Your telephone number(s) on your credit card account - keep them current and, when abroad, keep your phone on and battery full [and of course ensure they have this number]

Why?

Because when you spend like a crazy dog on your hols, they see activity far different from your profile and put a security block on the card and actually call you

Being cautious, I don't mind this. I think it's better than chasing the Ace, so to speak.

So here's to UBS Card Center and their card-blocking antics

PS: Partner cards and other cards on the same account will still work

I am considering the Gratis (Free of charge) Coop Supercard Credit Cards.

Any comments here?
HAT

http://www.englishforum.ch/daily-lif...aise-coop.html discussed that card and the rival "freebies"

thanks got it!
HAT

Better yet, give them a call before you go, letting them know you'll be gallavanting all over. They usually will put a note on your account or flag it so that the charges will go through.

Does UBS still use SMS alerts when the block the cards? I got one of those once.

Can you update these phone nrs online with UBS?

There are some elements within ebanking that allow you to see CC details but no, I don't think so.

The Zurich number (note: not a "national" rip-off line) is on the reverse of the card (+41 44 828 3501)

Very good tip - I've usually done this in the past just to avoid any nasty surprises. Therefore nothing worse than being stuck in a foreign country trying to figure out how to call your credit card company...

Better still, think seriously about COOP and Migros free cards, I've just got my UBS statement though with a CHF200 debit for renewal of mine and the wife's (gold cards) for next year, no wonder UBS can afford to pay their CEO 20 million per annnum.
It defies belief that banks/financial institutions here can get away with fleecing customers in this way , don't they also get 2-3% on all purchases from outlets?

you might want to look at UBS Platinum cards, Nick - http://www.ubs.com/1/ShowMedia/ubs_c...me=fees2_e.pdf compares Gold and Platinum.

Specifically the insurance cover might make the card worth having - and the fee covers up to 4 cards.

Does anyone have or know of a card where the CC company pays for the insurance on rental cars, like Collision Damage Waivers etc.?

Such cards apparently exist elsewhere but I have not found them here yet. I suspect they would be the Gold/Platinum type but the UBS ones do not mention this type of insurance.

Hi all - interesting discussions seem to be going on in this thread and others regarding credit cards. We have been here one month and we are about to apply for credit cards - we are thinking of the Coop and Migros due to no annual fees. However, the insurance issue, raised by one or two people could be important if you want to rent a car, have some kind of travel insurance etc.

Does anyone have a definitive answer about whether Coop or Migros offer any insurance of this type? Perhaps that is what the annual fees are with the other cards/banks?

Any advice on the above as well as applications, online payments etc, much appreciated. It all seems a bit scary when all the small print is in German

Elaine