Visa - It's Never Where You Want It To Be

I carry two major credit cards and little cash. Credit cards give me security in knowing that if my car breaks down (happened once), or if I'm out of town and I need a hotel (also happened) or I need car gas, I have a credit card.

Three times in the last 6 months, Visa has failed me and embarrassed me.

In Toronto last week I made a purchase of a few hundred dollars. No problem. An hour later in another store I made a similar size purchase but my Visa was declined!

"What? Not again!" I pay off my monthly amounts and my overall limit is far beyond my actual purchases. The clerk calls Visa to find out what's wrong while I stand at the check-out. "Thank you for waiting in line for the next Visa attendant". Uh uh.

My wife calls me from home and says Visa had called the house to verify the purchase in case of fraud. They called the house - I'm in the store! (Yes, Visa has my cell number) How could I verify it from home if I'm in the store?

I pulled out my Mastercard and completed the sale. Praise God for Mastercard.

At home, I called the Visa fraud number and was on hold for 20 minutes. The lousy customer service continues. When the operator was connected he asked about my purchases, blah blah blah.

Visa - "Your card has unusual activity so we suspended it."

Me - "What's the point in have a credit card if you're going to suspended it?"

Visa - "Your spending was unusual". (Like what? Did I buy a giraffe?)

Me - "Well thank God for my MASTERCARD or I would have really been stuck! Because I didn't have Visa, I couldn't buy gas and I couldn't buy dinner - my friend had to pay!"

Mr. Visa assures me he has made a note on my account to not let this happened again.

Man, good thing I wasn't out of province, or at the airport needing a flight, or stuck at the side of the road with CAA.

Mr. Visa confirms my phone numbers. Cell yes, home phone wrong. "How could you have the wrong number on file - you JUST PHONED MY HOUSE!"

Visa - "Is there anything else we can help you with?"

Visa - it's never where you want it to be.