UCT "flagged for security"

[wilkeliza]

I don't really get how this is weird or creepy. Is it weird or creepy when you go to a store and hand the cashier your card in person? UCT is completely reputable.

Chat agents often don't have the same capabilties as call center folks - so while it might be more convenient than calling, oftentimes you'll never get the best results.

If a store asked to take my photo of me holding my card I would say nope and put my stuff back. I could show them other forms of identification but once they start making records of it I would feel iffy. I don't even like when places want to write your DL number down on checks.

 

[IrishNYC]

Report them to MasterCard:

https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/report-problem-shopping.html

I would be shocked if such a request is allowed by the Merchant Agreement UCT is bound to by offering MasterCard as a payment option.

I was just thinking this, too, before I got to your comment. It's got to be a breech of security. Your own credit card, bank, and most merchants will tell you to NEVER share your CC information over chat, email, etc. Why is UCT any different?

I don't really get how this is weird or creepy. Is it weird or creepy when you go to a store and hand the cashier your card in person? UCT is completely reputable.

Chat agents often don't have the same capabilties as call center folks - so while it might be more convenient than calling, oftentimes you'll never get the best results.

I find it very weird and creepy that an online merchant would have you do this. I've been both a customer, and the online retailer, probably for transactions in the millions including my retailer experience, and not once did I ever need to provide or ask a client for a photo of anything.

 

[starjazz]

Mine didn't get flagged for verification, but I'm traveling solo (well meeting friends down there but paying solo), and I just saved $50 on my 7 day Hopper. That's a pretty substantial savings, IMO, esp if one was buying for several people.

$50 off the Disney price, or $50 vs. other discount sites? If I can save $50 with UCT or $40 using AAA and not have to send a selfie with my credit card, I'd use AAA. Just my personal take.

 

[MoonFaerie]

$50 off the Disney price, or $50 vs. other discount sites? If I can save $50 with UCT or $40 using AAA and not have to send a selfie with my credit card, I'd use AAA. Just my personal take.

$50 off Disney. My car insurance provides roadside assistance, so I dropped AAA years ago.

All total, it took maybe 5-10 mins from ordering to having the tickets linked in MDE. I didn't have to take a selfie or anything. Heck, my MDE is messed up, and my friend was the one that actually added the tickets to MDW and then linked them to my account.

 

[starjazz]

$50 off Disney. My car insurance provides roadside assistance, so I dropped AAA years ago.

All total, it took maybe 5-10 mins from ordering to having the tickets linked in MDE. I didn't have to take a selfie or anything. Heck, my MDE is messed up, and my friend was the one that actually added the tickets to MDW and then linked them to my account.

I just mentioned AAA as an example. There's other ways to get discounted tickets without sending selfies holding cc's. My point is that for some its worth it to take the risk, and for others its not. For ME, the savings, especially compared to savings I can get through other discount vendors, is just not enough to where I'd take a selfie holding my credit card and send it to ANYONE. But again, its just my personal take. Doesn't have to be the same for others. If you know and love this company, you'd probably feel totally fine with the request.

 

[Allison]

I don't think they are scamming anyone. I think it is a very poor business practice and I wouldn't agree to it.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't think they are scamming anyone. I think it is a very poor business practice and I wouldn't agree to it.

I think that they must be a pretty small operation and I would not trust their security after this. I work for a global organization and there is no way that we would ever do something like this. The more PII data that you have in your systems, the greater the risk to those individuals should your systems be hacked. So we keep only the data absolutely required for each client - no more. Weak security policies means weak security overall.

 

[amberpi]

I've spent 6 figures year upon year in travel expenses (and it ain't glamorous to live at the Sheraton or Hilton on end, so that's SMH not bragging) and have never heard of such. Even if the company is reputable, there are always bad employees who could be doing something fraudulent. No way I'd go for this and I understand why the original poster wouldn't want to do business with them - easier to move on.

 

[amberpi]

I think that they must be a pretty small operation and I would not trust their security after this. I work for a global organization and there is no way that we would ever do something like this. The more PII data that you have in your systems, the greater the risk to those individuals should your systems be hacked. So we keep only the data absolutely required for each client - no more. Weak security policies means weak security overall.

Yep. Simple, more PII, more liability.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

This has nothing to do with the company's intentions. Of course they are honest and reputable. Thousands of people have purchased tickets through this company successfully and with a substantial discount.

This practice is still completely unacceptable, I'm honestly glad I saw this as I was considering buying tickets from them. If their security system is so outdated, and their Tech team so unaware of current technology, then I don't feel confident of their ability to prevent hacking, theft and fraud on their own end. Do they know how to properly protect or remove those photographs they get? Are they smart enough not to link those photos with your other personal info? Incompetence is what scares me here. It's really not hard to evolve with the rest of the modern world and set up other security systems. I'm not tech savvy by any means but I'm jaded enough to know that a primarily online company should be. I try very hard to be proactive and cautious with my card info, but still had a theft situation on Black Friday this year. You can NEVER be too cautious these days and you always need to stay a step ahead of incredibly talented hackers.

Sorry you had this experience, it even sounds like maybe it WAS a security breech, it almost sounds like they don't know what's going on?? I would definitely try to contact a higher up in this company somehow, or write a letter. Don't want to see a good, honest company fail, but if they don't improve this they could be digging their own grave.

 

[mckennarose]

I've ordered from UT several times and trust them, the most recent order for 6 7-day park hoppers last week. I already got our tickets and linked to our MDE. (and for us, the savings was significant)

The first time I ordered from them I had to send a pic of my license a few years ago, and now as an established account I don't have to.

If it was a business that wasn't established or as respected as it is, then I would not have sent it. But I have not seen any shady business practices from UT reported anywhere. I can't comment on the request for a pic with the credit card b/c I don't understand that one and have not heard it before.

I would still attempt to talk to someone higher up in the company.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Ugh. I had considered purchasing from them for my upcoming trip.
Not happening now. The whole thing seems weird and unnecessary.
Great way to lose business.
I'll stick with AAA.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

*Haven't read all the replies*

From what I understand it tends to get flagged for security if the CC used has a different address than the shipping address

There could be another reason but from what I've heard that's the most common reason.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

FWIW I ordered both my WDW and my USO tickets last Feb through UT and had no problems whatso ever. USO tickets were e-mailed and WDW were mailed. Our CC however has the same address as where it was being shipped to.

 

[bumbershoot]

hi bumbershoot, no not different addresses.

But...

my IP address pinged from another state. I work in RI and live in MA.

And there's the issue.

Anyone that thinks they are doing this to protect YOU is simply mistaken. The card owner is not responsible for charges due to fraudulent use.

Oh sure.

1) Seeing as though they have no idea what you look like, it seems rather pointless.

It's a matter of having the card not just the numbers.

My brothers cc info keeps getting stolen, sometimes while it's still in the mail to him. While they could make a card it would take time, so they probably won't make a card.

I will say the customer service I received after I refused to send my picture was very good and timely, I had an email response from them within 30 minutes and then my confirmation of purchase. I linked the tickets to my Disney experience that same hour and all is well. So sorry it did not work as well for you

Wonder what would have happened if the OP hadn't told them to cancel.

hi please read whole thread I did call them - also yes it would be creepy if the store I went to wanted to take my picture holding my card up and store it digitally. this is not the same as security surveillance either.

People in the store can see you and the card. It's like showing your ID. They wouldn't take a picture of it because they can see it.

I'm not saying it's not odd, but they aren't a scamming company.

Unless as I said in another thread they were taken over by aliens.

It does slay me that companies can charge my card/account within minutes but take days, weeks or even months to refund. Like we don't notice. Not much to be done about it though

Generally not the vendor's fault. The bank or cc company is generally the one delaying refunds.

 

[Boski]

"Sure I'll send you a selfie....but just to forewarn you as I'm ordering these tickets from the comfort of my home it will be a picture of me holding my card in just my boxer briefs"

On a serious note this is probably the strangest request I've seen to prove you have the card. A phone call should be sufficient. I've never bought tickets from Disney and had them ask for a selfie. And what happens if you don't have a camera phone or a digital camera?

 

[cigar95]

I was meaning a photo of yourself at all. Selfie was just the term they used.

Yup, that's why I think it's particularly weird, on top of everything else, that they seem insistent on requesting a "selfie", rather than just requesting a photo. I've never taken a selfie, and don't plan to, so I guess if this came up with me at UCT, I'd be out of luck.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

But...



And there's the issue.



Oh sure.



It's a matter of having the card not just the numbers.

My brothers cc info keeps getting stolen, sometimes while it's still in the mail to him. While they could make a card it would take time, so they probably won't make a card.





Wonder what would have happened if the OP hadn't told them to cancel.



People in the store can see you and the card. It's like showing your ID. They wouldn't take a picture of it because they can see it.

I'm not saying it's not odd, but they aren't a scamming company.

Unless as I said in another thread they were taken over by aliens.



Generally not the vendor's fault. The bank or cc company is generally the one delaying refunds.

I'm not certain what you mean by "oh sure".

It's unclear why you would need the actual card. Anyone can steal the actual card almost as easily as the numbers. I'm sure it's also easy to make a card easily enough.

MG

 

[babyruth]

Wayyyyyyyyback in 98 when I was a freshman at UCF there was an operative in south FL that could make a card within 3 minutes of obtaining the number. Soon thereafter Citibank introduced that card with the photo on it which didn't help. I'm sure they've improved on how long it takes to imprint a fake credit card in almost 20 years!

I'm not a novice traveler or internet purchaser. I was fairly certain this wasn't a bonafide business practice. Thanks to those who commented here for confirming

 

[IrishNYC]

Wayyyyyyyyback in 98 when I was a freshman at UCF there was an operative in south FL that could make a card within 3 minutes of obtaining the number. Soon thereafter Citibank introduced that card with the photo on it which didn't help. I'm sure they've improved on how long it takes to imprint a fake credit card in almost 20 years!

I'm not a novice traveler or internet purchaser. I was fairly certain this wasn't a bonafide business practice. Thanks to those who commented here for confirming

Oh come on, that's not that waaaaaaay back to have been a freshman; I have you beat by a decade.

You did the right thing - trust your gut when it comes to that kind of thing.