How to pay bills when traveling abroad

It might be tempting to take a break from personal finances when traveling internationally for work, rest, or play. However, the bills that keep coming during a long holiday or work trip still need attention.

Read on to learn some ways to manage bill payments while abroad.

Paying bills while traveling

If planning to travel abroad, consider the following payment options for bills:

• Online bill pay. Set up through a company’s website or app, online bill pay allows people to schedule payments or make direct payments for various bills, such as utilities, credit cards, and mortgages.
• Digital wallets. Digital wallets can send money to linked accounts, which can then be used to handle bill payments.
• Phone banking. Customers can pay bills over the phone using their authenticated account details by calling a bank’s automated service or speaking to a customer service representative. But it's important to be aware of potential international calling charges.
• Bank transfers. With a bank’s online platform, it’s possible to directly transfer money to payees (if they accept direct bank payments).
• Scheduled payments. Autopay can be set up for recurring bills before traveling to ensure payments continue to flow to repeat billers.

Common bills to pay while traveling abroad

There are various bills that can still be due when travelers are away. Monthly expenses, such as rent and credit card bills, occur whether the payer is in the U.S. or out of the country.

Here are some examples of bills that often need to be paid and shouldn’t be forgotten while traveling abroad:

• Mortgages and rent. Ensuring housing payments are up to date helps maintain credit scores and tenancies.
• Utility bills. These include electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable services, which need to stay current to avoid potential shutoff.
• Credit cards. Meeting these repayments may help avoid interest charges, late fees, and changes to credit scores. It can also help to ensure that international transactions on credit cards go through.
• Loan repayments. Personal loans, car loans, and student loans also typically have strict regular repayment days.
• Insurance premiums. Making timely premium payments helps keep health, auto, and home insurance policies active.
• Mobile phone bills. It's important to keep up with cellphone bills while abroad, especially when not using an international plan (or a local SIM card) with data roaming included.
• Subscriptions. Streaming media services, newspapers, software licenses, and gym memberships — though usually on autopay — can add up. Consider putting some subscription services on a temporary pause if this is an option offered if they won’t be used while traveling.

What to do before traveling internationally

It’s important to be prepared, bill-wise, before going on a trip. Travelers might consider:

• Notifying the bank. Informing bank and credit card companies of travel plans can help prevent any fraud alerts or holds on a traveler's cards that could disrupt automatic payments.
• Using online banking. By ensuring online and mobile banking is set up and tested, travelers can manage and pay bills from almost anywhere.
• Setting up automatic payments. Setting up bill pay automation for recurring bills, like mortgages, utilities, and credit card payments, can ensure they are paid even if those accounts cannot be accessed from abroad.
• Listing key due dates. Creating a clear schedule of when each bill is due and setting reminders as needed can help ensure that payments go through.
• Gathering contact information. Keeping copies of important contact information for creditors, such as phone numbers and email addresses, can make it easier to reach them while traveling.
• Arranging mail handling. People who receive paper bills or notices might consider asking a trusted person to check their mail. Signing up for paperless billing allows bills and statements to come by email instead.
• Setting aside buffer funds. Travelers may want to check that their bank account has enough funds to cover all upcoming bills for the duration of their trip, keeping in mind the potential for unforeseen expenses.

Taking these steps ahead of time can help prevent missed payments, general financial stress while traveling abroad, or bill shock upon returning home.

Tips for safe bill payments

Payment security becomes even more important when traveling. Ensuring that all financial websites and apps are encrypted and up to date can guard against potential security vulnerabilities and travel scams while they're being accessed from overseas.

For the most secure way to pay bills online, travelers may want to:

• Avoid public Wi-Fi networks, which are vulnerable to hacking. Only secure Wi-Fi connections should be used to access bank or financial accounts.
• Use a VPN to add an extra layer of security for online transactions while traveling abroad.
• Check with service providers for any additional instructions or fees associated with remote bill payments.