HOLIDAYMAKERS are being reminded to tell their bank if they intend to use a credit card abroad.

According to a report by TSB, more than three quarters of holidaymakers who have had their credit card declined while abroad, failed to notify their bank they would be going on holiday overseas

Also 57 per cent said that they had not realised they needed to tell their bank about their travels, 38 per cent felt they should not have to inform their bank and 12 per cent simply forgot. A further seven per cent could not spare the time to wait on hold to speak to an operator and four per cent felt the notification process for their bank is too complicated.

Jatin Patel, product director at TSB Bank, said: " Failing to inform your bank about holiday travel plans can result in ‘no fun in the sun’ adding only stress to the otherwise relaxing sun, sea and sangria. Tickets. Passport. Money. They’re the traditional going away checklist and making sure your cards work abroad should be included in that. Card transactions abroad are one of the most common fraud indicators and therefore your card may be declined if you have not already informed your bank of your intention to travel."

When a credit card was declined, half of those surveyed worried that they couldn’t pay for the goods or services just received, three quarters were frustrated that they needed to call their bank in the UK and another 73 per cent said they were just plain embarrassed. An additional seven in 10 were concerned they would not be able to pay for anything else on holiday and two thirds were worried that something had happened to all of their bank accounts back in the UK.

To help customers take this unnecessary stress out of their holiday, TSB has now made it easier for their customers to let them know about their travel plans by using an interactive system on its telephone banking service.