Frustrating credit union.r

[JB80]

I just need to have a bit of a vent about my credit union, I suppose in a way I should be happy they are vigilant but this is starting to really bother me.
Basically they keep putting blocks on my card, this is the 4th time since last Christmas that they have done it now and what makes it more annoying is since that I am overseas(which is no doubt the reason why) I don't get any form of notification from them despite confirming my details each time this happens. It's probably happened 6 times in all.

I have no idea how long it's been blocked, it could be over a month since I last used it, which is another thing, they seem to let the questionable transaction stand and then block the card. Only once have they picked up an actual fraud attempt, the rest is normally me buying gifts or family stuff.

Also normally due to the time difference I am left having to stew on it until the next day or late at night early morning which isn't the best idea seeing as I may of had a shandy or three.
The only 24 hour line they have is for lost and stolen cards so I don't know if I should call that or not.

Other than that they are generally pretty good but I am fed up right now with this happening again.
I think I am going to have to make sure I'm clearer on the issue than I have been, or more to the point that they are clearer on it.

Sorry for the vent but I'm rather POd right now.

Does anybody elses CU or bank treat them like this?

edit: also frustrating tablet, not sure where that .r came from in the thread title.

[ourkind]

I work for a multi-national bank one of the largest in fact and we do the same.

The best advice I can give you to avoid having your cards blocked when you're travelling overseas is to ...

... Tell your bank where you're travelling to i.e. departure and arrival dates, which countries you're visiting and be as specific as possible, give them dates.

They will record this information on your account for the fraud departments reference.

Now if they suddenly see your card being used in Belgium or Canada and you told them you'd be there, they will know its you and generally not block your card unless they have reason to believe that the merchant used is suspicious or actually under investigation by VISA/MASTERCARD etc.

Also you should call their 24hr line, they should have access to unblock your card so long as you can confirm the transactions they've flagged on your account are valid.

If you already do all the above and they still block your card then perhaps some of the merchants you've transacted with are questionable.

There is a big list of vendors which are under investigation or have a history of complaints and not matter what you've told your bank if they suspect a transaction they may allow that one to go through but block any further transactions until you validate them.

Hope that helps somewhat :)

[JB80]

Cheers for the reply,

I totally get the reasons why they do it and it's probably more for my benefit than anything else but it's becoming too much of a common occurrance.

Thing is I live in Europe now and have done for 4 years, they know that yet they still flag it up. I have just got off the phone with them and again they confirmed they have my details so I asked them why don't they use them?
That's my main issue, they could at least bother to contact me one way or another to let me know to contact them. Not once have they ever tried, or they probably have using my old details.

It's odd they will let purchases of hundreds of Euros to an Austrian astro retailer go unnoticed but if I want to buy a game from amazon.fr then they block it.
And this has only started happening since the CU merged with another one.

Anyway, I have it sorted now which I hope they will do as they say and at the minimum contact me if they block the card again.
The 24hour line was a bust though, the guy told me to call my branch.

[TrevorW]

Change bank ;):D

albeit "when in Belgium(Europe) do as they do"

[ourkind]

Well that is frustrating, sounds like they have a lot of red tape, we do too. And by that I mean that some processes and rules are there because no one has been bothered to change them or challenge them "internally" creating annoyance for customers. Good luck, and the grass isn't greener on the other side.

Best regards, Carlos.