BA system blocks my credit card
Jun 10, 2014, 12:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 245
BA system -indirectly - blocks my credit card
Has the following happened to others here? If so, do you feel that BA has the right to do such things without informing passengers? I quote below the complaint I have just sent to BAEC:
"At 8.40am on June 10, 2014, I executed online check-in as I have done many times before, without incident, and printed my boarding pass as usual. Not more than 2 minutes later I received an SMS from my credit card provider to advise me that USD1 had been deducted from my account by British Airways. Not understanding that this was a type of credit check performed by BA, I contacted the credit card company, who immediately blocked the card. They have said they will issue a new one, but of course this means that I shall not have access to it during my forthcoming trip back home to the UK.
I have to advise you that I am gobsmacked, and I use the word advisedly, that BA permits itself to deduct even ONE DOLLAR from passengers' accounts without foundation, and without advising the passenger that this may be done for security purposes. It is possible that I may be able to get the card unblocked before travelling tomorrow morning - but it is equally likely that I will not. In which case, I do hold the airline responsible for considerable inconvenience. Please treat this matter with utmost urgency."
"At 8.40am on June 10, 2014, I executed online check-in as I have done many times before, without incident, and printed my boarding pass as usual. Not more than 2 minutes later I received an SMS from my credit card provider to advise me that USD1 had been deducted from my account by British Airways. Not understanding that this was a type of credit check performed by BA, I contacted the credit card company, who immediately blocked the card. They have said they will issue a new one, but of course this means that I shall not have access to it during my forthcoming trip back home to the UK.
I have to advise you that I am gobsmacked, and I use the word advisedly, that BA permits itself to deduct even ONE DOLLAR from passengers' accounts without foundation, and without advising the passenger that this may be done for security purposes. It is possible that I may be able to get the card unblocked before travelling tomorrow morning - but it is equally likely that I will not. In which case, I do hold the airline responsible for considerable inconvenience. Please treat this matter with utmost urgency."
Last edited by mtdd; Jun 10, 2014 at 12:55 am Reason: Clarification
Jun 10, 2014, 1:01 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
Sorry, I don't understand.
Why is your card blocked & unusable, because of a 1 dollar charge?
Surely the problem is with your provider not BA?
Or am I missing something obvious
Why is your card blocked & unusable, because of a 1 dollar charge?
Surely the problem is with your provider not BA?
Or am I missing something obvious
Jun 10, 2014, 1:13 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 245
Well, unbeknown to me, and without my permission, BA deducts $1 from my credit card, presumably as part of the process of online check-in. I spoke later to my local BA office, and they airily said "oh yes that's perfectly routine, and we give you the dollar back, later. It's just to check the credit card". So...
1. This has never happened to me before in years of online booking and check-in.
2. BA does not inform you that such a deduction will be made.
3. When I learned from my CC provider (who routinely SMS's me whenever a charge is made) that this had been done, I immediately called them to ask the nature of the charge. I feared some sort of scam. When I told them I had not authorised the deduction, they treated it as a fraudulent transaction and blocked the card.
I have no issue with the provider: they were protecting my interests. No matter that the unauthorised deduction was for only a dollar, for all I knew I had been on a spoof website, and $1 might grow into something further down the line if I had not contacted the CC company.
I do have an issue with BA. I do not consider they have the right to make any charge on a credit card that has not been authorised by the holder. And I repeat, it is not for a dollar that I am infuriated. I would also mention in passing that the ticket had been fully paid for a month prior to travel, so BA had its money, and had no further need to make a credit check. I am also a silver tier member, and they have all my personal information.
Probably I will be able to get the card unblocked before I travel tomorrow morning. If not, I am going to face quite some difficulties.
1. This has never happened to me before in years of online booking and check-in.
2. BA does not inform you that such a deduction will be made.
3. When I learned from my CC provider (who routinely SMS's me whenever a charge is made) that this had been done, I immediately called them to ask the nature of the charge. I feared some sort of scam. When I told them I had not authorised the deduction, they treated it as a fraudulent transaction and blocked the card.
I have no issue with the provider: they were protecting my interests. No matter that the unauthorised deduction was for only a dollar, for all I knew I had been on a spoof website, and $1 might grow into something further down the line if I had not contacted the CC company.
I do have an issue with BA. I do not consider they have the right to make any charge on a credit card that has not been authorised by the holder. And I repeat, it is not for a dollar that I am infuriated. I would also mention in passing that the ticket had been fully paid for a month prior to travel, so BA had its money, and had no further need to make a credit check. I am also a silver tier member, and they have all my personal information.
Probably I will be able to get the card unblocked before I travel tomorrow morning. If not, I am going to face quite some difficulties.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:16 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
This seems odd. Surely BA will have already charged the credit card and received an authorisation code. Taking a further dollar, even to be refunded, doesn't make sense.
In any event, if they are going to do this, they should let the customer know in advance in my opinion.
In any event, if they are going to do this, they should let the customer know in advance in my opinion.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:18 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Diamond; A3 *Nothing ; BA Exec. Club Gold
Posts: 1,688
That is how I read it as well. Sure strange BA would do the 1 dollar charge but it is not unheard of to veryfy cards The you called your credit card company who were overly cautious and not very well informed so they just canceled the card assuming fraud. BA did not do that making the tread misleading at least.
I would have called BA to ask the question.
Globalist
Jun 10, 2014, 1:24 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 245
^
That is how I read it as well. Sure strange BA would do the 1 dollar charge but it is not unheard of to veryfy cards The you called your credit card company who were overly cautious and not very well informed so they just canceled the card assuming fraud. BA did not do that making the tread misleading at least.
I would have called BA to ask the question.
Globalist
That is how I read it as well. Sure strange BA would do the 1 dollar charge but it is not unheard of to veryfy cards The you called your credit card company who were overly cautious and not very well informed so they just canceled the card assuming fraud. BA did not do that making the tread misleading at least.
I would have called BA to ask the question.
Globalist
As for calling BA - good luck with that one, when the episode happens more than hour before they put a human being on their phone lines. It makes more sense to call the credit card company, no?
Jun 10, 2014, 1:36 am
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
^
That is how I read it as well. Sure strange BA would do the 1 dollar charge but it is not unheard of to veryfy cards The you called your credit card company who were overly cautious and not very well informed so they just canceled the card assuming fraud. BA did not do that making the tread misleading at least.
I would have called BA to ask the question.
Globalist
That is how I read it as well. Sure strange BA would do the 1 dollar charge but it is not unheard of to veryfy cards The you called your credit card company who were overly cautious and not very well informed so they just canceled the card assuming fraud. BA did not do that making the tread misleading at least.
I would have called BA to ask the question.
Globalist
Jun 10, 2014, 1:41 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Epsom, Surrey
Programs: BA Exec Club Bronze, Virgin Flying Club Red, Swiss M&M Blue
Posts: 1,023
Why would a credit card company be deemed to be informed of a BA practise? I myself was not informed, and I have been flying with BA for decades, it is the first time it has happened to me. And it is the job of a credit card company to be cautious: if the customer tells them that they did not authorise a given transaction, it is their legal duty to assume fraud, irritating as that may be.
As for calling BA - good luck with that one, when the episode happens more than hour before they put a human being on their phone lines. It makes more sense to call the credit card company, no?
As for calling BA - good luck with that one, when the episode happens more than hour before they put a human being on their phone lines. It makes more sense to call the credit card company, no?
Just wondering if you actually read all of the Ts and Cs when you made the booking? I know I don't.
Taking a nominal payment for verification is a very common practice and usually disclosed in the Ts and Cs that everyone signs the box to say they have read and understood but rarely have or do.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:41 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Diamond; A3 *Nothing ; BA Exec. Club Gold
Posts: 1,688
Why would a credit card company be deemed to be informed of a BA practise? I myself was not informed, and I have been flying with BA for decades, it is the first time it has happened to me. And it is the job of a credit card company to be cautious: if the customer tells them that they did not authorise a given transaction, it is their legal duty to assume fraud, irritating as that may be.
As for calling BA - good luck with that one, when the episode happens more than hour before they put a human being on their phone lines. It makes more sense to call the credit card company, no?
As for calling BA - good luck with that one, when the episode happens more than hour before they put a human being on their phone lines. It makes more sense to call the credit card company, no?
I would have expected the credit card company to ask if you did any business with BA at the time of the transaction and to find out what triggered the transaction. (as you said, online check in). As BA is unlikely a company that would use credit card fraud to get money it would be unlikely that this would have been a transaction with fraudulent intentions.
1 dollar transactions are regularly seen for 2 reasons:
Verify the validity of a credit card for legitimate purposes.
Verify the availability of a credit card to subsequently deduct higer amounts usually by fraudulent companies.
Your credit card company should be aware of this and able to make a distinction between the two types.
You can call BA anywhere in the world, there is always a centre open somewhere if it is reallly urgent.
Globalist.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:53 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 245
You say you weren't infomred.
Just wondering if you actually read all of the Ts and Cs when you made the booking? I know I don't.
Taking a nominal payment for verification is a very common practice and usually disclosed in the Ts and Cs that everyone signs the box to say they have read and understood but rarely have or do.
Just wondering if you actually read all of the Ts and Cs when you made the booking? I know I don't.
Taking a nominal payment for verification is a very common practice and usually disclosed in the Ts and Cs that everyone signs the box to say they have read and understood but rarely have or do.
But I revert to a previous point - why on earth would they feel a need to check the card, when they had received full payment a good month earlier?
Jun 10, 2014, 1:56 am
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
You say you weren't infomred.
Just wondering if you actually read all of the Ts and Cs when you made the booking? I know I don't.
Taking a nominal payment for verification is a very common practice and usually disclosed in the Ts and Cs that everyone signs the box to say they have read and understood but rarely have or do.
Just wondering if you actually read all of the Ts and Cs when you made the booking? I know I don't.
Taking a nominal payment for verification is a very common practice and usually disclosed in the Ts and Cs that everyone signs the box to say they have read and understood but rarely have or do.
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...ns-of-carriage
4. Fares, surcharges, taxes, fees and charges and currency
4a) Fares and surcharges
4a1) Your fare covers transporting you from the airport at the place of departure to the airport at the place of destination, unless we say otherwise.
4a2) Your fare does not include ground transport between one airport and another or between an airport and the town terminal.
4a3) We or our authorised agents will work out the fare for your ticket which applies under our tariff on the date you pay for it. The fare will be for travel on the specific dates and itinerary shown on your ticket.
4a4) If you want to change either your itinerary or your dates of travel, this may increase the fare.
4a5) We may charge any surcharge to the fare for your ticket which applies under our tariff on the date you pay for your ticket, for example a fuel or insurance surcharge.
4b) Taxes, fees and charges
4b1) You must pay any taxes, fees and charges imposed on us or on you by governments or other authorities, or by operators of airports.
4b2) When you buy your ticket, we will tell you about any taxes, fees and charges not included in the fare and they will normally be shown separately on the ticket.
4b3) Taxes, fees and charges change constantly and can be imposed or altered after the date we have issued your ticket. If they change or if a new tax, fee or charge is imposed after we have issued your ticket, you will have to pay us any increase. Similarly, if any taxes, fees or charges you pay to us when we issue the ticket are then abolished or reduced, you will be entitled to claim a refund from us. If you are a resident of, and your flight departs from, the Federal Republic of Germany, any increase in taxes, fees or charges will not be applied in the period of 4 months from the date of purchase of the ticket.
4b4) If you do not use your ticket, you will be entitled to claim a refund of any taxes, fees and charges which you paid, less a reasonable service charge.
4c) Currency
You must pay the fare and any taxes, fees and carrier charges in the currency of the country in which the ticket is issued, unless we or our authorised agents say you must use another currency at or before the time you pay. We may decide to accept payment in another currency.
Sure, but it also does not make sense to accuse BA of blocking your card while it was your credit card company doing this after you raised it as an unknown transaction.
I would have expected the credit card company to ask if you did any business with BA at the time of the transaction and to find out what triggered the transaction. (as you said, online check in). As BA is unlikely a company that would use credit card fraud to get money it would be unlikely that this would have been a transaction with fraudulent intentions.
1 dollar transactions are regularly seen for 2 reasons:
Verify the validity of a credit card for legitimate purposes.
Verify the availability of a credit card to subsequently deduct higer amounts usually by fraudulent companies.
Your credit card company should be aware of this and able to make a distinction between the two types.
You can call BA anywhere in the world, there is always a centre open somewhere if it is reallly urgent.
Globalist.
I would have expected the credit card company to ask if you did any business with BA at the time of the transaction and to find out what triggered the transaction. (as you said, online check in). As BA is unlikely a company that would use credit card fraud to get money it would be unlikely that this would have been a transaction with fraudulent intentions.
1 dollar transactions are regularly seen for 2 reasons:
Verify the validity of a credit card for legitimate purposes.
Verify the availability of a credit card to subsequently deduct higer amounts usually by fraudulent companies.
Your credit card company should be aware of this and able to make a distinction between the two types.
You can call BA anywhere in the world, there is always a centre open somewhere if it is reallly urgent.
Globalist.
Jun 10, 2014, 2:02 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 399
Sure, but it also does not make sense to accuse BA of blocking your card while it was your credit card company doing this after you raised it as an unknown transaction.
I would have expected the credit card company to ask if you did any business with BA at the time of the transaction and to find out what triggered the transaction. (as you said, online check in). As BA is unlikely a company that would use credit card fraud to get money it would be unlikely that this would have been a transaction with fraudulent intentions.
1 dollar transactions are regularly seen for 2 reasons:
Verify the validity of a credit card for legitimate purposes.
Verify the availability of a credit card to subsequently deduct higer amounts usually by fraudulent companies.
Your credit card company should be aware of this and able to make a distinction between the two types.
You can call BA anywhere in the world, there is always a centre open somewhere if it is reallly urgent.
Globalist.
I would have expected the credit card company to ask if you did any business with BA at the time of the transaction and to find out what triggered the transaction. (as you said, online check in). As BA is unlikely a company that would use credit card fraud to get money it would be unlikely that this would have been a transaction with fraudulent intentions.
1 dollar transactions are regularly seen for 2 reasons:
Verify the validity of a credit card for legitimate purposes.
Verify the availability of a credit card to subsequently deduct higer amounts usually by fraudulent companies.
Your credit card company should be aware of this and able to make a distinction between the two types.
You can call BA anywhere in the world, there is always a centre open somewhere if it is reallly urgent.
Globalist.
I could understand it if the OP had said he purchased an upgrade or extra baggage, but then there'd be a real charge as well.
If the credit card company ask whether you've had any legitimate financial transactions with BA that day, how many people would regard checking in as a financial transaction?
Jun 10, 2014, 2:11 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
Whilst I can't comment on BA $1 charge, United did this when I was making the booking, my bank automatically bounced this back and the purchase failed.
On phoning my bank I was told that they reject all Ł1 'test payments' as a matter of course as they can be a precursor to bank fraud.
As soon as I had phoned them to say that I was making a booking they let the test payment through, but I did have to phone them first.
How on earth does BA charge a card for checking in ? Seems screwy to me.
On phoning my bank I was told that they reject all Ł1 'test payments' as a matter of course as they can be a precursor to bank fraud.
As soon as I had phoned them to say that I was making a booking they let the test payment through, but I did have to phone them first.
How on earth does BA charge a card for checking in ? Seems screwy to me.