit card issuers, including Capital One, no longer request travel notices. They’re generally not necessary because of improvements in fraud detection and the added security of EMV chips and contactless cards.

Before you leave, you might want to do some research to get ready for your trip. For example, you could learn about your destination’s local currency and whether your credit card issuer charges foreign transaction fees. 

Whether your card issuer or bank requires a travel notice could be part of your research. If it’s necessary, you might be able to do so online, over the phone or through the organization’s app.

There’s no need to tell Capital One about your travel plans, even if you’re traveling abroad. Just make sure the contact information associated with your account is up to date. That way, Capital One can contact you if there are any issues with your card.

Recent advances in technology mean you don’t need to set a travel notice with Capital One. And Capital One’s credit card security features can offer protection. 

If you’re a Capital One cardholder and your card is lost or stolen, you can instantly lock your credit card to prevent it from being used for purchases. And if you find it, you can unlock it just as easily to use your card again. 

You’re also covered by Capital One’s $0 liability for unauthorized charges policy. If your card is lost or stolen, you won’t be responsible for charges you didn’t authorize.

You can also add your mobile phone number to your account to automatically get alerts if Capital One notices potential suspicious activity. Capital One will message you from the same number every time so you can be confident it’s Capital One texting you.

With improvements in fraud detection technology and security, you may not be required to set a travel alert with your credit card issuer or bank. But if you are, you can usually do so over the phone, online or in the company’s mobile app. 

If you’re looking for a card with travel benefits and security features, a Capital One travel credit card could be right for you. Compare Capital One’s travel rewards cards today.