Always check for new messages...

[Xairbusdriver]

We have reached the point where we simply do not answer the phone if the caller ID is not visible or recognizable. Unfortunately, that means "CARDMEMBERS SVCS" may not show up completely. All I remember seeing was "CARDMEMBER". Obviously, I rarely, if ever, call the number that appeared. I probably would have answered if I had seen the "SVCS" part. More likely, I would have checked to see if there was a message left.

Turns out there was a message, "Joe" said there was a problem we needed to talk about with my CC. He left a nice toll-free number, which I called. The answering system sounded like the last time I had called 'Membership Services' and I did have to wait a while before being connected to a human. Of course, I was not connected to "Joe" and the voice started asking for name, address, city, state, zip, etc. Finally I realized I was was giving him a lot of useful info without actually knowing who he was or who he really worked for. I told him as much and he said he completely understood and suggested that I just call the number on the back of my card. I took him up on that! It is what I should have done in the beginning, and I would only remind everyone to do the same. A phone number offered over the phone is no better than a link in an email! Even worse, you can't verify it easily. You can use a browser to look up the number, but it can be a waste of time; just use a bookmark... I mean a known access number!

Turns out they had received a call from a number they knew to be used by phishers and blocked further access to my card. I should have a knew one Friday. Inconvenient, sure. Fortunately, I don't have too many automatic withdrawals on that card. OTOH, it is used in several places for on-line shopping and all those will need to be updated.

[Jack W]

That's interesting.

All the calls I have received from Card Member Services have been offers to reduce my interest rate.

Sound familiar?

Remember whats-her-name? I think it was Rachel.

Jack

[Xairbusdriver]

Seems I had some dealings with these folks or an extremely similarly named group some years ago. I don't remember being happy about it! It might have been the time they (I'm assuming here) blocked my card while my wife and I were making a rather long driving trip. On the last day, I started having trouble getting my CC to work. When I was able to contact the company, I discovered that they had decided someone had stolen the card because it was being used in places far away from our house! It was a good call with the little info they had. It didn't help that they couldn't reach us by phone since all they had was the home number. I suppose we were lucky that they didn't contact the police about our 'abduction'!!!

[Highmac]

When we went to Belgium earlier this year we were able to tell our CC company online where we were going and when so they would not block the card. And when you buy Belgian chocolates in Belgium you really need that credit card

Only downside to notification is that you're letting "someone" know when your home may be empty.

And just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT all out to get you

[Xairbusdriver]

We've always alerted the CC people when we travel out of the county, also. Since we have three people and a cat and a dog staying with us for the last and probably the next decade, we hardly ever let the local police know we'll be gone for extended time. And neighbors are great to keep an eye on things, also. Especially if you're expecting any deliveries. Mail/news paper is can be stopped, also.

I gott go, now, had a call 0on my cell that I didn't answer, it may be a contest winner announcement...

[jcarter]

Interesting, when we get a call from our credit card co, they always leave a message if we dont pick up, or recognize the caller ID.
Then they tell us to call back. And usually we get an alert by email.
We sure have to be careful nowadays.

And thats good advice when we go away too. Our neighbours come by randomly to check things out, we leave both trucks in our driveway, have multiple lights on timers. And our daughter checks the house, and is here anyway when our grandson gets on and off the school bus.
Many people have webcams set up in and around their houses, and we have motion detector lights.
We are in a very low crime area, but never hurts to be careful.

Some of our friends have thier houses monitored by our cable co, Comcast, and there are many different options of how they do this. Of course it costs a monthly fee.
We dont need to do that here, but the option is there whenever we would need it.

The app, Presence is good too, and they have just updated their system. And its free if you have an extra iPad or iPhone.

[Xairbusdriver]

Anyone recommend a CC company (other than USBank)?

I decided to check if a refund via Amazon had been applied to my CC account about a week ago. Oops! "We are unable to verify your info...", please contact 877-123-4567 or use the 'reset personal identity questions'. Oh yeah, they provided me with an error code, which none of the four people I spoke with ever asked for.

The first rep said all I needed to do was use the 're-enable' function/link. Of course, there is no RE-inable function, only an Enable one. "Oh, that's the one. Just a difference in our screens. Bye!" OK, I'll play the game. Enter all my info and I'm greeted with the the info that I'm already registered with that info. OK, maybe I entered things incorrectly the first time, I have been known to maik misteakz, okashonuly.

"Groundhogs Day", of course. The fun part is deciphering the form labels and what they actually want: "Personal ID", is actually a username; "Signature Control Panel" is the three digit number printed on the back of the card right at the end of where one writes one's signature, of course, there is not even teeny/tiny print on the card labeling those digits, as such. BTW, "Personal ID" should not be confused with "Password" which is on a different screen.

OK, call them back. Almost forgot, I could not even get through with the phone menu! After asking for my CC number, I was supposed to enter my zip code. The AI software couldn't identify the phone tones for digits, in this case. I avoided entering that a dozen times by using the old 'hit the zero button until your finger starts bleeding' method, that usually gets a message to wait for a real person to pick up the phone.

Second agent repeats what the first one said. In the back of what's left of my mind, I wonder that there may have been yet another fraudulent card number attempt. I asked what the date of this attempt might be. "Don't have that info. Let me connect you to a special rep." He didn't have it either, he asked me what date my current card had been issued. I didn't know! All I knew is that I've been using the card for at least two months, but I don't think I kept the envelope and there are no emails concerning the problem. Then, while waiting for the "Fraud Department" to pick up, I remembered this thread! AHA! It was started May 6! The current card must have come just before that! TS to the Rescue, Again!

When the fraud guy comes on line (and every time a new rep connects, I have to give them all the same info as the last one) I ask him what date of attempted fraud are we talking about. "uhmn... June 8." xABD askes, unbelievably, "You mean you've known about this attempt for two weeks, but haven't bothered to notify me?!" 'Oh, we've blocked your ability to Log In.' Well, that should solve the problem! The rep couldn't explain how that would have protected me, of course. At least I found out in only two weeks! I very rarely access my CC account, maybe once every few months, can't even remember the last time before the May event. There always seems to be some snag in the log in process and I end up talking to some one. It's infuriating!!!

Bottom line, they can't do anything but issue me another card! "We can send it to you free in ten days, or for $25, we'll get it to you Wednesday." Excuse me, I didn't have anything to do with this problem. I wouldn't even have known about it if I hadn't tried to access my account which is my right! Why should I have to pay for what some thief tried to do or that your company was too unconcerned to tell me of? "Well, if you put it that way, we'll send it UPS for free and you should have it Wednesday." That almost sounds fair, personally, I think I should have had it two weeks ago by FedEx, overnight, by 10:30 am. Have a nice week, good bye.

Note to any Admin who reads this far: no need to leave this up, I just needed to get this anger off my chest/out of my system!