You Really Got a Hold on Me
Joelle said during prime time on June 8, 2007
Have you ever been standing at a checkout and had your debit card declined when you know there is money in your account? If so, you’re familiar with the feeling that comes over you. It’s a delightful emotional cocktail of embarrassment, annoyance and worry.
After a mad sprint to a bank kiosk where my card was also declined, the annoyance evaporated only to be replaced by flat-out fear. I called customer service and got stuck in a never-ending voice-activated phone tree. Oh, how I abhor those things! I managed to stay relatively calm (miracle!) and finally got customer service on the line. I thought perhaps the strip had gone bad on my card — I’ve had it for 3 years or so, though I did just use it last night. They told me there was a critical hold on my account and that I had to talk to their fraud division. At this point, I still didn’t really understand what they were telling me. I desperately hoped this was just some random charge I made that set off alarms — not a huge deal, more of an annoyance.
Boy, was I wrong. After reviewing my account and confirming my passwords and such, they told me that my card number had been part of an identity theft download. They quickly confirmed that my charges were legitimate, so it seems as though they put the hold on my account just in the nick.There are two small charges I noticed when I got home for under two dollars each. They came from some online billing service and probably lead back to someone teaching themselves a lesson in their mom’s basement. I’m going to call the bank tomorrow and ask them to investigate those charges. Seriously, who pays for it anymore?
I can’t begin to tell you how I love my bank now. I’ve had mixed emotions about them in the past, but this time, they get a cookie. I can’t believe they managed to block it before my account was drained — assuming anyone had interest in my pittance. Note to self: it can happen to you. I honestly can’t imagine where this happened, but I’m really happy they caught it.
I have to wait 5 to 7 business days to get my new card, so I’m kind of stuck until then — I should go into the bank in the morning and get cash, I suppose. I still feel a bit weirded out. Saying I feel violated seems a bit dramatic, but… I kind of do. It could have been so much worse, but now I’m a bit paranoid. At least my card is cancelled. I think I’m going to stay in the rest of the weekend — it’s just been an off week. We’ve got editing to do, anyway.
It’s all okay now, but I could still use a drink. Sheesh! 
Moxie Design Studios™
Had that happen to me, to the tune of $1000. I eventually got my money back (took a week or so), but in that particular instance, they didn’t catch it.
I hope they catch whoever did that, hang them from their eyelids, and kick them in their bits until they blink.
With as much shopping as I do online, I just know it’s gonna happen to me sooner or later...and I dread that day.
But, that was really awesome of your bank to actually take preemptive action. Did they say what or where the accounts were taken from? If it was Amazon, I’d soooo be screwed! :-O
from SD CA (this week) • Cocktail: Red Headed Slut
oy vey....the secret to get through bofa’s voice menu? press 0. but yeah, their fraud dept is excellent and their policy is to credit back within 24 hours. just make sure you fill out the paperwork when you get it so the credit stays on your account.
(spoken like a former banker....)
glad it turned out okay.
from bremen, germany • Cocktail: gin & tonic
wow, that is… i swear this kinda stuff never happens in germany (at least not often enough to make the news or anything) so i usually make fun of C for being worried about identity theft. i mean, the first thing he bought for the household when he came back to germany last november was a paper-shredder for us. and we don’t even use one at work… but i guess it IS a problem in the U.S. - how does this happen? i have my data all over the www using paypal, amazon and all the rest of it… this is pretty scary. i’m glad it turned out okay for you though.
This happened to us a little over a year ago, about a week before we went to closing on our first house. But we weren’t as lucky as you - they got almost 2K out of our account! What a nightmare. I’m glad your bank caught them before you had any hardcore charges.
from West Palm Beach, FL • Cocktail: Champagne Bellini
Holy shit. Greeeeeat.
from FL
We need to meet for cocktails. Only, can we do it at around 3am because that is when I’m WIDE AWAKE
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@peggy: I’m sorry… what? lol. I’m confused, is this in response to this entry?
Sorry you’re up at 3am, though! That sucks. :( I hate it when I wake up in the middle of the night…
those little $2 charges are the crooks making sure the account is valid before they rack up the bigger charges. it’s v. good that the bank put a hold on it before that.
now, you should also go and check your credit reports. all three of them, just to be safe. you know that you get a free report each year, right? use it, so you can make sure everything’s okay. everything’s probably okay, but it’s better to check.
from FL
ha ha, it’s the stress of being up at 3 that has me kookie! I meant we need to meet for cocktails because of the stress you must have felt when all this happened and me for being up. Nevermind me
I agree with Becky though. I watched a program on online identity theft and those little $2 charges are them making sure that the card works - then they go for the throat. It’s really terrible but kudos for your bank catching it in time.
Someone stole our credit card number and made a fake card. They ran around and charged up I think $5k in a weekend. We just happened to check the account right after it happened and called the CC company to cancel the card. Sheesh. What a pain.
Wow, that’s some scary shit. We had that happen once with my husband’s card, and we had the number and card changed. Never happened again. I love how (some) banks protect us in times of crisis!!
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@becky: yeah, that’s what I figure, too. That bank is looking into them.
@joz: yikes! I feel so lucky that they didn’t drain my account. There isn’t a lot in there as it is. haha!
@Jenny: yay for crisis-averting banks!
the same thing happened to me last friday with my visa card through my bank. i had a voicemail, and an email waiting for me when i got home. i am leaving that bank due to many other issues, but for once they actually helped me. someone had racked up over $700 in internet purchases for travel on my dime. i have no idea how they caught the charges, but i was very grateful!
from Washington DC
I had to switch banks when I moved to DC and my new bank already started off of the wrong foot with me. So I live less than 2 miles from DC, live in MD, and work in VA. It should be reasonably expected to see purchases from all three in a month or even 2 of those within a day. I tried to pay my cable bill while on break at work and was told that my card was denied. I just put over 1,400 in the account 3 days ago, I knew I had more than enough money, but I had to call that wonderful service number to find out what the problem was. Even after providing my SSN and all pertinent information, the customer (dis)service rep was talking down to me like some kind of criminal. All-in-all, it took more than an hour and a half of call transfers, account verification and general abuse before the bank accepted the fact that I’m not a thief attempting to avoid detection by purchasing in different states, I just live in the DC-area.