What Happens if You Can’t Use Your Debit Card While Abroad?

Imagine this scenario. You’re having the time of your life on holiday, enjoying the views, the relaxation, the food, and everything else. You reach for your debit card to settle a bill and.......nothing. Maybe in this scenario your wallet is gone, stolen by an enterprising pickpocket. Maybe you just forgot to bring your card with you. Maybe the card just isn’t working. It’s never a great scenario to be in, but it’s always one that needs to be considered.  

So, what do you do when you can’t use your debit card while abroad? 

Another debit card 

Just because one debit card is unusable doesn’t mean all of them are. Many customers will have more than one bank account, so having a spare debit card with an emergency sum is always a good idea. A spare debit card ensures that even if something happens to your primary debit card, you aren’t caught out on holiday. However, if the spare debit card was in your wallet that was stolen, or you’ve misplaced it, or it’s also otherwise unusable, then you’re still left in a massive pickle. 

Cash is king (?) 

A common tactic is to keep cash around, especially in a foreign country. Not every establishment accepts cards, and keeping cash ensures that you can always complete your purchase, regardless of what happens. However, cash has its limitations. Cash is normally carried with card, so if you don’t have access to your card, it’s likely that your cash is also compromised. Additionally, not all establishments accept cash. Some parts of the world are either cash light or entirely cashless. And even if stores are legally required to accept cash, such as in China, they are not required to have change on hand, so any big value bills will be heavily restricted, unless you don’t want your money back. 

Worldwide Scan & Pay saves the day 

Despite the fragility of these options, there is still a good solution. With iFAST Global Bank, you can make use of Worldwide Scan & Pay, allowing you to make cross-currency QR code payments with participating merchants anywhere in the world. Worldwide Scan & Pay is tied to your iFAST Global Bank account instead of your card, so you are still able to spend abroad even if your card isn’t functioning. The cross-currency payment is instant and fee-free, so you don’t have to worry about exorbitant transaction fees while paying a merchant in their local currency. 

Scan & Pay is for cross-currency payments only. Availability of QR payments may vary by country and merchant. T&Cs apply. 

More than an extra tool 

Worldwide Scan & Pay is more than just another method of payment–it’s a seamless transition that always stays with you. No matter where you travel to, Worldwide Scan & Pay is designed to give you an extra way to pay. Scanning a QR code to complete a cross-currency transaction is a perfect complement to other conventional methods of payment, ensuring that regardless of the situation, you will always be able to settle your bill.