Credit Cards when living onboard

[wrwakefield]

Heg,

We are in the US and use a mail handling service [SBI] as others have already described.

What I wanted to mention is once in a while we encounter a vendor that will only ship to our credit card billing address... Our mail handling service is our billing address, so we can get those packages forwarded in those [few] cases.

Best wishes finding the right solution for your needs.

Cheers! Bill

[Heg]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

In Australia.....

I have not received a CC bill in the mail for some years now, gone paperless..

As far as a 'billing' address goes, it's the same as my Po Box address even though no CC statements actually go there, there is no residential address at all on my VISA or AMEX cards just my Po Box address...

When overseas i just go on to the respective CC websites and let them know my movements, all good, never had a problem....

All CC statements are received through email

Thanks so much. Amex seemed to be the ones making a fuss.

[Heg]

Thanks so much everyone. The issue is not with statements as they are all electronic. It is a more a case of getting new cards when the old ones expire. I guess we could use my parents address in NZ and get them to send the new cards on.....

[Heg]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Hi, Heg,

I can't help you because I don't have the details, but Sapient Sue can. Send her a PM. She is an Australian citizen, with both British and Australian passports, and she and her husband have an Australian mail forwarder with whom they are quite content.

Ann

Thanks Ann. I'm onto it

[navigator54]

Hi Heg, I have used a PO Box since before bankcard for all my credit cards. That includes time away for a 4.5 year circumnavigation. No issues being out of Oz. Even had a replacement card sent to Gilbratar when it expired without drama. Don

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Paul L

So in US terms your billing address is your PO Box. Doesn't matter that you actually get email statements only. Without the billing address, you could not have the card in the US.

What?!? my credit cards work in the US no problems at, and every other country i have been in, not sure what you are getting at Paul, everything is above board and worked ok for years....

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

What?!? my credit cards work in the US no problems at, and every other country i have been in, not sure what you are getting at Paul, everything is above board and worked ok for years....

Just pointing out in the US you must have a billing address to get a credit card issued or a bank account. Our banking laws require it in an attempt to avoid money laundering, etc.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Just pointing out in the US you must have a billing address to get a credit card issued or a bank account. Our banking laws require it in an attempt to avoid money laundering, etc.

Ah i see (i think)

So in the US the billing address needs to be residential, not a Po Box?

[teccs]

I use paytrust.com. All bills go to them. They have a physical address which I use for my mobile lifestyle.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

Ah i see (i think)

So in the US the billing address needs to be residential, not a Po Box?

It's a little more complicated for a bank account and most credit cards. You need a physical address to open an account. After you open it you can use a different billing address that maybe a PO Box. It's all part of the anti money laundering laws.

[Zven]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It's a little more complicated for a bank account and most credit cards. You need a physical address to open an account. After you open it you can use a different billing address that maybe a PO Box. It's all part of the anti money laundering laws.

I don't know about the US, but in much of Europe banks demand not only to know a physical address ... They will also wish to see a utility bill issued to the same address. Like an electric bill. As if that proves something.

Any half good criminal would have no problem faking one ... However, for an honest boater, this sort of thing is endlessly annoying.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It's a little more complicated for a bank account and most credit cards. You need a physical address to open an account. After you open it you can use a different billing address that maybe a PO Box. It's all part of the anti money laundering laws.

Yep, for opening an account it's the same here......

But, for existing accounts (which is what i believed we where discussing here) once you have your accounts established you can change your address to whatever, i have been with my current bank for 25+ years now and have alternated between residential and Po Box addresses on many occasions, same for the CC's......

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

Yep, for opening an account it's the same here......



But, for existing accounts (which is what i believed we where discussing here) once you have your accounts established you can change your address to whatever, i have been with my current bank for 25+ years now and have alternated between residential and Po Box addresses on many occasions, same for the CC's......

AML (anti money laundering) rules are going to increase the hassles for people without physical addresses. Here in New Zealand new applications of the AML regulations are going to force the banks to re-verify their customers’ identities every 5 years. Without a physical address it’s very hard to pass an identity check. Damn, I think that’s going to bust us. On the other hand, my US credit union-issued VISA card still gets renewed even though I haven’t lived in the US for over 20 years. Go figure.