Bitcoin Forum

I went to place a small order from DigiKey but I got the error "can't process your order--please contact your bank."  This seems to happen several times a year and requires me to either wait till the problem disappears on its own, or sit on hold for 30 min to resolve.  Last time Visa froze my card because I ordered "$1500 of merchandise from an online store categorized as 'women's apparel.'"  When I called to resolve the issue they said that "since I was not a woman" the transaction was flagged as suspicious.  Visa, do you not realize that men buy things for women?

Eventually, we will be able to purchase on-line from several merchants without the "help" of third-parties.  But in the meantime, please someone create a reliable bitcoin-to-credit-card gateway that also manages my shipping addresses.  I would pay for this service just out of spite for Visa. 

(My apologies for the rant!)

I'm not suprised that visa flagged this and this is another reason why we need bitcoin . It would solve a lot of issues like this onw

same append to me ... i'm restricted to 600-800 Euros per day of transaction on VISA/MASTERCARD.
that's why i transfer all my sum on Bitcoin.

i don't accept that. >:(

I hear you bro. When I travel they often shut my card down. For example I was in L.A. paying for brunch when my card was declined. I paid for my airline tickets with that card, rented the hotel room with that card, and was eating at the hotel restaurant. Still they flagged the transaction. It's a hassle. A few weeks ago I had brunch in Seattle. Because I paid with bitcoin, there wasn't an authority in the world that could screw with my transaction.

lol, I agree that visa's a pain in the ass sometimes, but I never have this problem with amex.

I made an 8K charge on my amex card without so much as a phone call questioning it.

You do realize that every CC company has a policy that says "you must tell them when you travel" right?

If this keeps happening to you, then you aren't very smart lol... Or need a different CC that doesn't have this issue.

Do we really want companies scrutinizing our lives this much? How can that not give anyone the creeps?

Has this seriously happened to you? It is much more worrying than it appears - you can't even buy things "that you aren't supposed to buy".

That is another problem. Following the problem with the card I quoted, they must have a very complete profile of each of us based on our purchases.

Seems like you should get in on this: https://xapo.com/in/campaign/debit/

An unfortunate side effect of fraud prevention I guess. Some financial institutions have lower thresholds for "unusual activity" then others.

Don't really have a choice if you want to use a debit or credit card. The issuing financial institution will monitor all of your activity closely in a effort to reduce fraud.

Makes you wonder if one day you'll have to notify your CC company or bank any time you might be traveling anywhere outside your state.  Heck they say they do it to reduce fraud, so it makes sense on their end as long as us customers will take it.  When enough people talk with their wallet about all these rules and regs then they might change their practices.

the problem is not this ... i travel (or buy), then ... BEFORE ... i have filled my account (of the card) with the correct amount of money.
and then ?
i can't use it !

that not new, i know this limitation (1200 euros) ... but the problem is that this "limit" have moved without a notice to 600-800 euros per day.
for fraud, you have the normal SMS ... to validate the amount.
they don't use this, they block and it's all.

Depending on the financial institution and where you live/travel, you may already have to notify them.

While it's possible that there are other reasons for monitoring your activity, fraud is the primary concern. They have to walk a fine line between convenience and fraud protection in an attempt for higher profits.

My card gets turned off *any time* i use a new gas station that I "dont normally use".

I have to call up and have it turned back on at least once a month.

Thanks Chase!

That's not going to solve any problems of debit cards.

Presumably if it's a debit card, they need to offer fraud protection and chargebacks as well.

If it's a debit card it's going to be processed through visa or mastercard.

A new gas station? Have you had any problems with the security of your cards in the past or it's just them being paranoid? Because I can't think of any other reasons for this...
I mean, gas has value... but the same would apply for many other types of businesses.

probably operator of ATM (automate) don't allow "free limit" (like 200USD in caution) on pre-account verification (before take physical gas).

My hate for the policy isn't the policy itself, but the completely arbitrary manner in which they enforce it.  I went to visit family for Christmas as an example.  Bought the tickets with my Visa.  Got there, bought everything there with Visa.  Bought a 1500 dollar computer there as a present.  All fine.  No transactions blocked.  Get to the airport to come home and my 2 dollar cup of coffee is blocked.  WTF?  Or a few months back I buy some stuff online from a merchant.  3 thousand dollar transactions all go through to the same merchant, the fourth one gets blocked.  WTF? 

Most cards you must let them know that your traveling to another place or country, this happen to me manytimes, so pick up the phone and call.  isnt there already a card that has this service already

No thanks, I'll use cash or bitcoins.

Apparently we need to pick up the phone and call them when we buy a gift for the opposite sex too (as per the OP).  

I guess when they print the private key on the front of the credit card like that, they need to tighten up security in other areas...

My point though is that why the heck should I have to call VISA and ask permission first?  And why the arbitrary nature of it?  If they did think the transactions were fraudulent, why did they let most of them (including all the big ticket ones) go through and then start blocking them a week later?

[rant] So if I order some sex toy doll from China, are the credit card guys going to pay me a visit to check if I have a dick? [/rant]

Oh yes. I forgot to include that in my post. I am religious about informing them. It does not seem to matter at all. Weirdly, the one recent time I did not let them know of my travels it worked fine. And that was in the Persian gulf.  ???

Also fun is their dumb daily limits. You can have $200k in your account, but try to debit that last PENNY over $2500 in a 24hr period and they block your card. It's almost like they think their crappy inflationary currency is backed by something of real value.

Now we just need bitcoins to be adopted heavily around the world and one can truly disappear!

https://www.joinsnapcard.com/ (https://www.joinsnapcard.com/)

Not really Bitcoin to Credit Card, but it would probably work for  DigiKey online order.

that's only this.
personaly, in middle of 2014, all my "bank" money will have finished to transform in bitcoin.

i wait 2015 in serenity in my point.