Our cards have always had to be activated for use in Mexico. We call before we go and when we return. If not, the card is canceled immediately to prevent fraud or will not work in Mexico. Has always been this way for us!
Not being one to pass up a good challenge, I decided to call my bank and ask whether reporting all international CC transactions to the govt is a new requirement. Tom, please delete my post if it is out of place. I spoke to two people. The first wasn't able to answer my question, so passed me up the line to a supervisor in the CC fraud division. In short, the answer is NO. Not in the US, anyway. What individual banks do is their business, and my own bank does not divulge when or why transactions would be reported to the US Govt, but it's NOT every foreign transaction. If anyone wants to read up on new legislation, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/ and do a search to find the information on banking legislation.
I have had debit card transactions denied in Mexico, too. In our first year, it was because we hadn't thought to notify our bank that we would be making large purchases in Mexico. As soon as we notified them it was us using the card, the transactions were allowed. Now my bank has my accounts flagged for use in Mexico, so I have no trouble, USUALLY. Last fall, I used my debit card to purchase a stack washer/dryer set in a well-known Mexican chain department store, and the transaction was denied. I was embarrassed, of course. When I kept 'pushing' for an answer as to why the transaction was denied, while my bank knows I'm in Mexico for most of the year now, I was turned over to someone who was authorized to answer my question. It wasn't my card at all, or the fact that they didn't know I was in Mexico, it was the STORE that was being blocked, because it has a 'known fraud history'. I asked to have the transaction OK'd so I could get my new W/D, but they wouldn't. I bought the set elsewhere, but I did go back and tell the manager of that store why I was not buying from his store. Just last week, I was buying some artwork from a local gallery, and my card was denied. Again, I called the bank, and it wasn't my card, but the fact that bank didn't have enough information on the 'location' to know whether it's a valid business or not. Now, they do!! Maybe I should have left them in the dark.... going into that gallery has proven to be a dangerous habit for Lee!!
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