Your transaction must be POSTED in order for that to count.

With a 12K line, I would play the devil's advocate to tell you go charge $1K on your first purchase, then again on Wed, and then $500 on Thursday and be done with it.

We always charge $1K or more on the 1st purchase regardless any card from any bank. The only time we had a fraud alert was, guess what? Charged a $500 first usage, then a few days $1K - and it was declined.

Decline is no big deal. I dont even have a cell phone. I just use CVS own phone to call and clear the alert. Sometimes I make the fraud rep to stay on the phone to make sure the 2nd attempt would go thru.

Dont kid yourself the banks do not know what you are doing. They DO. However as long as you do not go nuts to run up your utilization ratio, you would be fine.

All the small charges put on the card would only confuse the Fraud detection system (as if the crook is testing the card). Start out big and keep charge big. This is particular the case with US Bank's Club Carlson card. It would decline you a $1K charge if you do it after $25 lunch at a restaurant or a $15 purchase at a grocery store. Yet, you would be swiping $1K several times a week without a single blip from them.

opps just got my first 500 on the citi card :/ i guess will charge the 1k in two days and hope for the best. i had to run to a secondary CVS location as the one near my house ran out. found one cashier and asked them if they had any and they said no but someone else came in and ask about them two days ago too....i have few backups but not in my area around work and school.

i guess we got some FTers in my area? :D

will try to have spend done by friday so it all posts by 19th hopefully.

First time since starting MS the bean cards did all 4 of my CVS not have any in stock. Figured out their delivery dates tho :-)

If your local grocery stores take debit card for MO purchase, or you have a WM in your area, you could use the OneVanilla as an alternative. it would cost you an extra buck per $500 ($4.95) but it is very easy to liquidate as it takes any 4 digits you first use, as its PIN. So if you are pinched on time, consider this alternative. When VR was very scarce in my area, but the OneVanilla was like 2 rows on the peg, I used the OneVanilla instead.

Jordan - Just checked Mrs Travelers Citi statement. Her 7 Mar charges are still Temporary; but I would expect to see them posted in the morning.

I agree with Happy. If no VRs, then use the One Vanilla Visa Gift Cards. Our BB cards are max'd out for this month, so we switched over to One Vanilla VGC. Mrs. T picked up a few this evening. As already stated you'll spend $1 more for each card (over the VR) & an extra $0.70 for a MO at WM. Well worth it, and your not running around trying to find the VRs. :)

Thanks, i think i used the OneVanilla as long time ago even before VR . i forgot about that so thank you for reminding me about it. i do have a wal mart near by so will keep that in the back of my mind. i may try the CVS that is near my house and see if they have the OneVanilla - but since i am comfortable with VR i may just stick to that since i don't want to deal with wal mart folks.

The big possible problem with not using the last 4 #s on the OV is you swipe it and get the next OV ready when you are told it didnt take if you already put it into your pocket and there are other OVs in it , you now have to call up and put each card thru the system to see if its the one that wasnt used.

Been thru that twice, now I make sure to use the last 4 #s as if its a Meta GC and when I ran into the same problem I already knew which card to look for., and reswiped it and it went thru

I just don't put the card in my pocket until the screen say "Approved".

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You need a system, my friend. Always use the SAME 4 digits on any GC even those do not need to set PIN. I take time to set the PIN on all GCs with the same 4 digits that I can press without looking at anything, as if you have used that card all the time...

I put the "used" card whether it is successful or not, right on the counter face down (so the signature panel with my signature is up). This way, the cashier only ever sees is the signature panel, with signature... as if you would do with your "real" cards.

It also never gets mixed with those have not being swiped yet.

My cards go from left pocket to hands, swipe, then right pocket after "Approved". I'm not worried about them seeing the card at my WM, but this just seems efficient.

The very best method is: from left pocket, swipe, counter, then to BACK pocket (this is key) after all of them are approved.

I've never used OneVanilla for MO at Wallys.

Are you supposed to hit cancel button or something??

or, Just Swipe and wait for the "enter your pin" and in this case any 4-digit pin works?

I have a similar methodical procedure when dealing with any prepaid cards. ^

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