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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: ggffrr11]
#88353
02/29/2016 12:31 PM
02/29/2016 12:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I think its fair to name the two places. You aren't blaming either one - just sharing the two places it was used. Others have shared in the past - perhaps we can figure out where not to use it.
We've never had an issue using ours.
Matt
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: maytrix]
#88354
02/29/2016 12:36 PM
02/29/2016 12:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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There was a problem in 2014 with a credit processor that many of the local business used. The credit card information was being stolen wholesale. It could also be a problem with the clearing network or the issuing bank. These are problems that pin on chip cards don't solve. The chip cards should, in theory, reduce the retail problems.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: RickG]
#88355
02/29/2016 03:18 PM
02/29/2016 03:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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Just got back Wednesday and amazingly, no cc issues this year. Used it in STT, Tortola and Jost.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: Curtis]
#88358
02/29/2016 10:08 PM
02/29/2016 10:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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Curtis said: Mine has been hacked 2x before. No idea where in USVI or BVI or by whom. This year I plan to get a pre-paid Visa that I can load $1,000, $2,000 or whatever amount I desire, thus limiting my exposure to any card theft. Aren't you exposing yourself more that way? Or is a pre-paid card protected like a normal credit card?
Matt
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: WayneC]
#88360
03/01/2016 09:20 AM
03/01/2016 09:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887
Central Florida!
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Actually, on most credit cards, you have ZERO liability for fraudulent use. Most cards, that's part of their cc agreement these days. DEBIT cards could be a problem, but for credit cards, the issue isn't liability for fraud, so much as if you are out of town and only took one credit card and it gets hacked and they cut off the card, you will not be able to charge anything.
Carol Hill
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: WayneC]
#88364
03/01/2016 12:27 PM
03/01/2016 12:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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WayneC said: I thought on a credit card you were only liable for either $25 or $50 but on the pre-paid card you can loose it all. I'll stick to either cash or credit card I don't think you are liable for anything on a CC, but it seems you can lose everything on a pre-paid card.
Matt
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#88365
03/01/2016 01:47 PM
03/01/2016 01:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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Carol_Hill said: Actually, on most credit cards, you have ZERO liability for fraudulent use. Most cards, that's part of their cc agreement these days. DEBIT cards could be a problem, but for credit cards, the issue isn't liability for fraud, so much as if you are out of town and only took one credit card and it gets hacked and they cut off the card, you will not be able to charge anything. +1 on that! My free advice. Get a good AMEX, Visa, or Mastercard from a reputable bank that encourages global travel and use by not charging any fees on international purchases. There should not be any liability for a US citizen whose card is used fraudulently. Good Luck if them money "disappears" from most pre paid cards. I would start by visiting your personal bank to learn your options or calling American Express directly to understand the plans you are on and the options available to you. Flame me all you want. I travel to all areas of the globe and have never experienced a loss of funds or credit to me. Our cards did get hijacked when Target had their problems. The result one family member's card did not work on arrival in the BVI. Target and the card issuer uncovered the problem themselves and we never saw a monetary cost to us. We were materially overcharged for some reason at a Bequia beach bar. The actual charge far exceeded the crumpled receipt. One telephone call to the reputable credit card company and the amount was credited without issue. Make sure you understand the terms of your credit cards and consider traveling with cards on at least two networks in case one of the networks or cards turns up with issues. If it ever gets nasty AMEX or your own bank where you have a relationship will be best to resolve it for the card holder.
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: ggffrr11]
#88366
03/02/2016 10:34 AM
03/02/2016 10:34 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,268 Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
tpcook
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,268
Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
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Hello: I have been using a CC in the BVI for 45 years and never have had a problem. I always bring 4 CC's and a bank debit card which I use for getting cash out of the ATM when it is working. Hope my luck holds up.
tpcook
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: Manpot]
#88368
03/02/2016 11:10 AM
03/02/2016 11:10 AM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 200 Oklahoma
LivinLarge
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 200
Oklahoma
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We have never had any problems with our card being "liberated" but on two separate trips to Foxy's Taboo they ran our charges through twice. We always pay cash there now.
Allan
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: hallucination]
#88371
03/05/2016 07:25 AM
03/05/2016 07:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,557 Toronto, Ontario
gordaguy2
Traveler
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Traveler
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,557
Toronto, Ontario
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Been going down since 95 and never had a problem anywhere - did happen to me once in London UK back in the early 90's but none since.
GordaGuy2
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: ggffrr11]
#88372
03/05/2016 08:29 AM
03/05/2016 08:29 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,423 Bucks County, Pa.
toast
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,423
Bucks County, Pa.
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My problems on former trips were both with the Ferry. Last 2 trips used cash for the ferry and happy to report, no issues.
Last edited by toast; 03/05/2016 08:30 AM.
Toast.......to Life; White Bay...heaven on earth. Diane
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: ggffrr11]
#88374
03/06/2016 03:46 PM
03/06/2016 03:46 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850 Manhattan Beach, CA
calsail
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
Manhattan Beach, CA
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My Capital One Visa number was "liberated" two years ago and I know exactly where it occurred. It was the first time ever used and I won't mention where (not Petite Pump Room) but by the time my ferry landed at WE I had a message from the Visa people asking if I were using my card in China. OMG they are fast. All it took was an hour. Unbelievable. Cap One had me a new card in Tortola in 48 hours. BUT the islands is not the only place. I have one of my cards cloned almost yearly
Last edited by calsail; 03/06/2016 03:47 PM.
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: spartyboy]
#88376
03/07/2016 05:09 PM
03/07/2016 05:09 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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I had no problem using CC for ferry this year. Used Native Son. Bought one way only at CA and West End. No problem.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: SuburbanDharma]
#88380
03/09/2016 02:04 PM
03/09/2016 02:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826 Tortola, BVI
LianeLeTendre
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Tortola, BVI
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We found that very few BVI establishments accept AMEX.
There are two reasons for that. Reason #1 is because Amex charges local vendors exorbitantly high rates in comparison to either Visa or MasterCard. Reason # 2 is because whenever a client requests that a charge be removed, Amex pretty much does it immediately and the vendor is basically out of luck. I recall (not many years ago) when a customer of one of the charter companies I represent claimed he got bad service and wasn't going to pay for his 2-week charter that he had just days before completed. Amex accommodated him and reversed the charge. It took years to take the customer to court. The company ultimately gave up because the legal fees added up to more than they would have made on the charter, so they wrote it off. That was the end of Amex for many vendors here in the BVI. Amex does not seem to protect the vendor at all and they really aren't interested in the vendors side of the story. They just leave vendors twisting in the wind.
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: LianeLeTendre]
#88381
03/09/2016 04:57 PM
03/09/2016 04:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321 Charlotte, NC
SuburbanDharma
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
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LianeLeTendre said:We found that very few BVI establishments accept AMEX.
There are two reasons for that. Reason #1 is because Amex charges local vendors exorbitantly high rates in comparison to either Visa or MasterCard. Reason # 2 is because whenever a client requests that a charge be removed, Amex pretty much does it immediately and the vendor is basically out of luck. I recall (not many years ago) when a customer of one of the charter companies I represent claimed he got bad service and wasn't going to pay for his 2-week charter that he had just days before completed. Amex accommodated him and reversed the charge. It took years to take the customer to court. The company ultimately gave up because the legal fees added up to more than they would have made on the charter, so they wrote it off. That was the end of Amex for many vendors here in the BVI. Amex does not seem to protect the vendor at all and they really aren't interested in the vendors side of the story. They just leave vendors twisting in the wind. Oh, I don't blame them- as a former retailer I recognize that their fees alone are huge... But someone above suggested using an AMEX for consumer protection purposes & more often than not you'd find yourself reaching for cash or another card anyway.
If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a horrible warning.
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: SuburbanDharma]
#88382
03/10/2016 09:51 PM
03/10/2016 09:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55 NC
GoneSailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
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We have never had any issues with credit card security in the islands. However I can't say that regarding several other countries. Because of the bad experiences in other places I have set up text security on the cards I use. The cards that I will use have the ability to set a trigger value that alerts you to a charge on your card as soon as it occurs. If I am in a high risk area I set the alert to any transaction if I am in a place where I travel often then I use a higher limit to alert me.
I find it is very useful because I see what the vendor actually charged the card versus what the bill I authorized. Therefore it prevents arguments weeks down the road when you see the statement you can fix the dispute in person. It also lets you see if someone has used the card by stealing the number.
Be Happy or Leave
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: GoneSailing]
#88383
03/10/2016 10:46 PM
03/10/2016 10:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 720 Pawleys Island, SC
Gatorman1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 720
Pawleys Island, SC
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I have never heard of setting a text security alert on my credit cards. Would you be kind enough to tell how it is setup and how it works?
Thank you
As long as you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting. - Martin Hall
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: Gatorman1]
#88388
03/11/2016 12:44 PM
03/11/2016 12:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 312 Canton, GA
Felix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 312
Canton, GA
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I have all of my cards set up in Apple Pay, which gives me an immediate notification any time one of the cards is used. It has proven very useful!
Felix
* What we do in life echoes in eternity *
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: SailNow]
#88390
03/11/2016 03:46 PM
03/11/2016 03:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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Last time I had a problem I had used cc to buy tickets on Smith's ferry. Been using Native Son ever since and not a single problem.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: BVI: credit card safety?
[Re: Gatorman1]
#88391
03/11/2016 08:02 PM
03/11/2016 08:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55 NC
GoneSailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
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Gatorman1 said: I have never heard of setting a text security alert on my credit cards. Would you be kind enough to tell how it is setup and how it works?
Thank you I use an American Airlines Mastercard through Citi Bank and I just go to my web account and set the alerts. American Express offers the same function. I never thought of the idea of using Apple Pay for the alerts also. That might be pretty easy but my local bank doesn't allow Apple Pay on my Debt card.
Be Happy or Leave
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