http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/26/us-column-yourmoney-creditcarddenial-idUSBRE83P0ZH20120426Linked article (above) is a couple years old. It describes the problems I recently encountered. Curious if others are having similar problems. We travel out of state about a dozen times a year. Rely on our major bank Visa card and also use a debit card to shop and get cash back. Like the woman in the article, we pay in full every month, have plenty of credit, and haven't experienced these issues in the past.
While shopping in Macy's NYC store few days ago I found a great pair of shoes that fit perfect. Price with tax was bit over $150. But, the normally trusty Visa card was declined. No problem, my debit card from a smaller local bank where I have a substantial deposit has a Master Card logo. I'll use that bank's card. Nope - that one was declined too. Humm ... I'll just use it as a debit card by entering my secret PIN number. Great. It worked! Nice shoes. I called the Visa card issuer when back at the hotel and was smugly advised to notify them every time we plan to travel out of state. And, on returning home to Michigan there were two messages on our answering machine from the bank whose debit card I had used asking us to call immediately. Before I could do so, the phone rang. It was a bank manager who was very concerned fraud may have occurred based on that one purchase. I assured him I really had shopped at Macy's NYC and had used my debit card there.
Yikes - does anybody really phone their banks every time before traveling out of state? How do we stop this excessive scrutiny of our every move? I guess an alternative would be an issuer who doesn't engage in this nonsense.
Comments
Honestly, come to hate most CC companies.
Commenity Bank probably worst CC company I've experienced.
Never ending checks of charges.
When we first received the card, Google Drive made a $1 charge.
For Commenity, that's an instant alert flag.
They called and left a message on my cell.
I was on an airplane.
When I landed, they were closed...for the weekend!
And the card was shut down.
The absolute worst I've ever experienced.
We contribute to various charities.
A $100 even contribution...instant flag.
And, if you do not respond immediately, they shut the card down.
When we travel, I've learned to call their fraud desk to let them know what states we will be in...not just aboard, but stateside travel now requires calling ahead.
Honestly, it's the worst. And, suspect many have gotten this crazy.
We now carry two CCs, cause you simply can't trust any of them to be there...when you need them most.
c
My FIA (BofA subsidiary) account number was changed twice this year. BofA won't tell you anything, but when pressed will say only that it's for security and it's nothing that you did. In other words, yet again their system or that of a vendor, was "compromised".
An oldie but goodie (1997) along those lines - CalTrain (Bay Area) office was broken into (window smashed), and a PC stolen. PC had credit card numbers on it.
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/news/1997_Apr_4.CALTR001.html
Even though my number was changed (twice), FIA continued to accept automated monthly charges made on the first of the three numbers. (I didn't get around until recently to changing the billing account on the vendors' sites.)
And the banks don't tell you. I found out about the last change when I tried to check my bill online. The system said I had no account - not that the number was changed, but that the account was gone. Seems that when they're processing the change, the banks (or at least BofA) takes down the account completely. So don't wait until the last day to pay your bill - you may not be able to find out what it is, or be able to pay it.
Denied use? A couple of years ago, just as I was about to leave on a month long (domestic) trip, I found out (by luck, I think) that my primary card was frozen (number being changed, again). The bank told me that they would put an override on the account so that I could continue using the card for at least part of the time.
When I got to the car rental, the card was denied. (Fortunately, I carry several backups.) When I got to the hotel, I told them that the card would probably be denied, but to try running it. Denied, of course. Turns out that their override mechanism is via a second system that goes down for maintenance Sunday nights, when I was arriving at my destination. More information they don't tell you until you get burned. Card worked okay the next day when I didn't need it.
Not that it will help with your CC, but next time if you buy something slightly less expensive, you can avoid the tax (clothing/shoes in NYC under $110 are exempt):
http://www.tax.ny.gov/press/rel/2012/clothingsalestax032812.htm
Thanks. Explains why later on, only a few floors lower, I was able to get the same (Visa) card to go through for a $40 sweater. However, can't fit very many sweaters into the airline's baggage allowance. Shoes work better.
Here's a thought: Next time I'll ask the clerk to break up the shoe purchase into 2 single shoes - charging $70-$80 for each one.
I'm back to snail mail and writing checks.
We all depend on these cards for everyday expenses. The banks have been slow to adopt newer technologies and it makes me wonder if that has cost them more money in the end had they just gone ahead with newer tech cards? The next evolution of paying with phones and such might be a bit more secure but the bank policies will still be around.
This is amplified if you have one card you like to use Because of airline miles program or other benefits.
years ago chase called to verify our spending in europe. they stopped as the pattern continued. (we never had issues spending out of state.) next time when i called them, they didn't care -- they said to tell them when i am next going to the ukraine again, not london.
when one of my cards was breached, the fraudulent changes that appeared were multiple hundreds of dollars spent by a thief in ...... macy's department store in new york! we got a call immediately (even before some of the charges hit the cc). i dk'd the charges and received a new card.
so i am of those people who don't mind extra diligence from the cc company. do use there online notification services before travel to avoid any surprises.
Happy travels, Derf
But in the U.S. I used a CC issued by my Commercial Bank, (Wells Fargo), which is also tied to my checking/savings account, They have never declined any charges (and better never) and of course I am protected 100% against any fraudulent charges........
presto, no problems....
But I have 100's of dress shoes, Wing tips and everything I would give you....no longer needed....
There were some other brands there for $400+ (more in your league:)
carry cash (is that still available) or travelers checks (do they still make them) next time.
Very BIG shoes to fill
@JohnChisum ... Yes. atm with a bank that has branches throughout the US for domestic travel. although daily withdrawals may be limited via atm.