Legitimate charges are declined.

kremonis · ‎06-24-2022

Sometimes I make real charges that are declined. Typically, I might fund a bank account to get a SUB. The charge may be for several thousands of dollars.

If I am lucky, the bank will send me a text message asking to verify the charge and try again. This has happened with several credit card issuers but mostly with BOA.

Is there a tip to stop this from happening in the future?

flexin222 · ‎06-24-2022

Yeah, that happens to me when I make large charges. I forgot to call and notify the company ahead of time. The lady at Sams looked at me like I was a bum. I ended up using another card and felt like a puss. If you usually charge high amounts and pay off high amounts, it's probably not a problem. I wear an extra tight belt so going over 1k is rare for me. Oh yeah, and BOA in my opinion...(Mod cut - not here, please -- TOS standards)

GatorGuy · ‎06-25-2022

If you are using a CC to fund bank accounts, often that codes as a cash advance with it's own set of fees and limits.

Kforce · ‎06-25-2022

Agree with @GatorGuy

Funding a new account is quite different than buying groceries.

However I have found that different institutions also have different fraud programs in play. I like to monitor my self and don't like the institutions that won't let me spend without triple checking each transaction. I have left all such issuers behind.

Credit12Fico · ‎06-25-2022

@kremonis wrote:
Sometimes I make real charges that are declined. Typically, I might fund a bank account to get a SUB. The charge may be for several thousands of dollars.

If I am lucky, the bank will send me a text message asking to verify the charge and try again. This has happened with several credit card issuers but mostly with BOA.

Is there a tip to stop this from happening in the future?

Every merchant has a merchant category code (MCC) which they bill under. When you are making large purchases, the fraud algorithms consider not only the amount, but also the MCC code. Banks assign different risk weightings to different MCC codes. Gambling? Adult entertainment stores? Financial Institutions? All high risk MCCs. They are always going to be more likely to trigger the fraud alerts.

That's not to say there are not exceptions. If it's a new card and you've not charged a high amount or paid a high amount before, that can also be perceived as "out of pattern" and cause the alerts.

kremonis · ‎06-28-2022

@Credit12Fico wrote:
@kremonis wrote:
Sometimes I make real charges that are declined. Typically, I might fund a bank account to get a SUB. The charge may be for several thousands of dollars.

If I am lucky, the bank will send me a text message asking to verify the charge and try again. This has happened with several credit card issuers but mostly with BOA.

Is there a tip to stop this from happening in the future?
Every merchant has a merchant category code (MCC) which they bill under. When you are making large purchases, the fraud algorithms consider not only the amount, but also the MCC code. Banks assign different risk weightings to different MCC codes. Gambling? Adult entertainment stores? Financial Institutions? All high risk MCCs. They are always going to be more likely to trigger the fraud alerts.

That's not to say there are not exceptions. If it's a new card and you've not charged a high amount or paid a high amount before, that can also be perceived as "out of pattern" and cause the alerts.

You may be on to something. Other charges, non-bank related, in my lifetime between $500 - $2000 never get declined. Granted they are few transactions if this size.

I still wish there was a way to give a heads up before transactions get declined.

disdreamin · ‎06-28-2022

Funding a bank account for a SUB? As in turning credit line into cash? I can see why that might raise flags.

I don't often run large charges through my accounts, but I tossed a charge for about $3k on one last week and it went through without a hiccup. I've put vacation deposits for many thousands without issues. I put a charge for ~$12k on a card years ago (which, ironically, I got a call about from AmEx fraud prevention, but it was the business side, as in they were worried about the transaction from the vendor side, not mine) without an issue. It really is all about the risk involved with the transaction. The higher the risk, the more likely there will be a declination.

GatorGuy · ‎06-28-2022

As you mentioned, it is multiple lenders so something in your behavior is outside of the norm for the typical customer. And rather than amounts, it is the type of transactions you are doing. It also sounds like you may be doing alot of them.

kremonis · ‎06-28-2022

@GatorGuy wrote:
As you mentioned, it is multiple lenders so something in your behavior is outside of the norm for the typical customer. And rather than amounts, it is the type of transactions you are doing. It also sounds like you may be doing alot of them.

I usaully target one somtimes two bank SUBS a year. If the bank allows CC funding, then I will try apply for a CC with a sub to use to open the bank account.

iced · ‎06-29-2022

@kremonis wrote:
Sometimes I make real charges that are declined. Typically, I might fund a bank account to get a SUB. The charge may be for several thousands of dollars.

If I am lucky, the bank will send me a text message asking to verify the charge and try again. This has happened with several credit card issuers but mostly with BOA.

Is there a tip to stop this from happening in the future?

My experience has been that charges get declined when it falls 'out of character' for the spend profile. Banks monitor and track what a person typically buys, where, and how much, and when a charge comes in that plots significantly away from the average it'll trigger a verification. My guess is you're normally using it for a bunch of this and that in certain merchant categories and then this very different and unusual charge shows up out of the blue.

I've had Chase (correctly) decline someone who tried using one of my card numbers at a gas pump because in 3 years I never once used that card at a gas station. I was pleasantly surprised to see them catch it as it felt like it would have been a rather safe thing for a thief to first test out a card number on.