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by beetree on 11 September 2012 - 12:09
LOL, Yesterday, I was having trouble with my debit card. It actually was being declined. I wasn't sure if it was because my card was old and the magnetic strip was messed up. It had been very fussy lately, if the shops had a new swiping machine it wouldn't be happy any more. Some places no problem, others they would want to process it as credit.
So now, I opened my mail and the bank informed me they decided to block my account for my protection. I guess buying plane tickets to Montana, pet carriers, the Computer Shop and taking out cash make me a real suspect! To myself!!! Can you believe if I was actually on my trip and they did this to me?
I ended up using my credit card, but geeze.... they make it so hard to pay cash these days! Now I have to wait for the bank to open and give them a call. It is nice to know they are "looking out" for me, but really....!
And me, having to suffer the clerk's calm suggestion, "Um, mam, do you have another card, this one's been declined." And I know there is money in the damn account, so I of course insist, they try it again! Until I am forced to give them the credit card. And I know the person behind me is giving me the huge rolling eyeballs while they wait for me to hurry the &$*@ UP.
So now, I opened my mail and the bank informed me they decided to block my account for my protection. I guess buying plane tickets to Montana, pet carriers, the Computer Shop and taking out cash make me a real suspect! To myself!!! Can you believe if I was actually on my trip and they did this to me?
I ended up using my credit card, but geeze.... they make it so hard to pay cash these days! Now I have to wait for the bank to open and give them a call. It is nice to know they are "looking out" for me, but really....!
And me, having to suffer the clerk's calm suggestion, "Um, mam, do you have another card, this one's been declined." And I know there is money in the damn account, so I of course insist, they try it again! Until I am forced to give them the credit card. And I know the person behind me is giving me the huge rolling eyeballs while they wait for me to hurry the &$*@ UP.
by LadyFrost on 11 September 2012 - 13:09
ouch....sorry bee.....i had same thing happen to me, we took a trip to FL and our bank "assumed" it was stolen...they suggested we give them heads up next time we go out fo town...I said "are you frigging kidding me, i don't even tell my mother when and where I am going, you think i am going to check in with you???" and than we parted ways and I took my $ to credit union.....i hate banks...they are a bunch of control freaks....
by beetree on 11 September 2012 - 13:09
Wow, it actually was fraud! Someone "manufactured" my card and tried to use it! It is now cut up and I have to get a new one. Great! This makes me feel absolutely great. The crooks tried to buy something from Macy's for $500 and a test charge at Hampton Inn. 
by BabyEagle4U on 11 September 2012 - 14:09
LOL beetree - that happened to me awhile back. I don't have credit cards I have Visa and MasterCard debit cards. My bank blocked my Visa debit card once when my mom and I were in New York City shopping !!! We go once a year to NYC shopping before the holidays.
My bank blocked the card because I was buying in New York City and someone else was buying in Indiana with the same card - but the thief in Indiana wasn't swiping the card they were reciting the number at the register saying the bogus card in their hand wasn't working !!
They bought gas for $5.00, shoes $112.00, stereo equiptment $480.00 and a $200.00 dinner at a restaurant. lol Who buys dinner that's $200.00 ?
Anyhows, I got a notice via TMS from my bank that my card was now blocked - I called immediately my bank and asked why, I told them where I was and had to wire cash to them to prove it -- now that they know what's going on - they asked if they could unblock the card to catch the thief in the act and any and all purchases in Indiana will be refunded. I was like ya if that's the only way to catch the thief. Just as long as they refund me all that money. Gezzzz I would never pay $100.00 for a pair of shoes (cowboy boots yes (LOL) or $200.00 for a dinner.
They cought the thief that night going to a movie theater. All my money was refunded the next day. Now I must call them in advance before I leave my local area to prevent this from happening again.
I would have felt like crap if I was with my mom paying for stuff and my cards didn't work at the register. I'm glad my bank has an Android App or that's exactly what would have happened.
The bank later told me, the thief just randomly guessed at my credit card number and tested it at gas station purchasing a small amount of gas - because the buyer swipes the card nowadays when the card malfunctions the register person just askes them to read the number and they enter it that way.
Crazy.
My bank blocked the card because I was buying in New York City and someone else was buying in Indiana with the same card - but the thief in Indiana wasn't swiping the card they were reciting the number at the register saying the bogus card in their hand wasn't working !!
They bought gas for $5.00, shoes $112.00, stereo equiptment $480.00 and a $200.00 dinner at a restaurant. lol Who buys dinner that's $200.00 ?
Anyhows, I got a notice via TMS from my bank that my card was now blocked - I called immediately my bank and asked why, I told them where I was and had to wire cash to them to prove it -- now that they know what's going on - they asked if they could unblock the card to catch the thief in the act and any and all purchases in Indiana will be refunded. I was like ya if that's the only way to catch the thief. Just as long as they refund me all that money. Gezzzz I would never pay $100.00 for a pair of shoes (cowboy boots yes (LOL) or $200.00 for a dinner.
They cought the thief that night going to a movie theater. All my money was refunded the next day. Now I must call them in advance before I leave my local area to prevent this from happening again.
I would have felt like crap if I was with my mom paying for stuff and my cards didn't work at the register. I'm glad my bank has an Android App or that's exactly what would have happened.
The bank later told me, the thief just randomly guessed at my credit card number and tested it at gas station purchasing a small amount of gas - because the buyer swipes the card nowadays when the card malfunctions the register person just askes them to read the number and they enter it that way.
Crazy.
by Nans gsd on 11 September 2012 - 15:09
OH, that's creepy. Well kudo's to your bank for being efficient; you wonder sometimes what they would really do. Now you know. Great days, glad you weren't traveling or something. Nan
by Gigante on 11 September 2012 - 16:09
Traveling from state to state, this has happened to me many times. Gas at this station purchased, next state over declined. Now when the declined comes up, I have the number in my phone and have to call and get the block released, so as to keep using my own money.
I think we have all rolled our eyes at the "but I have money in there" guy in front. No so much anymore when its happened to you.
by mtndawg on 11 September 2012 - 18:09
It's happened to me a couple times. The first time I used it to buy a firearm, and the bank immediately cut it off. Kinda weird, but got it sorted out without any real inconvenience on my end, other than getting declined at the gas station once. Second time someone used my card # and spent $1.35 at a hotel in Florida, I live in Colorado. Bank called me right away and said that whoever had my # was in the process of testing it to see if it would work. Glad they are able to catch it that fast.
by Bhaugh on 13 September 2012 - 03:09
Buyer beware of debit cards. Debit cards do NOT have the same protection as credit cards do and depending on your bank, can leave you with a higher liability than for a credit card. Thieves can wipe out your acct with the blink of an eye. I try and only use it when I can see the card. Otherwise its credit then I pay the charge the same day.
For an emergency I had to use mine at the airport for a pay phone. A blinking pay phone...number was stolen. BUT it took me a few DAYS to get the money back into my acct. Thank God it was for a small amount!
For an emergency I had to use mine at the airport for a pay phone. A blinking pay phone...number was stolen. BUT it took me a few DAYS to get the money back into my acct. Thank God it was for a small amount!
by Mindhunt on 16 September 2012 - 19:09
My son was the victim of identity theft many years ago (try and explain to financial companies that a 2 year old would not be purchasing expensive trips and taking out cash advances on his own credit card !!!!!!!). It was resovled successfully with the appropriate people prosecuted.
I am very careful of my debit and credit cards. I keep the lowest possible limit on my credit card no matter how hard my bank wants me to raise it. I also keep the lowest amount possible in my checking account and have my bank check with me before transfering money into my checking account for an overdraft on my debit card (checks are different, they can transfer money when they need to). I always tell my bank when I am going on a trip and where I will be, or if I am going to make a large purchase or many purchases that add up. I never let my card out of sight and am suspicious of people that hover near my purse with their purse or other bag and move immediately (so easy to clone cards by stealing the info off the strip).
I was saved when my account was hacked into and several purchases were made totalling a few dollars (like mtndawg said, it is used to see if they can get by with a large purchase or cash advance) from an IP address in Michigan while I was getting gas in Georgia. Your bank's attention to your account, while inconvenient sometimes, is a good thing. Keep in mind how many accounts they have to watch that shutting it down automatically while they investigate is really the only way to handle suspicious actions or so my banking fraud friend told me.
I am very careful of my debit and credit cards. I keep the lowest possible limit on my credit card no matter how hard my bank wants me to raise it. I also keep the lowest amount possible in my checking account and have my bank check with me before transfering money into my checking account for an overdraft on my debit card (checks are different, they can transfer money when they need to). I always tell my bank when I am going on a trip and where I will be, or if I am going to make a large purchase or many purchases that add up. I never let my card out of sight and am suspicious of people that hover near my purse with their purse or other bag and move immediately (so easy to clone cards by stealing the info off the strip).
I was saved when my account was hacked into and several purchases were made totalling a few dollars (like mtndawg said, it is used to see if they can get by with a large purchase or cash advance) from an IP address in Michigan while I was getting gas in Georgia. Your bank's attention to your account, while inconvenient sometimes, is a good thing. Keep in mind how many accounts they have to watch that shutting it down automatically while they investigate is really the only way to handle suspicious actions or so my banking fraud friend told me.
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