topic Re: Is HSBC Insane? in Credit Cards

Is HSBC Insane?

Brusilov — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:57:29 GMT

So I literally JUST got my Best Buy RZ MC on Saturday and activated it. I bought dinner on Sunday, then lunch and dinner again today with it. About 20 minutes after my order goes through for dinner I get 2 calls on my phone, and an email saying to call HSBC immediately because of a fraud alert. I called and they said I had some "unusual purchase activity" on my account....REALLY?! I mean, it almost made me laugh more than anything. Why in the world would going to a few resturants trigger a fraud alert? I've only had it 3 days! LOL

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:05:21 GMT

@vonmannstein wrote:
So I literally JUST got my Best Buy RZ MC on Saturday and activated it. I bought dinner on Sunday, then lunch and dinner again today with it. About 20 minutes after my order goes through for dinner I get 2 calls on my phone, and an email saying to call HSBC immediately because of a fraud alert. I called and they said I had some "unusual purchase activity" on my account....REALLY?! I mean, it almost made me laugh more than anything. Why in the world would going to a few resturants trigger a fraud alert? I've only had it 3 days! LOL

That's good ole HSBC for ya.

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:20:39 GMT

Because banks are responsible for fraudulent charges, some of them have semi-hyper sensitive triggers, especially on new accounts because it does not have any history to refer to.

Usually as you use the card and establish a pattern of use you will see less triggers of fraud alert, unless you do something unusual or charge unusual amounts in a single or combination of purchases in short periods of time.

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:29:31 GMT

That happened to me as well. Same card.... Fraud dept explained since this was a new card,they wanted to make sure that I had received it, and no one had pilfered it from my mailbox. With ID theft on the forefront,they just wanted to make sure it was me(they said). Haha,but after 2 years of on time PIF,they still have never found the time to give me a CLI. I still sit at $500. Gotta love em!

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:31:35 GMT

Well, on the bright side I guess it's better safe than sorry right?

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:06:30 GMT

WOW thats just crazy.HSBC doesnt seem to care what i use my BB card for,Nor do they care to give me a cli.

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Brusilov — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:57:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Because banks are responsible for fraudulent charges, some of them have semi-hyper sensitive triggers, especially on new accounts because it does not have any history to refer to.

Usually as you use the card and establish a pattern of use you will see less triggers of fraud alert, unless you do something unusual or charge unusual amounts in a single or combination of purchases in short periods of time.

That does make a lot of sense and with such a low limit it could have easily just been a trigger where X% of utilization in X days = red flag. What CreditFreeze said seems pretty logical too that they're just verifying the identity of the new owner of the card. I'm not sure if anyone around here is from Minneapolis but did you guys hear about the mailman that stole $80,000+ worth of RZ certicates through the mail over years and years? LOL

http://www.startribune.com/39596842.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUncacyi8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7PiUs

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Itsmeagain — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:50:07 GMT

Using HSBC and insane in the same sentence is redundant . . . .

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:58:04 GMT

vonMannstein wrote:
but did you guys hear about the mailman that stole $80,000+ worth of RZ certicates through the mail over years and years?

Now thats a loyal BB customer.

All joking aside if he/she stole that just imagine what else was stolen.JERK.........

Re: Is HSBC Insane?

IrishPM — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:32:47 GMT

I agree that they've got hair triggers lately. Citi called me a few weeks ago after I made a purchase more than $1,500 and wanted to make sure I was in posession of the credit card and then grilled me over what type of purchase it was.

I think they do this especially if you keep a very low or $0 balance on the card and you suddenly make a large purchase. They do this all in the name of trying to protect your identity but it gets rather annoying.