My credit card wasn't stolen but someone used it!

[seashoreCM]

Unbelievable. Probation?

Either the store (the 7-11) did not press charges sufficiently zealously or the employees agreed to pay back the store for the losses.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

It can happen anywhere- a restaurant, hotel, ATM. That is why I just use a credit card and pay it off. I rarely even use my ATM anymore. Trust me, I worked in HR in a department store and people steal all the time!

We will never use a hotel safe again that uses a key. In 2006 we stayed at Marriott Horizons (now called Harbour Lake) and my Mom put in the safe a card she never uses. It was last used about 1-2 weeks before vacation and was in the safe the entire vacation. Someone took a swipe of the card and two weeks after vacation there were charges all over FL at self serve gas stations. At least now many of the gas stations ask you to key in the billing zip code to prevent this. It all worked out getting the charges reversed. Of course the hotel denied it that someone went in the safe, I didn't return to that Marriott for 3 years I was so mad. On our 2007 vacation we hid everything in a new diaper, inside a pack of Papmers. No problems!

I had a coworker that always used her ATM card at 'no-name' ATM machines at gas stations in MA and NH. Someone got a swipe of her card and pin information from one of these no-name ATMs, made a copy of her card and wiped out her checking acct at an ATM in California. I will only use ATM's that are at banks or part of a large bank... no private ATMs for me!

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

I love AMEX. In my former life I was a flight attendant and I was trying to get home on standby, but no luck. I ended up having to buy a ticket to get home and when I got to the ticket counter to try and purchase the ticket, the transaction was denied and I couldn't figure out why. So I called them and they said they just wanted to make sure it was me since I never used my card for such a large amount, based on my account history. I explained the situation and after verifying my account, they approved the transaction. I also had my purse stolen once too and they were great about taking off all the charges, no problems or hassles. Capital One on the other hand, gave me a major hassle and I closed the account as a result. Tried to make it sound like it was my fault. Yeah, I wanted someone to break into my work locker and steal my purse, CC's and money and car keys. CC's can be replaced, but money can not. I travel with both and sometimes travelers checks too but its getting harder to find places to accept those. We try to use cash though just to keep our CC's paid off, but we do break them out on occasion, mainly for vacations.

I NEVER use hotel in rooms safes. We stayed at a 4 star resort in Mexico for our honeymoon and while we were at breakfast, housekeeping entered our room. When we returned our room was clean and our safe was cleaned out. Money and travelers checks gone. Luckily, our passports were in my purse. Hotel took no responsibility whatsover and blamed us for the theft. I have never stayed there again and never will. I carry a large purse and and even larger wallet and i just carry the important stuff with me at all times. We ended up having to have money wired to us and it was a major pain trying to find a Western Union to go pick it up and they tried to rip us off when he tried to pick up the money. Never again.

 

[GSLand]

Last week Chase called me about my Disney Visa and to ask about unusual charges. I had not used my Disney Visa since our trip to WDW more than a year ago.
Very interesting that so many others have had they same experience.