bluntmoney.com

I find it interesting that different credit & debit card companies handle potential fraud with their cards differently.

I remember an incident that happened when I went shopping at Michael’s. I went in intending to pay for some artwork I’d had framed, but got distracted and bought a smaller item first. Then I remembered what I’d originally come for, and paid for my framing.

I hadn’t even made it to the car yet when my credit card company gave me a call on my cell phone.

“Do you have your credit card with you?” they asked.

“What were the last purchases you made?”

I answered them, and asked why they wanted to know. They explained that my pattern of purchases (an inexpensive item, then an expensive item a few minutes later) triggered their fraud alert.

I realize it’s in their interest to protect themselves from fraud, but I thought that their quick response and call to my cell was nice.

I’ve heard other stories though of people just having their cards canceled because they tried to buy something that was apparently deemed unusual. Has that ever happened to you?

On a related note, I got home from a trip recently to find a message on my answering machine (yes, we actually have an answering machine) stating that my debit card had been reissued due to potentially fraudulent use. (Meaning me buying a couple of items while out of state.)

That kind of annoyed me. Of course, it’s my fault because I forgot to notify the bank that I’d be out of town, but…they could call to tell me it had been reissued and would be canceled, but not call to ask me if maybe I was out of state? (Not that they had my cell number anyway…)

During the same trip, a credit card company made no mention of my out of state charges. But THAT card was one that I’ve actually had fraudulent charges on in the past. When I saw those charges and called about it, they just took them off my account immediately and issued a new card.

It appears there are as many different ways of handling potential (and real) fraud as there are cards.