http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7834798.stmApparently now that a huge amount of credit card fraud is occurring abroad HSBC have stated that they will be analysing use of cards abroad and if they decide this use is unusual they will decline the transaction. Obviously the definition of unusual - anything not in Britain
They expect you to notify the bank when you will be travelling abroad (that's a database that your organised gang of burgulars will be hacking into within seconds
) and advise you to take back up cash / travellers cheques and other cards etc. Someone else you need to report to if you want to go to another country
Even those customers that have notified their bank of where they were going have had problems because of course banks are well known for responding quickly to your enquiries (assessed in working days only
) and when you ring you will not be left on hold for ages at exorbitent charges from your mobile phone company