My dad recently added me as an authorized user on a certain cc of his. He did this over the phone, Well about a week later he recieves a letter stating that they recieved a request to add me as an AU and that if this wasn't valid he should contact them immediately. Now I am a junior, and he had the other card sent to his address, so why all the scrutiny. It seems these cc's are getting a bit out of hand with the security lately. They want you to charge alot but question and harrass you about every little detail. Some people are starting to psychologically fear using their cards.
I would not mind the cc co. sending out a validation letter at all. Its just for security reasons and the cardholders protection.
That part is fine, but do you want to be harrassed every time you might choose to make a slightly higher purchase than usual, have 15 messages on your answering service waiting for you when you get home from a vacation to Disney land with your kids because they think staying in hotels rooms in Orlando is suspicious activity, having accounts closed for no other reason than they think you're using it the wrong way? These are things that have actually happened to people. I f they get scared if you use $1000 of your credit line then don't give you a $5000 line, and also don't limit the amounts of credit increases for not using the card enough...it's just crazy.
ONE CARD DOESN'T EVEN BLINK AT A CHARGE OF ABOUT $9,000 IN ONE DAY @ HOME DEPOT...AND ANOTHER CARD CALLS YOU ABOUT 10 CHARGES TOTALING NOT EVEN $200!!! I TOLD THEM I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GET WRITTEN PERMISSION NEXT TIME THEY INTEND TO CALL (BEFORE) THEY CALL...THEN I HUNG UP ON THEM!!! I wasn't any where near the credit limit!!! I WONDER IF THAT WAS AMEX BLUE...MAYBE THAT IS WHY I CAN'T GET A LIMIT INCREASE AFTER 2 YEARS???
My mother-in-law had to talk to cc company on the phone at Pizzza Hut while we were at Disney because excessive activity on her card. Guess the cc companies don't like having to eat all but 50 bux if there is fraudulent activity going on. Gib
Yup...I've had it happen. My bank used to put a freeze on my visa checkcard all the time, despite the fact that they knew it was used for business and due to the nature of that business ran a lot of money through my account. At the time, I was doing business with companies in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada and it got to the point where I knew their security guy on a first name basis. I must have gotten weekly calls about it. I, too, appreciated the fact that they are security conscious, but it was the biggest hassle and I wasn't too happy when I'd try to use the card and be told it was declined! I feel for ya, but don't know which is worse...to have to deal with their precautions or to have all of my money stolen...lol. L
