PeaceandPost

So I got this card and have tried hitting the 5% for the past week but it has been very troublesome. Tried searching this thread for solutions and suggestions but I can't find anything concrete.

I have only been able to get through just under $2000 total of GC purchases at CVS/Walgreens on three days of attempts so far. This is the sequence I've experienced:

Attempt $500 GC purchase. 1st one goes through

Attempt second $500 GC purchase. Declined. Call automated line in wiki. Automated voice asks if they contacted me by phone or by letter. I tried both, enter card info but both times automated voice says "we apologize but we cannot retrieve your info, please hold for a representative". connects me to a rep and she just confirms the transactions and quickly says have a good day and tries to hang up. I said "okay so is the alert cleared and the transaction should go through now?" she said that they are actually a third party company (can't remember the name of the company) and that if I wanted more info I'd need to contact WF directly. this same experience happened when calling 1-800-446-0664 and 1-888-671-2468.

So after I re-attempted the transaction after calling number in wiki it was declined again. This time I called the number on the back of the card and the lady reassured me that the card was cleared even saying she put a pre authorization alert on the account so it will definitely allow another purchase as long as it was under $500. But to no avail declined again.

Essentially I need to talk to CSR's 3 times for every 1 transaction to go through. I realize this is sketchy talking to CSR's so much about this and I am really hoping someone has personal experience on what to do in this situation.

I have tried waiting for automated number to call me but it only happened once and even after clearing up the charges with automated person it still didn't go through.

I have tried larger purchases ($1500 of GC's in one transaction) and also tried splitting them into smaller $500 transactions (roughly 499.98 to be just under $500) but nothing seems to work.

I have also put some small gas purchases and one small Walgreens purchase on the card since getting it. Does throwing in small regular purchase transactions throw off the computers and mess with FA's or something?

Anyone have any advice on transaction amounts/sequences? Or another number I can call that will actually connect me with an automated line to clear up FA's? or any other suggestions? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

mrmandel

Is this a pattern I can read about back in the thread?

ttlmmky

I have found on occasion that if a transaction gets declined and fraud never calls, you may have been able to immediately attempt a second swipe that would have gone through. Try that next time

ChurnChop

You are going through quite a bit. The thread does mention that fraud calls are almost universal for everyone, at least for the first month. I received fraud alerts every other transaction for awhile and had to speak to a rep a number of times. Eventually things calmed down for a few months with no issues. Then in the last 2 months, they started again, about every 5 transactions. This time though I was able to verify all fraud alerts through their automated system. Just make sure you have the auto fraud # on your phone. You will get a message or call 5-10 minutes after a transaction is declined. It got to the point I would tell the cashier I'll be right back (after a decline). Would go to my car and the call would come. Acknowledged they were mine and went back in. Only spoke to a human in the first month, not the last couple.

ibleed0range

You have to train the card and stop doing multiple transactions.

travelfreaks

exactly, the less transactions the better. We always did $5k at a time and never less, but now that store has a $2k max. Never did a single transaction less than $4k in our 6 months

livestrongforever

also remember that the retailer itself will temporarily block your card if you try too many times.

hokiegl

Paying balance with Money Orders at a branch?

I am in the first month and would like any feedback about paying down the balance with MOs in a branch. I am not talking about deposits into checking. But paying the CC directly. Has anyone done that on a consistent basis? Once a week for 3-10K each payment? Or should I do a smaller amount of payments? Will it make a difference to go to different branches?

I searched but could not get an answer.

yoyo

a. No need to cross post.
b. The answer is don't do it.

THEsocalledfan

Done it many times.

hokiegl

Do you mind telling me how much volume? You can PM me if you wish. Also, did they ever ask why the MOs?

nrupalp

Just got WF visa signature last week and had issues using it at cvs but after speaking with cs few times, it has been behaving.
Do they still have 120k rewards limit per calander year? If so that works out to be only 24k at pharmacy.

Iridium7777

what happens to awards after month 6? do people just milk this thing for 6 month and then cancel because it goes back to 1%?

THEsocalledfan

Travel Hacking 101 would say never cancel an account that quick. Further, it is no annual fee, so absolutely no reason to cancel and it will help build your FICO score.

THEsocalledfan

Never been asked. Also pay my Well Fargo mortgage in bank with MO.

I think we all have to remember what money orders are for; paying bills. Thus, it is really not suspicious activity. I probably run through 4-6K MO this way and also make payment to it with checkfreepay at wally.