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The perils of travelling ... planning (and credit cards)
I have meticuliouly planned my next two weeks of travel:
- a night in Baltimore, last time I was there 2000,
- five nights in NYC via Jersey City,
- two nights in Philadelphia,last there in 1997,
- a night in Baltimore,
- back to Ellicott City for the weekend, then off to...
- Charleston for two nights three days,first visit,
- before reflecting and regrouping with friends back in Ellicott City.
I was excited, after a month, in and around Ellicott City, I'm ready to leave Maryland, revisit NYC and Philadelphia, and finally get to Charleston, a city I have been planning to visit for ages, for it's history and architecture.
But as the saying goes, (Wo)man proposes and God disposes; my downfall? Credit cards.
No longer business as usual
When travelling, I usually take my business credit card; I may not be working the whole trip, but that doesn't mean business takes a holiday too.
Bills have to be paid and checked, plus who knows what opportunities may present themselves, such as research material e.g books and magazines, interviews and / or meeting with travellers and those in travel industry, and / or the hiring of freelancers e.g a transcriber. I left the UK mid-October, and my card expires at the end of this month.
Unfortunately, this trip, like many before, I didn't bother to check the expiry date.
So last week, when I received a number of emails, from the online companies I do business with, informing me my business credit card was due to expire, I was on the verge of panic. But, calmess reigned instead, as I called home and asked my brother to check my mail, the new card was sure to be there. Easy peesy, I'll take the new details and make the necessary updates. As I waited for his response, the reason for my near panic hit me, I'd asked all my financial providers to hold my mail while I was away, there would be no new card.
As panic had me in her grip, ready to shake me like a rag doll, I remembered, I could use my personal credit card. I travel with it to pay for flights, coaches, accommodation and adding money to my mobile phone, it could take care of business till I got home. Checked balance - healthy!
I was sorted! Let the travelling commence.
Compromising circumstances
No such luck! Today, while trying to add money to my mobile phone, my personal credit card was declined. I checked my account online again, healthy; I tried making the payment again, again declined. Pissed-off, I called my credit card company, what the hell was going on?
My card was on a 'refer list.' It turns out that my credit card had been identified as one of many involved in a UK Fraud Squad sting operation. The credit card company did not know if my card had been used by the fraudsters, but when they saw two amounts of $1 each (Megabus promotion and Airbnb.com), they thought it was the fraudsters putting small amounts through to see if the card was still valid, before they go for the big bucks.
A few days ago, I had used the same card, for the first time, to pay accommodation website Airbnb.com, so I could book a room, for a night in Baltimore. Bear with me, you'll see the relevance in a moment. After several attempts to clam payment Airbnb.com cancelled my reservation. The first I knew of any payment problems was when I got a worried email from the host, Deb, so I logged on to their website to check the status of my reservation. Unfortunately, the numerous payment requests from Airbnb.com, led my credit card company to the conclusion the fraudsters were using my card. So they declined all payments, while waiting to hear from me.
Because of the possible 'comprise', I was advised to cancel my card, and promised a new one would be issued right away. Again with the panic. I explained to the customer service rep that while I agreed that my card should be cancelled, if it was I would be without any access to money as I was in the USA until January.
Thankfully, I wasn't dealing with a corporate robot, this was someone who showed empathy and iniative. He offered to send a new card to me by DHL, to arrive in three working days; in the UK it takes five to ten working days. Relieved and now much calmer, I gave him the details of where I was staying and cancelled my card.
Change of plan
Then Doh! What about my business expenses and grand travel plans, how will I pay for it all?
Fortunately, I have money in a bank account I opened two years ago, here in the US. Rather than pay overseas credit card transaction fees several times over, I thought why not, especially as I come here so often. So, I transferred money from my UK current account, updated my online details ready for December invoices, and paid my coach fare to NYC; I'll be staying with family so no mega expense there. I also sorted out payment to Airbnb.com, so had a room for a night in Baltimore, where in the morning I'll catch the Megabus to NYC. Thanksgiving weekend sorted!
My return journey? Well, I'll pay for my return ticket and one night accommodation in Baltimore using my US bank account. But, sadly, I'll have to cancel my trip to Philadelphia, and possibly Charleston if my card doesn't arrive by the time I got back to Ellicott City, next Wednesday.
Some of the fun of travel is in the planning
One of the many things I have learned from years of frequent travelling is that, like life, travelling is about accepting and positively dealing with set-backs.
Now that things have been sorted, and I have time to reflect, I realise that this has been but a minor inconvenience. My only cost has been to my tight budget, i.e two nights at a Charleston hotel (yep! non-changeable / refundable), fortunately got a refund on my train ticket, just in case.
On the bright side, and I am a glass half-full gal, I don't have much to complain about. After all once my new credit card is in my hand, I'll be able to make and pay for new travel plans.
That's what I love about travelling, with every plan made I tingle with anticipation, wondering if I will go, and more importantly what adventures and / or incidents await?
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