Slightly over cautious whoever it was although I guess it's better that than your card get rinsed by a fraudster. With modern system you'd have expected the computers to pick up on in being inside your normal spending habits ( if it indeed is) it's not like the Brits are unknown for using their cards in Spain/ with Spanish merchants is it.

It's always such a chore letting your bank and card issuers know where you're going to be this week and next. I much prefer Amex's policy. I remember calling them to let them know I was going away and the agent responded with "Oh Mr Clam please dont bother wasting your time to let us know things like that. We expect you to travel the world so just go ahead & if we're ever worried we will call you or send you a text. We will protect you no matter what so please just concentrate on your holiday and dont waste your time calling us" - bloody nice people those Amex lot.

Natwest have a great online system where you can let them know about your next 6 trips. It's great right up until your card gets blocked you speak to the bank telling them you registered xxxxxx trips and the agent informs you that it never actually registers anything apart from the 1st one so they had no clue I was abroad.