It IS TIME FOR CHANGE

Up until recently, traveler's were asked to call their bank and tell them of their travel plans, so the bank would not stop card use if it was suspected to be fraud. Recently, that has all changed with most banks. The following horror story only applies to the Toronto Dominion Bank-TD Trust, Canada, but could apply to other banks. When preparing for this trip, I made the call to the number on the back of my VISA card. After going through the press this press that routine to get to a live body, I got a recorded message.;"Our security system is now so great that you no longer need to call us with your travel plans...we know everything",....or words similar. NOT SO FAST TD. Imagine the shock to arrive at your hotel, as I did yesterday, and be told that VISA had frozen your card. Now, to solve such a problem, you must make a collect call to your bank...back in Toronto Canada, in my case. The hotel set me up with the call, and again, I pushed numbers for this and that. When I got to the choice that was for travel problems, I got a message. SORRY, this office is closed, and it gave the hours, nine to nine Monday to Friday, nine to six on weekends, all Eastern Standard Time. Just before that, this automated voice gave me my amount owing on my card....nil, and that I had fifteen thousand available.!!!!!! FRUSTRATING. In Thailand, we are twelve hours ahead of Toronto. It was two in the afternoon, in Thailand, two in the morning, Toronto time. I had to wait for at least seven hours to get to speak with someone. Imagine if it had happened at the airport, or some other such situation, where time was critical. For some people I know, this would be PANIC time. Now, for me, I had just gone to an ATM before heading north, so was able to pay with Thai Baht, and get into my hotel. About seven hours later, I made another call to Toronto, got to speak with someone and had good reason to get upset, but did not. After some time doing some research, I was informed that the problem was here at my hotel check in desk......their card reader was kaput. I advised the TD person that if possible, she should point this type of situation to the brass in the bank, and consider the thousands of people travelling, and the type of problems that can arise. The Toronto office was twentyfour hour until this new smart technology went into effect. In talking to others here, I understand many banks are going the same route. I will be taking this up with the bank upon my return, and also with The Superintendent Of Financial Institutions, the overseer of banks in Canada. The flight from Bangkok to here in Khon Kaen was excellent, and now I will explore the city.