Both of the bank debit cards I use for company purposes have been refused from time to time for "security" reasons, sometimes at the hotel checkout, taxi waiting, flight to catch etc etc. That's Natwest and RBS. Same bank, really.
Notifying them of a trip makes no difference.
Both local bank manager's said "Nothing we can do, sorry, it's those people in 'Security' and we're not allowed to talk to them. Why are you using such bad language?"
Neither of my two credit cards, (Mastercard; LLoyds and Virgin) has ever had this problem. So I usually use them and transfer the funds from the bank accounts.
FWIW. Debit cards seem to be more vulnerable to refusal, based on a sample of 4 cards!
Mind you, as mentioned on another thread, RBS willingly pay large sums from my account to any obvious fraudster who comes in to a branch and asks for it waving an equally obvious fake cheque printed on copy paper, or submits a DD demand using my account number and sort code ONLY. Pity the 'security' people can't get on top of that one, isn't it?.