Card declined at the supermarket and Bank Of America fraud detection.

[Frontman]

I stopped using debit card many years ago. From what I understand: Credit Card the bank and merchant are on the hook, Debit Card the money is out of your account and good luck.

This is true. You are liable for any loss in a PIN (debit) transaction, whereas in a signature transaction (through Visa, MC, or Amex), your transaction is insured. I used to run a credit consultation service, and had to explain policies to clients.

My credit card issuer sent me a fraud alert and froze my card after buying a Big Gulp at 7-11, which was silly. But when I bought a brand new car and charged the entire amount it my credit card they didn’t think to send me a fraud alert.

 

[CharlieO]

This happened to one of the guys that does the Cannonball races across America. He was moving so, fast from state to state that it declined his debit card due to possible fraud at the gas station because he was out running their algorithm. The banks software was saying it was impossible that he was in Chicago at 10pm and St Louis at 3am or whatever it was. So it declined the card.

He had to call the bank and confirm that yes it was him using the card and it wasn't fraudulent lol.

.

I'll see if I can find the story/vid. Its on the YouTube channel VinWiki, owned by Cannonball record holder Ed Bolian.

Edit: this is my memory of how the story went. It may be a little different but the gist of the story stays the same. They out ran the algorithm lol

If he could outrun the algorithm in a car, he certainly should be able to outrun it on United Airlines. Travelers should be having the same problem thousands of times every day.

 

[Colo Springs E]

I stopped using debit card many years ago. From what I understand: Credit Card the bank and merchant are on the hook, Debit Card the money is out of your account and good luck.

This is true. You are liable for any loss in a PIN (debit) transaction, whereas in a signature transaction (through Visa, MC, or Amex), your transaction is insured. I used to run a credit consultation service, and had to explain policies to clients.

Can't speak to other institutions, but a fraudulent purchase was done on my debit card account (credit union) and I wasn't out any money. They either covered it for me, or retrieved the funds or something, but I was made whole. Perhaps good will of the credit union? It wasn't a large amount, and we've been members forever.

As to the original topic, I have learned that if I'm traveling or going to be making a large purchase, best to contact the credit card company ahead of time. That's weird that the grocery store purchase was challenged.

 

[getbent]

Can't speak to other institutions, but a fraudulent purchase was done on my debit card account (credit union) and I wasn't out any money. They either covered it for me, or retrieved the funds or something, but I was made whole. Perhaps good will of the credit union? It wasn't a large amount, and we've been members forever.

As to the original topic, I have learned that if I'm traveling or going to be making a large purchase, best to contact the credit card company ahead of time. That's weird that the grocery store purchase was challenged.

maybe he was buying bacon, which can get pricy.

 

[Rocky058]

Clark Howard has a few ideas about debit cards. Worth a read.

Why You Should Never Use a Debit Card To Pay for Anything

Banks love to pitch debit cards as a way to avoid spending money you don’t have. Here's why you shouldn't use debit to pay for anything, if you can help it.

clark.com

 

[jvin248]

.

Change credit cards and carry two different ones so you have backup. All the cards are getting hit with fraud and they assume you using it regularly or slightly outside your regular work-home routine (they track) they lock the card down.

You are their customer and they sometimes forget that.

However, this is all test runs for what the Central Bank Digital Currency system to replace cash will be like. Except there will be no alternative for when your cash gets turned off for even innocuous issues like forum posting possible controversial topics. You'll be stranded at some gas station with a couple of your kids under five and not enough fuel to get home safely.


.

 

[staxman]

maybe he was buying bacon, which can get pricy.

Especially if you eat it a pound at a time.

 

[BuckNekkid]

BofA has long stopped circling the drain, and nothing bearing their logo will ever again grace the face of a loan document, mortage or credit card in my wallet.

 

[Frontman]

I got a fraud alert on my credit card after spending a couple dollars at 7-11, and had to call to get my card reactivated. Citi said it was a “suspicious transaction.” The same year I bought a new car using for nearly $40k, paid for it with a credit card,
and didn’t get a fraud alert. I guess spending that much on a credit card isn’t at all suspicious.

 

[staxman]

These days if you allow your bank/credit card issuer to track your location via your phone app, it can help with your card being declined for a fraud alert. Let’s say you’re traveling and want to buy some protection at 7/11 to use with the companion you met after the conference; you’re good to go because the credit card folks know where you’re at by phone tracking. Same thing with the motel charge.

 

[Recce]

About a year ago I had that happen at a farming supply store. It really surprised me as I just used the card to fuel up on the way to the store. I first figured there was something wrong with the store's reader or something and went over to my bank's branch to use the ATM (after hours), but it ate the card and advised me to contact the bank.

When I called they told me that somebody had attempted to withdraw funds from an ATM more than 50 miles away in another city. The fraud dept told me that they didn't input the correct PIN so they cancelled the transaction and shut down my card. It really made no sense since I had my card, so they never did have it...just some skimmer device or something.

What sucked was that it was on a Saturday evening so no banking hours until Monday. I had zero access to my account until then and had to wait 10 days to receive a replacement card. Sure glad that I fueled up first or I would have been walking home.

From that day onward, I make certain that I always carry at least $50 in cash on me so I am never stranded. The bank believed that the thief actually obtained the card number at the gas station (likely parked right next to me) and then tried to clean out my account a couple of towns over.

I hate a thief more than anything in the world. I film the cars next to me at gas pumps now while I fill up. I would love nothing more than to catch a thief like this in the act.

I am not sure what I would do if I caught you filming me while I was filling up. I am not sure it would go well.

 

[getbent]

I got a fraud alert on my credit card after spending a couple dollars at 7-11, and had to call to get my card reactivated. Citi said it was a “suspicious transaction.” The same year I bought a new car using for nearly $40k, paid for it with a credit card,
and didn’t get a fraud alert. I guess spending that much on a credit card isn’t at all suspicious.

there is some intelligence to your card. It learns things you do and things you don't do. I'm kind of impressed when things get flagged.

Our favorite bar/restaurant is a place where i overtip by large margins. The first time I did it, it flagged it. After I checked 'all good' it understands now.

 

[stantheman]

I had a card I was sending from a mailbox
stolen - a check for $50.00 was "washed"
and changed to $8,000 and I too found out
@ the market. What a PITA!
Needless to say The Post Office got NEW
ANTI-THEFT mailboxes...This is happening all over The Country and from
what I was told it is gang related.
Draw Your Own Conclusions.
Bless Their Hearts.

 

[Tarkus60]

I love my credit union. I get cash back on my debit card. And a text message if there is a issue.
So far this year I received $108 in cash back.

 

[imwjl]

I had a card I was sending from a mailbox
stolen - a check for $50.00 was "washed"
and changed to $8,000 and I too found out
@ the market. What a PITA!
Needless to say The Post Office got NEW
ANTI-THEFT mailboxes...This is happening all over The Country and from
what I was told it is gang related.
Draw Your Own Conclusions.
Bless Their Hearts.

My understanding is people will be seeing more mail boxes like some newer neighborhoods here where they are all in one place. Some of them in a secure place with security systems in place. It is a move that combines aesthetics, costs and security in one. A newer area in my municipality has the whole neighborhood using mail boxes in a single room.

I draw conclusions on my own, but must also do it in a group in the context of my tasks and responsibility in a grocery chain. The crime matters are quantified by the loss prevention, cash offices, banks and payment processing. A lot of crime, theft and scamming is rather constant and has been there in the 100+ year of the company. At times some events or new technology have an impact. The ways tried change over time.

What is really clear is a lot of individuals are poor in their habits and that influences the card issuers. This era of EMV makes things seem inconsistent. A hand full of cards that all say MasterCard or Visa have different rules set by their issuers.

Something to consider is a lot of people miss or don't know the reality because they are controlled by fears, poor control over cognitive biases, and too many consume adulterated news product.

 

[FuncleManson]

For in-person transactions, I'm cash only.