Originally Posted by
richarddd
How's HSBC's customer service and propensity for hair-trigger fraud blockages? I'm looking for a no AF, no forex fee MC for traveling outside the US in case I have issues with my Visa or Amex cards and am trying to decide between an HSBC MC and CapitalOne card. Rewards and benefits are very low priorities for this purpose.
Some posts in this thread are rather negative on their customer service, but the issues seemed to relate to rewards.
I have traveled extensively with my HSBC MC. They rarely hit me with fraud nonsense (unlike Capital One who finds potential fraud at every turn). However, note that their debit card doesn't work in certain countries they flag. Countries in the past included Belarus and Ukraine. Sadly the list isn't public so you only find out the card doesn't work upon arrival (although I called and eventually was able to get that days list). Can't recall if the list effects the CC too. In any event, other than this issue - the card works exceptionally well abroad (and I've traveled extensively).
I strongly recommend against Capital One. Fraud charges (which weren't fraud but me traveling) popped up at every other country. Couldn't be more annoying. And the fraud depts collect call line didn't work some of the time so I was left without that cc til I could get to a country where it worked. Unreal. Avoid Cap One for int'l like the plague.
I'd recommend Citibank as well (although I am priority and was gold). That debit worked everywhere (even where HSBC didn't). Didn't use their cc though as I used HSBC.