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CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

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Changingmantra
Established Contributor

CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

Hello All,

 

I hope someone can help me.  Three weeks ago, I got stuck out of town without the ability to use my HSBC Discover card after I had used it the night before.  HSBC locked it as part of a fraud alert because I dared use it out of state, then began to ask me a series of questions that did NOT pertain to me, therefore, I could not correctly answer the questions!  They insisted that the information they had came from my credit report and/or public records.  Even going into a branch did not help resolve this issue, and last Friday, I had to fax in a ton of information to prove my identity - I did with a long critical letter as well  -  Well, tonight I checked ALL THREE reports and NONE of the information they tested me on appears on ANY of the credit reports.

 

They finally did unblock my card tonight , but  I am so darn afraid of this happening again when I just cannot convince these people that I cannot choose a previous address from a list when I, in fact, have never lived at ANY of the provided addresses!  Now what am I supposed to do? 

*Note to self* Remember why and for how long you had to rebuild in the first place! One Day at a Time, One Day at a Time!
Message 1 of 8
7 REPLIES 7
haulingthescoreup
Moderator Emerita

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

Sounds like they pulled your LexisNexis report, which is notorious for having lots of incorrect info. They're also good about asking impossible-to-answer questions, like what was the name of your ex-sister-in-law's third-grade teacher and other idiocies.

* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
Message 2 of 8
IOBA
Senior Contributor

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

Slightly off topic - any way to get LexisNexis to update to correct information??  Smiley Happy

 

Have had this happen to me too.   FICO, credit approved.  But since I "miss" a crucial identifying question, I am denied.   And I *know* the answers to my questions!

Message 3 of 8
larinoriani
Regular Contributor

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

It's always a good idea to give your CC a call and let them know you are going out of state. Some of them have an allowed 500 miles range before they put a fraud block.


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Message 4 of 8
vish1
Valued Contributor

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

Does this calling your company when you travel out of state needs to be done for all cards or only HSBC?

I have:

Amex Zynz

Bofa Platinum

DCU

US Bank Flex perks

Cap 1

 

Citi Hilton Reserve 22.3K | Citi Thank You 8.2K | CSP 15.5K | Chase Freedom 10K | Chase BA 15K | Chase United 8.5K | Chase Marriott 5K | Discover IT 9K | Club Carlson 13K | Amex SPG 20K | BofA Cash Rewards 11K | BofA Cash Rewards 50K
Message 5 of 8
haulingthescoreup
Moderator Emerita

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

IMO, it doesn't hurt to call, especially if you haven't had the card very long, or if you've never used it out of your own zip code.

 

Lots of companies will get excited with a big change in pattern.

 

I had had my PenFed Visa for quite a while when I charged a MacBook on it and then went out of town and kept using it. They called my cell phone to verify that it was me.

 

If you've already done a bit of traveling with your AmEx, you're probably OK. When mine was newish, I called to let them know I was taking it to New Orleans, and they wished me a good time. I don't bother any more.

 

While I don't advocate calling CS every day with every wacko question under the sun, this seems like a reasonable cause to check with them.

 

(I don't look at them as playing Big Brother --I consider this an instance of them watching out for me. Smiley Wink)

* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
Message 6 of 8
vish1
Valued Contributor

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

Thanks a lot. this makes sense to me. I will call the ccc before I go out of my home state.

Citi Hilton Reserve 22.3K | Citi Thank You 8.2K | CSP 15.5K | Chase Freedom 10K | Chase BA 15K | Chase United 8.5K | Chase Marriott 5K | Discover IT 9K | Club Carlson 13K | Amex SPG 20K | BofA Cash Rewards 11K | BofA Cash Rewards 50K
Message 7 of 8
MattH
Senior Contributor

Re: CC Blocked - And Security Questions Do Not Pertain to Me - Now What?

 


@vish1 wrote:

Does this calling your company when you travel out of state needs to be done for all cards or only HSBC?

I have:

Amex Zynz

Bofa Platinum

DCU

US Bank Flex perks

Cap 1

 


 

It depends on what your usual pattern of activity has been in the past.  For over 20 years I have spent nearly every Christmas in Colorado, and most years I also go there in February.  I don't bother calling any of my credit card companies before these trips, and my purchases in Colorado don't trigger security flags.  When I visit my mother in law, who lives in a small Southeast town, I usually go to Walmart because in her town many things are only available at Walmart, and again these purchases don't trigger the security alarms.  Nearly every week I make purchases at places like Stop & Shop, Walgreen's, etc., in the town where I live.  But if I go to Walmart near where I live, which I do maybe one a year if that, there's about a 50 percent chance the credit card company will phone me to verify the transaction, because it is outside my typical pattern.  And when somebody tried to use my account for a three hundred dollar charge at a Florida liquor store the credit card company's security department called me within the hour.

 

TU 791 02/11/2013, EQ 800 1/29/2011 , EX Plus FAKO 812, EX Vantage Score 955 3/19/2010 wife's EQ 9/23/2009 803
EX always was my highest when we could pull all three
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Message 8 of 8
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