Credit Card Caution (Continuation)

In one of my previous blog posts (Credit Card Caution), Rajesh (Destination Infinity) commented that “when I tried an online purchase 4-5 times continuously - again the card was blocked.”. I replied to Rajesh I will write about a similar interesting incident that happened to us.

 

Here is that incident.

 

A few years ago, one of my employees wanted to discuss something important on a Saturday. I took pity on that guy and told him I will take him for lunch. We went to a nice name brand Italian restaurant and had lunch. I then came home.

 

That evening my wife told me she was too lazy to cook dinner and wanted to eat out. I asked her where she would like to go and she gave the name of the same restaurant I had lunch with my office colleague. I told her I had lunch today in that restaurant. She then wanted to go to a different restaurant. It was her favorite restaurant, so I insisted on going there though it will be second time for me in the same restaurant that particular day.

 

We go to that restaurant. We had a nice dinner. The bill came. I gave my credit card and the waiter took it to the register. He came back and whispered: Sir your credit card has been declined.

 

I could have given him another credit card and left the restaurant. But I was in a mood to find out why it was declined. I called the credit company on my cell phone and asked them the reason. They had the most laughable reason. Sir, your credit card was charged in the same restaurant for lunch and it is also being charged for dinner also. It is a very unusual activity and therefore we declined.

 

I had to explain to them it was a legit and asked them to remove the block. They did it immediately.

 

I asked the waiter to process my credit card again and it was accepted.

 

On the way back home, while I was driving, I had an earful for going to the same restaurant twice in a day.

Dwight Clark

 

Our own San Francisco 49ers’ Football legend, Dwight Clark, passed away today due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 61.

 

Clark played college football with the Clemson University. He was recruited by the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. Clark played for them until his retirement in 1987.

 

During his 9 years with the SF 49ers, Clark played on two super bowl championship teams.

 

He was made famous by the entire football world for catching the winning touchdown pass from Quarterback Joe Montana (16) in the NFC Championship Game in January 1982 against the Dallas Cowboys. The play immortalized as “The Catch” made room for the SF 49ers to win their first super bowl championship.

 

Clark is survived by his wife, a daughter, and 2 sons.

 

His contribution for the success of the San Francisco 49ers is immeasurable.

 

May he rest in peace.

 

Here is a YouTube video of "The Catch".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14CKs0rY0jE

 

Credit Card Caution

A friend of mine is going to UK shortly. I gave this friend a few pointers about credit cards and bank accounts. I want to share one of them with you also.

 

When you are going abroad on vacation, please inform your credit card companies and bank that you will be on vacation in “these” foreign countries from this date to this date. They will put a note on your account to this effect.

 

As we all know, the credit card companies and banks are very watchful to avoid any fraudulent charges to our accounts. When they see someone charging your account in a foreign country, they immediately suspect fraud and, most of the time, block your credit card or bank account. If you are in a foreign country and enjoying your vacation, and if your credit card and/or bank account is blocked, it will put you into a lot of hardship.

 

However, if you inform them prior to your departure, they will know that the charges from these places are legit.

 

This happened to me personally. I was in a small town in Tamil Nadu. Bought some silk sarees for my wife, and some gold and silver thru my credit card. Also withdrew some cash thru ATM using my American bank debit card. The next day I came to know that my credit card and bank debit card were blocked. I called them from India and they told me about their suspicion. I explained and they informed me that I should let them know prior to my travel to a foreign country. Lesson learned.