I Am Who I Am

Published by Toronto Mike on November 22, 2007 @ 20:13 in Miscellaneous

money Tonight I went to HMV at Yorkdale to help Santa cross the Wii off his list. I paid with my Visa card, but it wouldn't go through. The system told the clerk to call Visa. I knew I had room on the card, so I just waited patiently while the woman behind the counter chatted with the bank rep.

Meanwhile, my Blackberry vibrated and it was Taryn telling me Visa had just called my house asking for me. I, of course, wasn't home. I was at HMV, trying to use my card. At this time, the HMV clerk passed me the phone. Visa wanted to speak with me.

I spent the next ten minutes trying to convince the gentleman I was in fact who I am. We went through several of my previous addresses until I successfully convinced him I was Mike Boon. Only then would he clear my card to make this purchase.

For some reason, a sensitive fraud alarm got tripped by my purchase. I suppose it's a good thing they're making sure it's an authorized purchase, but it was a pain in the ass waiting ten minutes for Visa to converse with HMV and then another ten minutes proving my identity. I know credit card fraud is a problem, but isn't it possible their alarms are a little too sensitive?

Jordy, thanks for reserving me a Wii. You've earned yourself an extra inning at 2nd base. I won't even blame you for the whole Visa debacle.

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6 comments

6 Responses to "I Am Who I Am"

Mike Kic
November 23, 2007 / 09:06

I think I Mike Kic thanks is in order, because if I wasn't checking your website religiously, I wouldn't have mentioned the Jordy hook up. I may be the middle man, but I'm still the man!!

Toronto Mike
November 23, 2007 / 09:15

Mike who? Do I even know a Mike Kic? It sorta rings a bell....

Listen big guy, I'm due for a drop by to discover new tracks. I'll give you a proper hug then.

SoccerMom
November 23, 2007 / 09:17

Call the Credit Bureau and press 3 if you are a victim of fraud, I am not kidding it is on the auto-attendant… For as much as a pain in the butt that it was to stand there you should be glad it happened. My husband and I were not so lucky and the fall-out because he had his card/identity being stolen has been and continues to be a nightmare. We registered the card with Fido so his air-time would automatically refill and the guy we registered with stole the card number. Now the asshole had the
card number, the thee digit security number on the back and my husband b’day (as they request this info to set-up your account). Armed with all this it was enough to do some serious on-line shopping for him and his. I for one am very thankful for the sensitive systems as he was stopped in his tracks because of the system with less then $5000 worth of goods. I think there would be way more thieves doing this and more innocent people like us having to take it if not for the security. And trust me nothing is done to these criminals once it happens; Halton Police washed their hands of it, Montreal Police also, OPP and RCMP but wait I digress ~ RCMP told us to go on-line and fill out a form, again sad when this is an acceptable norm. Congrads on getting the Wii, glad you didn’t have to pull and all-nighter like me ~ James is going to love it!

Toronto Mike
November 23, 2007 / 09:20

If I'm a victim of credit card fraud, which I was a few years back, I don't have to pay for it. The merchant might get screwed, but the cardholder is taken off the hook. But, I know it's a huge issue and that's why the fraud alarms are so sensitive.

Yes, I got the Wii. I mean, Santa's elves have built the Wii. James might even let me play it on Christmas Day.

Mike Kic
November 23, 2007 / 14:09

Looking forward to the hug, Booner.

Annemarie
November 25, 2007 / 14:55

Congratulations for starting your Christmas shopping so early.

RBC once called me about a purchase that had just been made on my Visa & it was b/c I don't normally use it. I was glad they were checking.