Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Apr 14th 2006, 8:55 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On 13 Apr 2006 07:06:16 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Ade wrote:
>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>> have done this and no problems since then.
>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>use it overseas?????
Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
>Ade wrote:
>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>> have done this and no problems since then.
>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>use it overseas?????
Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
Apr 14th 2006, 10:59 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 09:31:25 +0100, "Miss L. Toe"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> >
>> >What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>> >use it overseas?????
>> Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>> have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>> instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>> consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
>So come on then...
>How did you get out of that situation ?
I wish there was a cool story I could tell, but actually I just used
another card. I also have friends in HK too, had worst come to worst.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> >
>> >What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>> >use it overseas?????
>> Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>> have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>> instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>> consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
>So come on then...
>How did you get out of that situation ?
I wish there was a cool story I could tell, but actually I just used
another card. I also have friends in HK too, had worst come to worst.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
Apr 14th 2006, 11:27 am
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation
Chris Blunt wrote:
> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
> to use your card.
Nonnymus wrote:
> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
Really?
Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
using my card at out of town hotels.
Those messages were followed-up by letters.
Duh-uh.
They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
BUT, as advised in this thread, I had notified them where I was going
and stating the obvious that there would be purchases for fuel, food,
and lodging 'tween points.
When I pay the bill sitting here, I'll enclose a note telling them
where I expect to be when and will also notify them by 'phone. I'll
also send them a large additional sum as I'll not be home to pay the
next bill.
-- __________________________________________________ ______________
Truth is a torch that gleams through the fog without dispelling it.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ -<->- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 -------> IClast at Gmail com
*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***
> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
> to use your card.
Nonnymus wrote:
> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
Really?
Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
using my card at out of town hotels.
Those messages were followed-up by letters.
Duh-uh.
They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
BUT, as advised in this thread, I had notified them where I was going
and stating the obvious that there would be purchases for fuel, food,
and lodging 'tween points.
When I pay the bill sitting here, I'll enclose a note telling them
where I expect to be when and will also notify them by 'phone. I'll
also send them a large additional sum as I'll not be home to pay the
next bill.
-- __________________________________________________ ______________
Truth is a torch that gleams through the fog without dispelling it.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ -<->- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 -------> IClast at Gmail com
*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***
Apr 14th 2006, 12:05 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>Chris Blunt wrote:
>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>> to use your card.
>Nonnymus wrote:
>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>Really?
>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>using my card at out of town hotels.
>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>Duh-uh.
>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
Although I have had doctor's offices do this. When Bob had a heart
attack and had an angioplasty in Miami, the doctor's office phoned our
home in Maryland to tell us that the follow-up appointment had been
postponed instead of calling our local number which I thought was
singularly stupid of them since they had both numbers.
>BUT, as advised in this thread, I had notified them where I was going
>and stating the obvious that there would be purchases for fuel, food,
>and lodging 'tween points.
In that case I think they must not really have paid attention, and I
would have a significant beef with them.
>When I pay the bill sitting here, I'll enclose a note telling them
>where I expect to be when and will also notify them by 'phone. I'll
>also send them a large additional sum as I'll not be home to pay the
>next bill.
When we travel we use only one card, which is a credit union card that
is automatically paid from our checking account each month.
grandma Rosalie
>Chris Blunt wrote:
>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>> to use your card.
>Nonnymus wrote:
>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>Really?
>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>using my card at out of town hotels.
>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>Duh-uh.
>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
Although I have had doctor's offices do this. When Bob had a heart
attack and had an angioplasty in Miami, the doctor's office phoned our
home in Maryland to tell us that the follow-up appointment had been
postponed instead of calling our local number which I thought was
singularly stupid of them since they had both numbers.
>BUT, as advised in this thread, I had notified them where I was going
>and stating the obvious that there would be purchases for fuel, food,
>and lodging 'tween points.
In that case I think they must not really have paid attention, and I
would have a significant beef with them.
>When I pay the bill sitting here, I'll enclose a note telling them
>where I expect to be when and will also notify them by 'phone. I'll
>also send them a large additional sum as I'll not be home to pay the
>next bill.
When we travel we use only one card, which is a credit union card that
is automatically paid from our checking account each month.
grandma Rosalie
Apr 14th 2006, 2:32 pm
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Dubiously Fragrant Muffin <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>
wrote:
>On 13 Apr 2006 07:06:16 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Ade wrote:
>>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>>> have done this and no problems since then.
>>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>>use it overseas?????
>Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
periods? That's what we do here, and have never had a problem.
Caveat
wrote:
>On 13 Apr 2006 07:06:16 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Ade wrote:
>>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>>> have done this and no problems since then.
>>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>>use it overseas?????
>Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
periods? That's what we do here, and have never had a problem.
Caveat
Apr 14th 2006, 3:40 pm
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>> to use your card.
>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>Really?
>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>Duh-uh.
>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
security questions.
Chris
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>> to use your card.
>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>Really?
>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>Duh-uh.
>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
security questions.
Chris
Apr 14th 2006, 3:58 pm
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Don Wiss wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Apr 2006, RichC <rcacace@{REMOVE_TO_REPLY}swfla.rr.com> wrote:
> >I just had an instance with my master card in Florida. I was charging about
> >$1,000 for a mattress & when they went to apply the charge the sales person
> >had to call the bank & had to put me on the phone & answer a few questions
> >concerning my mothers maiden name & where I last used the card & for how
> >much the sale was.(approx). I've never had a late payment. Very strange.
> Maybe the clerk didn't swipe the card? I had this happen once at a Home
> Depot when I was buying $3,000 of kitchen cabinets. The credit card company
> rep said it was because the clerk keyed in the number instead of swiping.
> That's a red flag. Plus the amount was high.
I guess there are an assortment of flags. I had almost an identical
experience in Bangkok while buying cabinets and a counter for a new
kitchen in my house. Similar price to what you had. I had to call the
CC company and do the "Mother's Maiden Name" thing. It was about
midnight on the East Coast of the US, but no problem. Just wanted to
verify it was me.
> On Thu, 13 Apr 2006, RichC <rcacace@{REMOVE_TO_REPLY}swfla.rr.com> wrote:
> >I just had an instance with my master card in Florida. I was charging about
> >$1,000 for a mattress & when they went to apply the charge the sales person
> >had to call the bank & had to put me on the phone & answer a few questions
> >concerning my mothers maiden name & where I last used the card & for how
> >much the sale was.(approx). I've never had a late payment. Very strange.
> Maybe the clerk didn't swipe the card? I had this happen once at a Home
> Depot when I was buying $3,000 of kitchen cabinets. The credit card company
> rep said it was because the clerk keyed in the number instead of swiping.
> That's a red flag. Plus the amount was high.
I guess there are an assortment of flags. I had almost an identical
experience in Bangkok while buying cabinets and a counter for a new
kitchen in my house. Similar price to what you had. I had to call the
CC company and do the "Mother's Maiden Name" thing. It was about
midnight on the East Coast of the US, but no problem. Just wanted to
verify it was me.
Apr 14th 2006, 4:04 pm
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>> to use your card.
>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>Really?
>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>Duh-uh.
>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>security questions.
They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
grandma Rosalie
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>> to use your card.
>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>Really?
>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>Duh-uh.
>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>security questions.
They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
grandma Rosalie
Apr 14th 2006, 7:10 pm
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation
Rosalie B. wrote:
> Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>to use your card.
>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>Really?
>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>security questions.
>
> They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>
> It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
> card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
> on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
> cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
> get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
>
>
> grandma Rosalie
Having the cardholder talk to the company makes sense. I've certainly
had that happen in the past. Once that I remember was charging my
wife's Christmas present on a card that I hadn't used for a year or so.
Apparently they watch for a large charge on a moderately dormant
account. All I had to do was answer a few questions to identify myself
and have the clerk verify my ID.
That kind of check makes sense. With today's communication availability
there is no excuse for terminating the use of the card without making a
serious attempt to check with the user. A company doing that would
quickly find itself at the bottom of the stack. There are way too many
companies trying to market cards with reasonable terms to put up with
that behavior. If it was a debit card it would quickly result in a
transfer of the account.
> Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>to use your card.
>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>Really?
>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>security questions.
>
> They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>
> It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
> card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
> on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
> cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
> get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
>
>
> grandma Rosalie
Having the cardholder talk to the company makes sense. I've certainly
had that happen in the past. Once that I remember was charging my
wife's Christmas present on a card that I hadn't used for a year or so.
Apparently they watch for a large charge on a moderately dormant
account. All I had to do was answer a few questions to identify myself
and have the clerk verify my ID.
That kind of check makes sense. With today's communication availability
there is no excuse for terminating the use of the card without making a
serious attempt to check with the user. A company doing that would
quickly find itself at the bottom of the stack. There are way too many
companies trying to market cards with reasonable terms to put up with
that behavior. If it was a debit card it would quickly result in a
transfer of the account.
Apr 14th 2006, 8:57 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:04:20 GMT, Rosalie B.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>Really?
>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>security questions.
>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
with the loot before you lock the door.
>It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
>card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
>on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
>cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
>get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
That sounds more like the way it should be done.
Chris
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>Really?
>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>security questions.
>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
with the loot before you lock the door.
>It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
>card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
>on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
>cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
>get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
That sounds more like the way it should be done.
Chris
Apr 14th 2006, 9:29 pm
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:04:20 GMT, Rosalie B.
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>>Really?
>>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>>security questions.
>>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
>requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
>"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
>with the loot before you lock the door.
Do you think a human does all the approvals? I don't. I think it was
probably that a human reviewed the transaction, but not in real time.
I had my credit union card rep call me when someone the previous day
had charged a small amount (less than $1) on it. He asked if I had
made the charge and when I had not (nor had my husband) he suggested
that it was a small charge to see if the card was a valid one, and
that I should deactivate my card and get another number. Which I
did.
I've also had the card company call when I was charging materials for
putting aluminum siding on the house. One of the places that I went
had a dishonest clerk and that person had rung a fake charge on my
credit card after I left the store. Given that I still had my card,
and that I had been charging similar type materials all that day, I'm
not sure how they knew that it was a fake charge - maybe because it
was keyed in instead of swiped.
>>It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
>>card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
>>on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
>>cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
>>get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
>That sounds more like the way it should be done.
I was happy with that except for the fact that I discovered later that
card charged a transaction fee for currency exchange. Since it was
Bahamian dollars to US dollars (which are on a par) I thought this was
egregious.
grandma Rosalie
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:04:20 GMT, Rosalie B.
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>>Really?
>>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>>security questions.
>>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
>requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
>"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
>with the loot before you lock the door.
Do you think a human does all the approvals? I don't. I think it was
probably that a human reviewed the transaction, but not in real time.
I had my credit union card rep call me when someone the previous day
had charged a small amount (less than $1) on it. He asked if I had
made the charge and when I had not (nor had my husband) he suggested
that it was a small charge to see if the card was a valid one, and
that I should deactivate my card and get another number. Which I
did.
I've also had the card company call when I was charging materials for
putting aluminum siding on the house. One of the places that I went
had a dishonest clerk and that person had rung a fake charge on my
credit card after I left the store. Given that I still had my card,
and that I had been charging similar type materials all that day, I'm
not sure how they knew that it was a fake charge - maybe because it
was keyed in instead of swiped.
>>It did happen that when we had sudden expenses of $10K and we used a
>>card that we had not used for about 4 months to spread out the charges
>>on different cards, that when the charge was put through (for the
>>cardiologist), they wouldn't accept the charge - they had to come and
>>get me so I could talk to the credit card company.
>That sounds more like the way it should be done.
I was happy with that except for the fact that I discovered later that
card charged a transaction fee for currency exchange. Since it was
Bahamian dollars to US dollars (which are on a par) I thought this was
egregious.
grandma Rosalie
Apr 15th 2006, 9:02 am
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 21:29:03 GMT, Rosalie B.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:04:20 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>>>Really?
>>>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>>>security questions.
>>>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>>They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
>>requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
>>"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
>>with the loot before you lock the door.
>Do you think a human does all the approvals? I don't. I think it was
>probably that a human reviewed the transaction, but not in real time.
Of course humans don't handle every approval request. Most credit card
companies have developed sophisticated computer systems to analyse
customer's spending patterns and watch for unusual activity. These
systems make decisions about whether to approve or deny a transaction
authorisation based on a number of factors such as where the card is
being used, how much is being charged, how recently the card has been
used, what type of store its being used in etc. That's why a
professional credit card company should have picked this up at the
approvals stage, not wait until after the customer had left the hotel
and then tried calling him at home.
Chris
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:04:20 GMT, Rosalie B.
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Chris Blunt <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:05:40 GMT, Rosalie B.
>>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>Chris Blunt wrote:
>>>>>>> Credit card companies build a profile of your normal card usage,
>>>>>>> and in an attempt to prevent fraud, watch for unusual activity
>>>>>>> that doesn't appear typical of your normal spending pattern. If
>>>>>>> you try to use the card in a way that triggers their alarm bells
>>>>>>> they'll do those kind of checks to make sure nobody else is trying
>>>>>>> to use your card.
>>>>>>Nonnymus wrote:
>>>>>>> I suspect that had we driven there, charging gas and meals along
>>>>>>> the way, it might have gone unchallenged.
>>>>>>Really?
>>>>>>Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>>>>>>messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>>>>>>using my card at out of town hotels.
>>>>>>Those messages were followed-up by letters.
>>>>>>Duh-uh.
>>>>>>They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>>>>>>contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
>>>>>If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
>>>>>have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
>>>>He may or may not have been at home. The point is that they needed to
>>>>speak to the person using the card to verify that it was the
>>>>authorised cardholder carrying out the transaction. The best way to do
>>>>that would have been to ask the hotel who were requesting
>>>>authorisation to put the customer on the line in order to answer some
>>>>security questions.
>>>They probably didn't catch it in time to do that.
>>They gave approval for the transaction to take place when the hotel
>>requested authorisation. That would have been their opportunity to
>>"catch" it. Its no use waiting until a thief has already walked off
>>with the loot before you lock the door.
>Do you think a human does all the approvals? I don't. I think it was
>probably that a human reviewed the transaction, but not in real time.
Of course humans don't handle every approval request. Most credit card
companies have developed sophisticated computer systems to analyse
customer's spending patterns and watch for unusual activity. These
systems make decisions about whether to approve or deny a transaction
authorisation based on a number of factors such as where the card is
being used, how much is being charged, how recently the card has been
used, what type of store its being used in etc. That's why a
professional credit card company should have picked this up at the
approvals stage, not wait until after the customer had left the hotel
and then tried calling him at home.
Chris
Apr 15th 2006, 10:20 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:32:38 -0700, Caveat <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Dubiously Fragrant Muffin <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>
>wrote:
>>On 13 Apr 2006 07:06:16 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Ade wrote:
>>>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>>>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>>>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>>>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>>>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>>>> have done this and no problems since then.
>>>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>>>use it overseas?????
>>Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>>have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>>instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>>consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
>Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
>advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
>periods? That's what we do here, and have never had a problem.
No it would not. Given the amount of travelling I have done, I expect
it to be assumed. They have even seen my passport and should have
taken note that I get around a lot. And their actions could have
potentially put me into some serious shit.
Fortunately my other bank (an Australian one) has proven 100%
reliable, and has saved me a couple of times.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
wrote:
>Dubiously Fragrant Muffin <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>
>wrote:
>>On 13 Apr 2006 07:06:16 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Ade wrote:
>>>> I'd certainly vouch for informing bank/credit card company - having
>>>> been stuck in the US with little cash, credit card not working (for the
>>>> simple fact that it was being used abroad so CC company put a block on
>>>> it), 7 hour time difference making it very difficult to call the bank
>>>> at home to resolve. Bank recommended that we inform them in future,
>>>> have done this and no problems since then.
>>>What kind of credit card company do you have that blocks you when you
>>>use it overseas?????
>>Lloyds TSB did that to me. They had all my contact details, and could
>>have simply called me on my (UK) mobile phone or sent me an email, but
>>instead they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
>>consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money.
>Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
>advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
>periods? That's what we do here, and have never had a problem.
No it would not. Given the amount of travelling I have done, I expect
it to be assumed. They have even seen my passport and should have
taken note that I get around a lot. And their actions could have
potentially put me into some serious shit.
Fortunately my other bank (an Australian one) has proven 100%
reliable, and has saved me a couple of times.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
Apr 15th 2006, 11:46 am
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation
Rosalie B. wrote:
> Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>> messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>> using my card at out of town hotels.
>> Duh-uh.
>> They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>> contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
> If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
> have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
Not necessarily. I could have been elsewhere using another card or
even [gasp] cash.
Chris Blunt wrote:
> The point is that they needed to speak to the person using the
> card to verify that it was the authorised cardholder carrying out
> the transaction. The best way to do that would have been to ask
> the hotel who were requesting authorisation to put the customer on
> the line in order to answer some security questions.
Rosalie B. wrote:
> When we travel we use only one card, which is a credit union card that
> is automatically paid from our checking account each month.
I take a second card "just in case" and pay my own bills. But I've
thought about electronic payment. Might still do it.
Frank F. Matthews wrote:
> Apparently they watch for a large charge on a moderately dormant
> account.
After the first night of a multi-week trip, the car died. A dealer
spent a day trying to fix it but could not. I grandly slapt a credit
card upon a desk and said "Sell me a car!"
They did. The many-thousand dollar charge seemed to slip right through.
Next day, anxious to make a dinner date hundreds of miles away, I
stopt for gas and tendered the same credit card for payment. I waited
for about fifteen minutes before enquiring about the delay and spent
another fifteen minutes on the 'phone convincing the credit card
company that it was I using my card.
Was late for dinner.
-- __________________________________________________ ______________
One of (as of 2003) 751,682 residents of San Francisco.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ -<->- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 -------> IClast at Gmail com
*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***
> Icono Clast <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Thrice in the past year or so, when I got home there were 'phone
>> messages from the credit card companying checking on whether it was I
>> using my card at out of town hotels.
>> Duh-uh.
>> They knew where the card was being used (hotels) and should have
>> contacted me where I was, not where I wasn't, i.e., at home.
> If the use of the card was fraudulent by another person, you would not
> have been at the hotel - you would have been at home.
Not necessarily. I could have been elsewhere using another card or
even [gasp] cash.
Chris Blunt wrote:
> The point is that they needed to speak to the person using the
> card to verify that it was the authorised cardholder carrying out
> the transaction. The best way to do that would have been to ask
> the hotel who were requesting authorisation to put the customer on
> the line in order to answer some security questions.
Rosalie B. wrote:
> When we travel we use only one card, which is a credit union card that
> is automatically paid from our checking account each month.
I take a second card "just in case" and pay my own bills. But I've
thought about electronic payment. Might still do it.
Frank F. Matthews wrote:
> Apparently they watch for a large charge on a moderately dormant
> account.
After the first night of a multi-week trip, the car died. A dealer
spent a day trying to fix it but could not. I grandly slapt a credit
card upon a desk and said "Sell me a car!"
They did. The many-thousand dollar charge seemed to slip right through.
Next day, anxious to make a dinner date hundreds of miles away, I
stopt for gas and tendered the same credit card for payment. I waited
for about fifteen minutes before enquiring about the delay and spent
another fifteen minutes on the 'phone convincing the credit card
company that it was I using my card.
Was late for dinner.
-- __________________________________________________ ______________
One of (as of 2003) 751,682 residents of San Francisco.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ -<->- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 -------> IClast at Gmail com
*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***
Apr 15th 2006, 2:24 pm
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Vacation Checklist and Things To Do Before Leaving On Vacation Checklist
Dubiously Fragrant Muffin <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>
wrote:
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:32:38 -0700, Caveat <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>>Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
>>advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
>>periods?
>No it would not...
I see, so you prefer your way, which produces results like this:
"...they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money."
>...Given the amount of travelling I have done, I expect
>it to be assumed. They have even seen my passport and should have
>taken note that I get around a lot.
You obviously don't understand how the system works. Computers do the
decision making on card usage, not a person at the bank who saw your
passport at some point in time. Computers don't *assume* anything.
>Fortunately my other bank (an Australian one) has proven 100%
>reliable, and has saved me a couple of times.
I hope that doesn't mean your bank in Oz blindly accepts charges to
your account from anywhere at any time. Letting your bank know where
you will be, and when, will assure that your legitimate charges are
honored, but fraudulent charges from elsewhere will not. It's to both
your benefit and your banks to have this screening information.
Caveat
wrote:
>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:32:38 -0700, Caveat <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>>Wouldn't it be better to simply let the credit card company know in
>>advance where you will be traveling in the world and during what
>>periods?
>No it would not...
I see, so you prefer your way, which produces results like this:
"...they just cancelled my card and left me to deal with the
consequences of being in Hong Kong with no access to my money."
>...Given the amount of travelling I have done, I expect
>it to be assumed. They have even seen my passport and should have
>taken note that I get around a lot.
You obviously don't understand how the system works. Computers do the
decision making on card usage, not a person at the bank who saw your
passport at some point in time. Computers don't *assume* anything.
>Fortunately my other bank (an Australian one) has proven 100%
>reliable, and has saved me a couple of times.
I hope that doesn't mean your bank in Oz blindly accepts charges to
your account from anywhere at any time. Letting your bank know where
you will be, and when, will assure that your legitimate charges are
honored, but fraudulent charges from elsewhere will not. It's to both
your benefit and your banks to have this screening information.
Caveat