Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Feb 12, 2013, 7:34 pm
#7306
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
This infamous CVS store in Atlanta was completely out of beans today except for two cards conveniently located at eye level. I was on my way to the register but thought to check the back of the cards. It is probably hard to tell from the pictures, but in person, one can easily see that someone had tampered with the pin cover. I left without a purchase.
What store was that? I generally buy 4 cards at a time but when they tell me I can only get 2 I put the other 2 back on any empty slot. Usually this is around eye level.
Feb 12, 2013, 8:06 pm
#7307
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 114
I had a nice long chat today with the Amex FR Rep. I brought it on myself by taking my brand new Surpass card out for a tour of the area CVS locations. After the 3rd stop, the card was rejected and I got a message at my house from the Fraud department. Upon calling back, I was redirected to a very polite financial review rep.
I verified my job, income (same as what I reported on the application) and the amount of purchasing. I explained that I was buying some gift cards to accelerate my gas and grocery expenses to meet the minimum spend for the card bonuses as soon as possible, and he seemed happy with that. He then looked at the spending on my other Amex cards and has some more questions, basically saying that my spending seemed high for my income, so I had to repeat the story about accelerating expenses.
In the end, he said he didn't need any more documentation at this time, and unlocked my account. Then I had to deal with the fraud department, but that's easy stuff after the FR guys.
I verified my job, income (same as what I reported on the application) and the amount of purchasing. I explained that I was buying some gift cards to accelerate my gas and grocery expenses to meet the minimum spend for the card bonuses as soon as possible, and he seemed happy with that. He then looked at the spending on my other Amex cards and has some more questions, basically saying that my spending seemed high for my income, so I had to repeat the story about accelerating expenses.
In the end, he said he didn't need any more documentation at this time, and unlocked my account. Then I had to deal with the fraud department, but that's easy stuff after the FR guys.
Feb 12, 2013, 8:51 pm
#7308
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Feb 12, 2013, 10:47 pm
#7309
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
I had a nice long chat today with the Amex FR Rep. I brought it on myself by taking my brand new Surpass card out for a tour of the area CVS locations. After the 3rd stop, the card was rejected and I got a message at my house from the Fraud department. Upon calling back, I was redirected to a very polite financial review rep.
I verified my job, income (same as what I reported on the application) and the amount of purchasing. I explained that I was buying some gift cards to accelerate my gas and grocery expenses to meet the minimum spend for the card bonuses as soon as possible, and he seemed happy with that. He then looked at the spending on my other Amex cards and has some more questions, basically saying that my spending seemed high for my income, so I had to repeat the story about accelerating expenses.
In the end, he said he didn't need any more documentation at this time, and unlocked my account. Then I had to deal with the fraud department, but that's easy stuff after the FR guys.
I verified my job, income (same as what I reported on the application) and the amount of purchasing. I explained that I was buying some gift cards to accelerate my gas and grocery expenses to meet the minimum spend for the card bonuses as soon as possible, and he seemed happy with that. He then looked at the spending on my other Amex cards and has some more questions, basically saying that my spending seemed high for my income, so I had to repeat the story about accelerating expenses.
In the end, he said he didn't need any more documentation at this time, and unlocked my account. Then I had to deal with the fraud department, but that's easy stuff after the FR guys.
Also, I know amex does their FR, and Citi will frquently send out the same tax form - but I don't hear much about Chase in this regard. Anyone with more insight?
Feb 13, 2013, 6:46 am
#7310
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 35
FYI, I stopped at my usual CVS, and was told by the cashier I couldn't use a credit card. This is the first time this has happened to me at any CVS . I'll stop by another one that usually is stocked, and see what they do.
I get the feeling this will become more and more common.
She said it wasn't a new policy, they are just going to start enforcing it. Not sure if that is BS or not.
I get the feeling this will become more and more common.
She said it wasn't a new policy, they are just going to start enforcing it. Not sure if that is BS or not.
Feb 13, 2013, 7:18 am
#7311
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
FYI, I stopped at my usual CVS, and was told by the cashier I couldn't use a credit card. This is the first time this has happened to me at any CVS . I'll stop by another one that usually is stocked, and see what they do.
I get the feeling this will become more and more common.
She said it wasn't a new policy, they are just going to start enforcing it. Not sure if that is BS or not.
I get the feeling this will become more and more common.
She said it wasn't a new policy, they are just going to start enforcing it. Not sure if that is BS or not.
Feb 13, 2013, 7:43 am
#7312
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 114
I'm curious how much you were spending relative to your stated income. Also, do you have any AUs on your account that increase your spending relative to income? Were you paying Amex from BB? This is something I get nervous about as I've started to scale up spend with things like VR.
Also, I know amex does their FR, and Citi will frquently send out the same tax form - but I don't hear much about Chase in this regard. Anyone with more insight?
Also, I know amex does their FR, and Citi will frquently send out the same tax form - but I don't hear much about Chase in this regard. Anyone with more insight?
Amex was always paid from my checking account. The FR analyst definitely didn't see the bluebird activity, so they aren't that integrated yet.
Feb 13, 2013, 10:10 am
#7316
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Average spend over the last 3 months was about 2/3 of my stated monthly income. No AUs, almost all spending was in the form of CVS charges for $1007.90.
Amex was always paid from my checking account. The FR analyst definitely didn't see the bluebird activity, so they aren't that integrated yet.
Amex was always paid from my checking account. The FR analyst definitely didn't see the bluebird activity, so they aren't that integrated yet.
Since I have two AU's, both of whom reimburse me for their charges, sometimes my activity comes pretty close to my stated income. I get the impression that in your situation what initially triggered the review department was that almost all spending was $1000+ charges at CVS. Then, a smart CSR noticed the ratio of spend to income.
Either way, glad you escaped a full FR, and thanks for the info.
Feb 13, 2013, 12:43 pm
#7317
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
Going for a quick trip to Maui. Has anyone found VRs there? Or Honolulu?
Thx
Thx
Feb 13, 2013, 1:51 pm
#7318
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
Just a thought on the missing PIN digits issue.
Suppose that what they are doing is damaging the card in order to force you to call in? Once calling in, you provide the serial number and 6 digits of a PIN to a CSR. At that point it seams the CSR is able to pull the entire PIN.
An inside job, with a few CSRs in on the deal? You call in, they take the card data and pass it off to somebody?
Just had one come up. On my first call, the agent took the info and hung me out to dry. On the second call, the card had already been loaded. Suspicious? [I did just fax this in to the guys].
This also explains the ATL issue, Whoever is hitting the cards must work with a CSR (presumably in Atlanta) for it to work.
Suppose that what they are doing is damaging the card in order to force you to call in? Once calling in, you provide the serial number and 6 digits of a PIN to a CSR. At that point it seams the CSR is able to pull the entire PIN.
An inside job, with a few CSRs in on the deal? You call in, they take the card data and pass it off to somebody?
Just had one come up. On my first call, the agent took the info and hung me out to dry. On the second call, the card had already been loaded. Suspicious? [I did just fax this in to the guys].
This also explains the ATL issue, Whoever is hitting the cards must work with a CSR (presumably in Atlanta) for it to work.
Feb 13, 2013, 1:59 pm
#7319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Just a thought on the missing PIN digits issue.
Suppose that what they are doing is damaging the card in order to force you to call in? Once calling in, you provide the serial number and 6 digits of a PIN to a CSR. At that point it seams the CSR is able to pull the entire PIN.
An inside job, with a few CSRs in on the deal? You call in, they take the card data and pass it off to somebody?
Just had one come up. On my first call, the agent took the info and hung me out to dry. On the second call, the card had already been loaded. Suspicious? [I did just fax this in to the guys].
This also explains the ATL issue, Whoever is hitting the cards must work with a CSR (presumably in Atlanta) for it to work.
Suppose that what they are doing is damaging the card in order to force you to call in? Once calling in, you provide the serial number and 6 digits of a PIN to a CSR. At that point it seams the CSR is able to pull the entire PIN.
An inside job, with a few CSRs in on the deal? You call in, they take the card data and pass it off to somebody?
Just had one come up. On my first call, the agent took the info and hung me out to dry. On the second call, the card had already been loaded. Suspicious? [I did just fax this in to the guys].
This also explains the ATL issue, Whoever is hitting the cards must work with a CSR (presumably in Atlanta) for it to work.
1) Why is it such a secrecy not to post the problematic stores locations?
2) Why folks in ATL area not get together to share such info and avoid such bad apples? Or better, report such frauds to the law enforcement?
Feb 13, 2013, 2:33 pm
#7320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
They're just so happy to actually find the cards!
Sure, they won't work and they're a nightmare, but they're the VRs!
I'd be pretty happy if I found some.
Sure, they won't work and they're a nightmare, but they're the VRs!
I'd be pretty happy if I found some.