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Card declined

E

Epperstang

Member
Went to make some purchases using my debit card. It was the weekend after payday so knew I had money in the account.
The cashier gave me a funny look, told me to reenter my PIN.
She said, "your card was declined."
Asked her to set my purchases aside while I went to the ATM.
"Unauthorized use" came up on the ATM.
WTF?????????

Hadn't used the card for a few weeks. I had been to my bank and obtained a cashiers check earlier that morning and nothing was said about problems with my account.

So back to the bank I went and marched in furious.

While calm on the exterior I was seething on the inside. But I kept it together as I asked the nice girl at the counter "Why is my debit card being denied?"
She pulled up the account and got a funny grin.
"There were several gas purchases on the same day. That's a red flag for a stolen card. Thieves use a stolen card to get gas because there's no PIN and it tells them if there is money in the account."
I was puzzled and asked "when was this?"

I quickly realized it was the day I gave my card to my husband to fill all the stangs and put them into winter hibernation.

I told the nice girl they were my legitimate purchases and she released the account.

So I couldn't stay angry. They were protecting me. Not many people make six gas purchases within a couple hours.

J.
 
Inconvenient, but good job by the bank IMO. I've had them call me on my cell after a number of purchases in my little town.
 
Yeah, the monitor for unusual patterns and frankly I am glad they do.

Last Tuesday MasterCard called and turns out someone had a fraudulent card and they were using it to buy $3,000 worth of stuff at Bed, Bath and Beyond and they literally even booked a trip on Orbits. I had to scratch my head about the trip though...wouldn't that be easy to catch? Just have a cop at the check in counter waiting on them.

Either way, we don't have to pay for the bogus charges and they had us a new card by Thursday.
 
What bank, mine did the same thing. Earlier this year they blocked my ATM due to suspicious activity, but then never called or e-mailed to let me know or ask a security question to reactivate. I thought maybe it was a bad magnet as most places tried to clean it and rerun. After two days I called and the guy very calmly tells me "oh yeah, we blocked it" :wtf
 
I think I would have reacted exactly like you Joyce. Your right, under the circumstances, no way you can complain.
 
Texaco froze my gas card while we were traveling cross country on the motorcycle a few years ago. After a serious call from the middle of nowhere, I got to the bottom of things. The policy was that if you did three gas stops in the same day, more than 100 miles apart, they froze the card. The Gold Wing went 200 plus on a tank and we were doing 900 to 1000 miles per day. I convinced them how we were traveling based on the sizes of the fillups plus they had to call a local station to verify I was actually there. About an hour delay but, when all was said and done, it gave me a bit of confidence that they were protecting my best interests.
 
"AzPete" said:
Texaco froze my gas card while we were traveling cross country on the motorcycle a few years ago. After a serious call from the middle of nowhere, I got to the bottom of things. The policy was that if you did three gas stops in the same day, more than 100 miles apart, they froze the card. The Gold Wing went 200 plus on a tank and we were doing 900 to 1000 miles per day. I convinced them how we were traveling based on the sizes of the fillups plus they had to call a local station to verify I was actually there. About an hour delay but, when all was said and done, it gave me a bit of confidence that they were protecting my best interests.
Click to expand...

Chevron did the same thing to me and I worked for Chevron at the time. Good thing that I knew someone in the CC division who was able to get it kicked loose. at 3AM in the morning CA time.
 
Good thing it wasn't Friday night and you had an emergency on the road or something. I would think a good bank like mine would call and ask you. They did me.

Mel
 
I've had this happen twice before, but our credit union always calls to check. Once it was a real problem, and they locked the account & FedExed me a new card. The other time i filled every vehicle we have on one day.

I've also had my CC used for unauthorized charges 4 times - everytime it was an employee of the CC processing folks (Visa /MC).

On the other hand, early this year, I got a Summit card so I could use the X months same as promotion (love to use other peoples money, and I always pay weeks before the dealine to be sure I don't pay hte interest). Charged ~400, then nothing until my engine parts order recently: Declined. Called the company, and they had deactivated my card since I had not used it for 6 months :wtf
 
It was a credit union where I've had an account since the mid 80's.
Twice in the past while we were traveling they did the same thing.

They might have called and left a message on my little used home phone. I always forget to check my calls.

I'm not the least bit upset now. It was just frustrating at the time.

J.
 
Weird,

What about all the guys racing their cars? A few tanks per day plus gas for the tow rig.

Glad my card doesn't do that!
 
Ok, I was thinking about this....

I thought, when you used the atm you had the PIN so why not allow it with the PIN. If it were stolen they would probably not have the PIN. Their logic of people who steal the cards buy gas because there is no PIN doesn't wash with me now that I thought about it.

There are other places I have gone and no PIN like the movies. There are some others I can't remember, but I do remember others. So, if you have the PIN and are trying to use your money on a debit card, what are they thinking?

Now that I have read that you have been doing business there since the 80s, they certainly should have called you! I am not sure about your credit union, but the one I am with here in Utah even one of the VPs know me by name. I go into my branch and the branch manager takes time out to say hi as does everyone else. I've only been with them for four years.

Now my credit union in CA was OK for when I was there. I was with them for 14.5 years and they treated me like yours is treating you. Now that I have seen the difference, I will stay with these guys for many years. I have even started an account for my new business there.

just my .02. I am glad all is well Joyce.

Mel
 
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