^ Never have run across an unattended reader that also requires a zip but that sure seems like a sensible (and simple) way to reduce fraud. I hope that will become the standard... With virtually no extra hassle to legitimate cc users it might actually slow down the crooks.

I just encountered one of these (pumps that require the billing zip) for the first time this weekend at a station in Tampa. I wonder why they are not more common yet? Does anyone know if any pump that accepts ccs can be programmed this way?

The zip code thing has been around for a while, as I have been using it at Walgreens, Walmart, and other merchants.

In regards to travelling, I have heard from many others in Flyertalk that calling doesn't make a difference in whether the card will be approved or not. Many have called and their charges still declined. Sometimes you just have to try and see what happens. I have been able to use Citibank issued cards and American Express without an issue even when not notifying them in advance. However, I know that some banks are more stringent and are less likely to approve charges made overseas.

It never occurred to me to take such pro-active steps, and that might have helped avoid the $22K fraud on my card in Puerto Rico a few years ago that Visa let go down. We're off to Mexico in 10 days and I may take your suggested course with the security department. (Anyone in their security department ever surprised to get your call in anticipation of travel and charges abroad?)

[BTW, I get a chuckle out of your username, MoreMilesPlease. Do you see yourself as like poor Oliver asking if he can't have more porridge?]

Here is what I do. I have a generic e-mail message that I send to all of my credit card issuers advising them of my upcoming travel. It is set up as a bulk mail that includes American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Diners Club. All I do is change the dates for travel before hitting the send button. It takes all of about 15 seconds to do this, and is actually less effort than it takes to make this post.

The expense of credit card fraud is indeed born by all of us. As a result, I consider the minimal effort worth it. Once a track record is set whereby you always inform the credit card companies before traveling, then hopefully it will make it a lot easier for the credit card companies to raise an appropriate red flag, since the companies would not have been alerted beforehand.