Venice = Venezuela

[Yfandes]

Ok, so hubby and I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Venice, Italy. Before we left, like a good little card holder, I called my debit and credit card companies to tell them the dates and location for our trip. So as not to interfere with my shopping

I don't always do this, and my debit card has worked when I don't - all around the Pacific rim. And I have had problems when I do tell them of my travels. But in these times of banks gobbling up other banks, I figured I'd give them a heads up.

So I go to pull 100 Euro out of the handy dandy money machine in Venice and I get refused I figured I just didn't pick a machine with the star thingy on it. Good thing I carry back up cards and cash! I thought no more of it and used hubbys money

This afternoon, back at home, we are at our local bar drinking bloody Marys in the sunshine. I go to pay, and my card is declined

After 40 minutes on hold and through 2 drops while calling my bank, I finally get routed automatically to the "fraud prevention" department - despite what options I select.

I am finally connected! To a real live person!

NDM = Nice, but dumb young man on the phone
Me = moi

NDM: yes, our records show an attempted transaction for $127 in Veni... Vene... Venezuela! We blocked it for your security!
Me: Actually that was in Venice, Italy - and I TOLD <Bank> that I would be traveling there and to NOT block it.
NDM: Well, sometimes our security and fraud prevention database isn't updated in a timely manner
Me: I tried to take that money out 10 days after telling you of my travel plans!
NDM: Uh... Then my records show another attempt at <bar near my house>, which we blocked for your protection.
Me: Yes, I am home now. May I please have my card unblocked?
NDM: Sure thing! All done Ms Yfandes. Thank you very much and have a nice day!

Ugh - it seems my card ONLY gets blocked when I tell them of my travel plans. I've flown to Chile without telling brother bank, and put two entire roasted lambs and drinks for the whole crew on that card - no problem! But I tell them I'm on travel and BOOM, its blocked. Never again!

[ShugoAC]

I have, honest to god, gone to the same supermarket and bought within the same 25$ range of mass groceries (250-275$ per month) at the same store and had then block the stupid card and not let me use it. I had to spend an hour in the parking lot and then another hour to get my groceries again because the store put them away.

Meanwhile, i travel all around the country and hit 30 or 40 different gas stations in a 3 week period while i'm jobless and they never stop a thing. Boggles my mind.

It's like they intentionally are stupid. But then again life has taught me not to expect anything less from people.

[Lachrymose]

Well, Venezuela IS named after Venice, at least.

[wraiths_crono]

A certain red white and blue bank with countries name on it, has blocked my card a few times when I was a delivery driver, their reason: no one would ever buy gas in two parts of the same metro area (basically started in north phoenix, ended in chandler aprox 50 miles difference in gas stations)

[scruff]

oh lord, my old boss used to get her cards blocked regularly.
Worked in England, but came from Norway (IIRC), so regularly popped home to visit relatives.

And after every trip she'd be on the phone to the bank yelling about how of course she used her card in England, then Norway, then England again, it was a regular thing, why didn't they check her records?

[PepperElf]

My bank was like that... sorta...

When I was on the east coast, they never questioned a single transaction... even when I went on deployment through Europe and the Middle East.

Then when I changed coasts and went to Japan... Every single time I went to a new port they questioned my transactions. They didn't block them, just called Mom (I had her phone number on the account). And I can't call them up ahead of time and say "I'm going to be in port X in March, Y in April and Z in May" because... that'd be giving out ship's movement information.

So I'd go online, look at my transactions and then send them an email through their system saying "Yes that's me."

Pissed me off to no end...
Until they called once and it really was an illegal transaction.

I hadn't been using the card for a while so I went online, reviewed my account and found several purchases that I'd never made. I called them up, had the card permanently blocked (labeled as fraud) so that it couldn't be used again and had a new card issued.

After that, it never bothered when they questioned a purchase. Well... ok maybe once in a while... Like when I got the new card and updated my account information for some of my recurring bills... I mean I've been paying those bills monthly for over a year and NOW you want to question them? O_o

Though part of me wonders ... if they started getting stricter about my account when I chewed them out a couple of years ago. For not updating the address on my account when I told them to.

[Gerrinson]

I just had my card blocked for 'suspicious' transactions this weekend. Of course, they called and my g/f answered and forget to give me the message so I found out the hard way when I tried to buy a sandwich before D&D.

Normally, I have only two charges to my card each month. My Blockbuster Online and Vonage monthly fees. These charges have been put on my card every month for the last 2 years. According to the CSR I spoke to, these charges look 'very suspicious' and if they continue they will most likely be blocked again. I asked him why it was so suspicious considering my history with those companies. He replied that the charges took place on a Sunday and that makes them suspicious. So, 1st of the month falls on a Sunday = credit card fraud? I then asked why they let the charges through in February when the 1st was also on a Sunday. He didn't like my logic, apparently, but they've released the funds 'just this once.'

I'm wondering what will happen next month. Will they refuse to release the charges even if I verify that the charges are correct?

[LibraryLady]

I while back I received a call from my credit card company saying that there was evidence that someone had stolen my information and were making 'suspicious' charges on it. The company had canceled my old card and was sending me a new one.

this they did but, what were the 'suspicious' charges?

A contribution to a public broadcasting station
A $18 bottle of wine from a neighborhood shop
A $5 used book bought on the net

Note: these were the only charges on the card that month and were made over a two week period. I was amazed the identity thief had such excellent self-control.

C'mon people! I'd expect any self-respecting identity thief to have more fun with my info than that

Of course, it was no surprise that the new card had a significantly lower limit than the old one but why not just say they were lowering my limit instead of this game about identity theft?

[katie kaboom]

Of course, it was no surprise that the new card had a significantly lower limit than the old one but why not just say they were lowering my limit instead of this game about identity theft?

Because they don't want you to realize they're screwing you, so they make you think you're just a victim of identity theft. Pathetic if you ask me.

[Muses_nightmare]

He didn't like my logic, apparently, but they've released the funds 'just this once.'

I hate that, I had my bank do that with a paycheque. I had been depositing them for about 3 months, and I get up to the teller and he tells me that there's going to have to be a 5 day hold on it. My reaction was to ask "And may I ask why there's a hold now when there hasn't been for the past 3 months? This is my paycheque." He told me something about them not knowing if the person that issued the cheque had the funds or something, making sure it cleared, something about it not being the same bank. I can't even remember. I did complain about his attitude towards me, which is something I wouldn't normally do, but when he said "I'll let it go this time" I thought that the manager should know about how their policies are being flip-flopped from one thing to another suddenly, and how some employees were talking to customers (I'd had some pretty crappy customer service from that particular branch before too, nothing major though)

[Setsunaela]

That's ridiculous.. I remember Chris and I's bank called questioning about fraud when we bought our laptop.. months and months of under $50 transactions.. and then over $2000 lol. I can't blame them for calling to verify..
We call them every time we go up to Arlington for the anime conventions, now, too.

Also, I have to be geeky and..

*Squee!!* Vanyel is awesome.. only to be outranked by his Companion.. >.>

[Yfandes]

*Squee!!* Vanyel is awesome.. only to be outranked by his Companion.. >.>

LOL I searched the whole thread for reference to my beloved Vanyel and companion and then remembered my screen name

Back on topic:
I have to say, looking back, the only time I've had my identity/card compromised it was something that happened internally at the bank. So I'm always a little suspicious of any card blockage on normal transactions, but that's just me.

[Bosch]

A certain red white and blue bank with countries name on it, has blocked my card a few times when I was a delivery driver, their reason: no one would ever buy gas in two parts of the same metro area (basically started in north phoenix, ended in chandler aprox 50 miles difference in gas stations)

The Wamu bank will do that too.. And when you only buy 3 gallons of gas at a time like you would for a motorcycle, nope buy gas for the bike then go to fill the car monday and nada nope don't work.

"well ma'am we locked up your card since someone tried to buy only a few gallons of gasoline with it, and no one buys only a few gallons of fuel with a atm card."

I do you asshole cause I have a motorcycle and a car!

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Frankly it has me nervous. My bank is another bank now, changed from yet another bank, all within a month. I got my bank account when it was "free." Now, everytime I transfer from savings to checking or visa versa, it charges me 5 dollars and immediately refunds it. If that's what this new bank charges, one only wonders what other fees it has, and when they will finally tell me that I have an account with them now, so I have to just suck it. I don't expect a big warning, but I keep an eye on my account.

Thing is, I heard on the radio that the banks are adding on little fees everywhere because they are desperately trying to pretend they are solvent, and want to appear that way. They're grabbing money however they can. It's just that frequent transactions will be penalized now. Even electronic ones, for the looks of it.

[auntiem]

The Wamu bank will do that too.. And when you only buy 3 gallons of gas at a time like you would for a motorcycle, nope buy gas for the bike then go to fill the car monday and nada nope don't work.

"well ma'am we locked up your card since someone tried to buy only a few gallons of gasoline with it, and no one buys only a few gallons of fuel with a atm card."

I do you asshole cause I have a motorcycle and a car!

I can think of tons of reasons to buy just a little gas, like lawnmowers, gas powered generators, washing batiks (when you run too short on time to take it to the dry cleaners and it is due the next morning).

I used to tell my clients to call their card companies when they were going to be travelling, until one client volunteered off a flight and stayed a few extra days. Their card was declined for dinner that night and took most of the rest of their extra days to get it cleared.
Half the time I remember to do it and half the time I don't - but then the card I use on trips is only for travel related expenses so maybe that doesn't red flag me.