BVI: credit card safety?

We just got back from BVI. This makes the second year in the row, my credit card got "liberated" during the trip. We were careful about usage last week. We used it twice early in the week > we were then informed it was being used in "Hawaii". I don't think its fair to name the two places we used it. This may have been a coincidence. But, it makes you hesitant to "use it at all".

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.

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

Just got back Wednesday and amazingly, no cc issues this year. Used it in STT, Tortola and Jost.

Living here we have to be careful what we say..but we have had trouble in CGB..and with one of the ferry companies..use cash in those areas if you can..

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?

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

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.

Been ten times since 2004 and never had an issue. Didn't realize it was such a problem. Good to know. Thanks.

I had a $15.00 charge added to my credit card from a purchase made in Mexico. I have never been within 1000 miles of Mexico.

The charge on my card (while I was in the BVI last week) was for $8 in Hawaii. They do this for two reasons: if it gets denied > the merchant isn't calling the authorities for an $8 snow cone, etc. Also, a pattern is set stating the rightful owner is now in Hawaii and then comes the "big purchase".

I don't think you are liable for anything on a CC, but it seems you can lose everything on a pre-paid card.

+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.

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.

It does seem to be some very specific areas and establishments..

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.

Years ago at Palm's Delight Sunny came back with my CC after dinner and said he had a hard time running it. Got back home and had FIVE charges to it for the same night/amount. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> Called Sunny and he took care of it right away. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

The only time in 20+ years is when we were REQUIRED by Conch Charters to get a CCT BoatPhone contract/rental. One of the people working in the office used the FAX that we sent to buy himself a few hundred dollars of sneakers through his girlfriend in Miami. the down point on this is the owner and the police would not prosecute the KNOWN offender.

other than that, we avoided using CGB establishment and the faeries with CC for the time that it was an issue.

Double swipes are usually a mistake, rather than malicious.

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.

My problems on former trips were both with the Ferry. Last 2 trips used cash for the ferry and happy to report, no issues.

Had my number stolen a couple of years ago in the BVI. Apparently it was slurped at a restaurant. It was used only on a Black Christian dating site. That caused an elevation in my wife's eyebrows when she saw the bill.

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

Seems like the ferries are a pay cash, any other establishments? Feel free to PM.

I had no problem using CC for ferry this year. Used Native Son. Bought one way only at CA and West End. No problem.

We got back in January after New Years and I had 2 voice mails from Amex and a letter by US Mail. A $1.00 charge then a $272.00 charge right behind it, not mine run while I was in BVI. Which means someone tried it for $1.00, it worked then they ran a ticket through - Amex said it was a travel website apparently trying to make an airline reservation. It also magically happened on the same date we caught the ferry from STT to VIG at 8 am or so on a Saturday so we were not able (our fault) to stop for a drink in the pump room so it may be the ferry service I suspect. This has happened twice to BVI's somebody attempting to run a charge when we are out of country. Amex was good at picking it up based on our own activity.

Me too.. No problem with ferries last month

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.

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.

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 also receive text when a charge goes on my MasterCard. I set it up on Capital Ones website. It's easy to make changes at anytime. You can also get an email.

We just returned from 10 days on Tortola and at some point our credit card was compromised. I got a email during the trip. I just got new cards in the mail and now I need to update the various auto pays I use the card for. What a pain.

We've had ours compromised twice this year.

In December we're fairly sure it was in Puerto Rico on our way down. We had paid for the hotel months ahead and had then started using another card, but put the room on the first card. It was used at a restaurant in Brazil and the cc people notified us. Of course they can only mail the card to your US address, so you're in the BVIs for months without the card!

Second time was a couple weeks ago in Road Town. I only used the card in three places, then got a call that it had been used to charge $10 at Google in California. So another de-activated card.

We just got back from a land based trip at Loose Mongoose, VG & Anegada (Feb.20 - Mar.4) Absolutely NO extra charges on the two cards I used. We did have cash but were pretty liberal with the cards.

dreamin42long

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

Just came back from the BVI's and within a few days had a fraudulent "test" transaction appear on my cc account. Second BVI trip this has happened on. Card canceled but I too had a lot of auto pays on it, all of which had to be redone. Now I have them all on a card that I don't travel with!

We did use the card at 2 different ferry companies, and the fuel dock in CGB, but no proof where it got skimmed. Not enough to spoil a great cruise though.

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.

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.

Same with Capital One. On line account and you can set the alerts for as low as $1.00 and also for international charges. Very rarely am I more than 5 steps away from the counter and the text alert hits my phone.

Native Son was admittedly having some problems for awhile about a year or 2 ago, which is why we always use cash for the ferry now. I guess they beefed up their credit card processing.