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I made a "big" charge (~ $2K) on my ebates card and it was declined. I called in and they explained that they needed to make sure it was me. So they asked me to provide a phone number I could be reached at. I provided my cell, which wasn't on their record (he then added it), and sent a text to that number which I then had to read back.
Now I might be missing something, but that doesn't sound ALL that a secure method of verification! A previously registered phone, yes, that's standard, but not one I give now.....
Now I had called in with my home phone, and had to supply the last 4 digits of my SSN before being connected, so that does provide verification. But the additional step seems absolutely worthless
That does sound a bit odd... At least they're trying
Chase hit me with a fraud alert text and decline when I tried to pay an $87 tab at Langers Deli in LA, CA.. $2K I get, but $87 at a restaurant?
I admit the whole "send a text' thing has always baffled me as well, especially since my cell phone has no name associated with it at all (AT&T prepaid).
In my case I've had the same number for 10+ years so perhaps it's in a database somewhere as a number "known" to be associated with me, but I doubt it (or at least I doubt anybody checks in real-time when I've been asked for it to confirm my ID).
Other than it's questionable usefulness, I've never had a problem being turned-away due to a verification problem...at least so far.
I don't know how it works with Synchrony but I know Chase makes sure the phone is in your name or associated with your account...at least in my experience. I tried to have them send a code to my cell that my company pays for and they denied saying that they couldn't verify the number was associated with myself.