Having a Backup Credit Card?

[USGrant1962]

I always travel with two different CCs and a debit card. Have had CCs cancelled for fraud two or three times. I also had an ATM eat my corporate credit card with no way to get it back (I was an a UK business trip at the time and it would have taken three or four days to receive the new card, even expedited).

 

[Walt34]

We have four different cc with different banks/credit unions. One I keep in a drawer as I only use it for the recurring charge of the gym membership, two others I use according to what has the highest rebate or statement credit program going, and one I just use once in a while to keep the account alive.

 

[davebarnes]

Yes, it is a good idea.

1. We have 1 Mastercard. Have it in case Visa has problems. Which actually happened in Europe a few months ago. See https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/visa-card-payment-systems-go-down-across-europe/

2. I have an AMEX Platinum card. Trying to get Avios for use on British Airways. Have earned over 100K Avios since January.

3. We have an Amazon Visa.

4. We each have 2 credit union credit cards (Visa) and 2 debit cards.

5. We have a BA Visa card for earning Avios. Have earned over 100K since January.

So, in total: 8
Travel (as a couple) with at least 5.

 

[CardsFan]

I have 4 cards that I keep with me in my wallet. DW has 4-5. All separate accounts, we just never bothered to get any joint credit cards 38 years ago when we married. Thanks to this, her credit rating is actually a few points better than mine!

When traveling, we usually keep cards in several different places, including hotel safe if available, just in case we lose a wallet.

We both have one or two we use frequently, for points or cash back, the others get infrequent use, but apparently enough to stay active.

 

[Aerides]

When traveling, we usually keep cards in several different places, including hotel safe if available, just in case we lose a wallet.

I keep a 2nd copy of my driver's license and do this too (easy to get a replacement for a few bucks from your DMV. Tuck it inside my carry on when I travel, and stash it in the safe while I'm away. Never want to get stuck trying to get on the flight home after losing a wallet/ID on a trip...

 

[6miths]

I definitely always have a back up card or 3. Was in Malawi last week trying to upgrade my airline ticket to business class for the 16h leg of my return travel. My card had been working fine but declined for an online transaction. Difficult to call card from Africa and rep said there was a block on online since last fall!!! Duh. Maybe they should tell me. Had my DDs card for the same account (only used for travel so I took hers with me). It worked. Usually have my own Visa and my Costco MasterCard as my backup.

 

[mpeirce]

DW and I usually travel with two cards from different companies. She carries one, I carry the other. And one Debt/ATM card to get cash if needed.

The other fallback is that I have all my other cards loaded into Apple Pay. Not all places accept cardless payments, but a lot do and I could get by using that if I had to for a couple of days.

 

[CoolRich59]

Never thought about this.

We have the Chase Sapphire card that we use for everything except Costco. We have the Citibank Costco Visa that we just use at Costco.

So, we'd be covered if the Chase card gets compromised because we could use the Citibank card until Chase gets new cards out to us.

 

[bada bing]

Another way to look at it is "what does it take to optimize your credit report?"
To optimize your credit report you need at least 3 open accounts with all but one reporting a zero balance and a reported balance of less than a few percent of the credit limit reported on one card.

I personally carry an AMEX Blue cash, a BOA Alaska Airlines visa and a chase Freedom visa. I also have a Chase Ink cash for business expenses for my sideline gig. 4 cards from 3 issuers for me.

I am surprised by the number of people who only carry one card. With autopay, it is a trivial effort to keep a handful of accounts happy and get the benefits of diversity.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

I saw a $5 charge I didn't recognize on my CC bill, and reported it. Now we're without a card for a week.

Once that happened when on a trip.

It makes me think it would be good to have a second card that we use only in that situation.

Will the CC company allow you to have two cards for the same account?

Anyone do that?

I have about 10 backup credit cards.

 

[kaneohe]

....................... On trips we carry at least one extra, and ever since I lost my wallet on a trip to Hawaii I've learned to keep cards and IDs in different places, like one in my wallet and another in my backpack or carryon. ..........................................

Ever figure out how you lost the wallet? Related to the beach?

 

[audreyh1]

I have about 10 backup credit cards.

Same here. It all started with the discounts and bonuses. I used to only have a couple of Bank of America VISA rewards cards (one of which had no foreign transaction fees), and an old Delta AMEX card. Life was simple.

• Fidelity - got the 2% off everything Fidelity AMEX. Later this was replaced by the 2% off everything Amazon VISA.
• Amazon - 3% off with Amazon VISA by Chase - sign up bonus, plus 3% off at Amazon.
• DH also got an Amazon VISA because of the $30 bonus.
• These were later superseded by the Amazon Store Card with 5% credit for Prime Members, but we still have the Chase cards.
• I got a mileage Explorer card - nice mileage bonus.
• Later DH was offered a huge mileage bonus, so he also got one!
• PenFed - 5% off on gas. I needed a chip and PIN card for Europe - this was my first one. We regularly use it for gas.
• Costco AMEX, which later was replaced by the Costco VISA with 3% rewards on dining and travel, and 2% off at Costco, etc.
• I was enticed to get the Amex Blue Card when they were offering some sweet incentives that included 10% off Telecom for a year among other things. I bought a new iPhone for 10% off!
• Nice deal on the United Mileage Club Card - waived annual fee and several nice flying perks plus club access. So we downgraded both our Mileage Explorer cards to no annual fee versions.
• First Tech MasterCard - a PIN priority card with no FTF for European travel, and thus a bit more convenient than the PenFed card and the BofA Travel Rewards card. Also had rewards that PenFed didn't.

So next thing you know, we're awash in credit cards!!! We only use a few of them, although which ones we use switches when we travel overseas.

We also picked up the Fidelity check (debit) card and the Schwab debit card for their no foreign transaction fee ATM withdrawals.

I haven't signed up for a new credit card since early 2017. We've frozen our credit since then and it's more trouble now. But really - enough is enough!

 

[Koolau]

I can't imagine not having at least 3 different bank cards - preferably different brands (say AMEX, VISA and Discover.) When you depend upon a card most (traveling) is when it's most likely to be denied. (We've had cards turned down at point of purchase. Upon calling the card company, they said "well, you live in so-and-so, but here's a charge in such-and-such.") Yes, you can straighten it out, but who wants to be calling a CC co. from Disneyworld. YMMV

 

[audreyh1]

I can't imagine not having at least 3 different bank cards - preferably different brands (say AMEX, VISA and Discover.) When you depend upon a card most (traveling) is when it's most likely to be denied. (We've had cards turned down at point of purchase. Upon calling the card company, they said "well, you live in so-and-so, but here's a charge in such-and-such.") Yes, you can straighten it out, but who wants to be calling a CC co. from Disneyworld. YMMV

We certainly travel with backup cards (kept in physically different locations), but I am meticulous about setting up travel notices for any credit or debit cards I take on a trip and have not had denial problems due to location.

I used to run into problems as soon as I was about 250 miles driving from my home area. I also sometimes run into problems pre-trip when buying train tickets or tours from an overseas vendor - there is no way to set up a “I’m about to order from overseas” notice online although you can actually call in such a thing to the cc Fraud Department. These are usually quickly resolved through texts or automated calls. We recently ordered something online from a new US vendor and had to OK charges via an automated call.

But once we’re traveling with travel notices in effect, we haven’t had problems.

 

[Dtail]

We certainly travel with backup cards (kept in physically different locations), but I am meticulous about setting up travel notices for any credit or debit cards I take on a trip and have not had denial problems due to location.

I used to run into problems as soon as I was about 250 miles driving from my home area. I also sometimes run into problems pre-trip when buying train tickets or tours from an overseas vendor - there is no way to set up a “I’m about to order from overseas” notice online although you can actually call in such a thing to the cc Fraud Department. These are usually quickly resolved through texts or automated calls. We recently ordered something online from a new US vendor and had to OK charges via an automated call.

But once we’re traveling with travel notices in effect, we haven’t had problems.

+1 on travel notices, although can't use the standard BOA program when travelling in state.

 

[scrabbler1]

We certainly travel with backup cards (kept in physically different locations), but I am meticulous about setting up travel notices for any credit or debit cards I take on a trip and have not had denial problems due to location.

I used to run into problems as soon as I was about 250 miles driving from my home area. I also sometimes run into problems pre-trip when buying train tickets or tours from an overseas vendor - there is no way to set up a “I’m about to order from overseas” notice online although you can actually call in such a thing to the cc Fraud Department. These are usually quickly resolved through texts or automated calls. We recently ordered something online from a new US vendor and had to OK charges via an automated call.

But once we’re traveling with travel notices in effect, we haven’t had problems.

When I took Amtrak from NY to Indiana and Kentucky 4 years ago, I gave both CC banks and my debit card bank travel notices. It was mildly annoying to have to call 2 different numbers for my BoA debit card and CC, though. But when I used my main CC for a purchase while in Kentucky, I had no problem. I didn't have online banking a the time, so I couldn't use BoA's on line feature to set up travel notices.

How far away can you travel without giving a travel notice? We have a lot of small states here in the northeast, so driving less than 200 miles can have you cross 1 or 2 state lines.

 

[athena53]

How far away can you travel without giving a travel notice? We have a lot of small states here in the northeast, so driving less than 200 miles can have you cross 1 or 2 state lines.

It must depend on the banks. I've had mine rejected for that reason only twice: once when DH and I were in Russia in 2003 (OK, that was understandable) and once in London in 2014. I don't let them know beforehand- I suspect that my history shows enough international travel that they don't get excited.


One more reason to have a backup: my Fidelity card has a FX fee of 1%. My new AA card does not. Will have to use them both on my upcoming trip to Scotland and see if the AA card charges a higher FX rate to make up for it.

 

[audreyh1]

When I took Amtrak from NY to Indiana and Kentucky 4 years ago, I gave both CC banks and my debit card bank travel notices. It was mildly annoying to have to call 2 different numbers for my BoA debit card and CC, though. But when I used my main CC for a purchase while in Kentucky, I had no problem. I didn't have online banking a the time, so I couldn't use BoA's on line feature to set up travel notices.

How far away can you travel without giving a travel notice? We have a lot of small states here in the northeast, so driving less than 200 miles can have you cross 1 or 2 state lines.

Well when I moved to way South Texas, driving to San Antonio was enough to trigger a fraud alert on some of our cards. First we would buy gas, then something else - maybe a meal, and then checking into a hotel would trigger it.

I am able to do ALL my travel notices online (including BofA) with the exception of the Fidelity ATM cards. Some places like PenFed do require several days ahead for online travel notices, but it still works fine. It’s way easier and faster online. I hated the telephone calls.

I used to be able to do a travel notice in PayPal, although only one country at a time, but that option is no longer available to me. However I was still able to use it from Europe this year, although I couldn’t log into my account from overseas?!? but instead redirected me to the PayPal for that country and there was no way around it. Lots of smaller tour vendors and attractions in Europe use PayPal and don’t take credit cards directly. Fortunately the payment mechanism from the vendor site would let me log into my account for the payment part.

 

[audreyh1]

It must depend on the banks. I've had mine rejected for that reason only twice: once when DH and I were in Russia in 2003 (OK, that was understandable) and once in London in 2014. I don't let them know beforehand- I suspect that my history shows enough international travel that they don't get excited.


One more reason to have a backup: my Fidelity card has a FX fee of 1%. My new AA card does not. Will have to use them both on my upcoming trip to Scotland and see if the AA card charges a higher FX rate to make up for it.

Your AA card is a MasterCard or VISA? No, it won’t charge more to “make up” for no foreign transaction fee. It will use the standard VISA or MasterCard exchange rate that all cards do. You can look it up - search on exchange rate for the given card type.

 

[athena53]

Your AA card is a MasterCard or VISA? No, it won’t charge more to “make up” for no foreign transaction fee. It will use the standard VISA or MasterCard exchange rate that all cards do. You can look it up - search on exchange rate for the given card type.

That's good news- thanks! It's a MasterCard.

 

[Corporateburnout]

At one time we had 10 cards but we're down to 7 with one (chase amazon) used for amazon purchases only.

We always travel with a minimum of 4 cards from different companies. A few years ago DW was visiting family overseas with 2 cards an AMEX and BOA rewards. When making a purchase her BOA was declined because she forgot to notify the bank about her travel plans and AMEX was not accepted by the merchant.

We also carry a Fidelity debit card for no fee ATM transactions overseas.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

Same here. ...

• Fidelity - got the 2% off everything Fidelity AMEX. Later this was replaced by the 2% off everything Amazon VISA.
• Amazon - 3% off with Amazon VISA by Chase - sign up bonus, plus 3% off at Amazon.
• DH also got an Amazon VISA because of the $30 bonus.
• These were later superseded by the Amazon Store Card with 5% credit for Prime Members, but we still have the Chase cards.
• I got a mileage Explorer card - nice mileage bonus.
• Later DH was offered a huge mileage bonus, so he also got one!
• PenFed - 5% off on gas. I needed a chip and PIN card for Europe - this was my first one. We regularly use it for gas.
• Costco AMEX, which later was replaced by the Costco VISA with 3% rewards on dining and travel, and 2% off at Costco, etc.
• I was enticed to get the Amex Blue Card when they were offering some sweet incentives that included 10% off Telecom for a year among other things. I bought a new iPhone for 10% off!
• Nice deal on the United Mileage Club Card - waived annual fee and several nice flying perks plus club access. So we downgraded both our Mileage Explorer cards to no annual fee versions.
• First Tech MasterCard - a PIN priority card with no FTF for European travel, and thus a bit more convenient than the PenFed card and the BofA Travel Rewards card. Also had rewards that PenFed didn't.

...

My main card over the last n years has been a SPG (Starwood) Amex. Very good per $ value, transfer to Amtrak (which under the old Amtrak zone travel rewards program was great for LD train trips), and since the Marriott merger gave me Marriott gold benefits (lounge access) with a 30K annual spend and a 3:1 point transfer from SPG to Marriott. This was particularly useful to me as I had (have) tons of Marriott and SPG points to use up from many years of mega-corp travel.

However, all good things come to an end with the combining of their rewards programs. Starting Aug 1, it will only be 2:1 in terms of $ to Marriott points, and no more Amtrak transfer. So, I am evaluating what I want my main card to be...and thinking of simplifying most spend into a simple cash back card (e.g. the Fido 2% card. I might go for the new Amtrak MasterCard, as they are currently offering 30K points w/a 1K spend (was 20K points) for one year (with a $79 annual fee), since my child would like to do another long distance train vacation (and there is no way I want to spend overnight in a coach seat).

 

[WestUniversity]

I have 5 credit cards from different banks. Fraud happens. I think 2 have been compromised multiple times and yup, each time you wait a week or 2 for the new card to arrive.

I’ve have had two debit cards compromised but so far no credit cards. We have a mileage card for most of our transactions, a backup CC through our bank, and a card through our brokerage firm...

 

[audreyh1]

I’ve have had two debit cards compromised but so far no credit cards. We have a mileage card for most of our transactions, a backup CC through our bank, and a card through our brokerage firm...

Oooo - having debit cards compromised is very scary!

 

[pb4uski]

We just went through this. DW lost her card a few weeks ago. I deferred reporting it lost and just monitored the charges on the card... hoping it would show up...it didn't.

Luckily, we have two other credit cards and DW used one of them in the interim. Finally, she nagged me to get a replacement.

I reported the card lost and they overnighted new cards to us. No sweat.

Only downside was having to create a new, different username on the credit card company's website.

Now I am sure that the lost card will show up in the next couple days.