Kobo purchase declined and now my bank has my card blocked [resolved] - Page 2

pssquirrel · 03-02-2015, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

Yep I lost all the money on that card they would not refund it. Accused me of fraudulent activities.

I will not use a Credit Card at Kobo. I use PayPal only and never travel.

How awful, Blossom! Thanks for tip. But I can't find a PayPal option in my Kobo account. My only choices are: Visa Credit/Visa Debit, MasterCard, Discover, American Express.

Ripplinger · 03-02-2015, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pssquirrel

How awful, Blossom! Thanks for tip. But I can't find a PayPal option in my Kobo account. My only choices are: Visa Credit/Visa Debit, MasterCard, Discover, American Express.

After I click on buy and log into my Kobo account, it brings me to Step 1/2 Payment Methods. At the right side of that page, my options are Credit Card, PayPal, Visa Checkout. This is from the US site.

JSWolf · 03-02-2015, 01:25 PM

When you make a purchase out of your home country using your credit or debit card, you must first notify the credit card company or bank to let them know before you try to make the purchase or you can get the transaction denied and/or blocked and you then have to contact your card's provider to get it sorted.

Ripplinger · 03-02-2015, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you make a purchase out of your home country using your credit or debit card, you must first notify the credit card company or bank to let them know before you try to make the purchase or you can get the transaction denied and/or blocked and you then have to contact your card's provider to get it sorted.

I've made MANY purchases out of the country for years and have never had that happen, using both credit and debit cards. I would at worst expect the credit/debit card company/bank to possibly verify the purchase first and then authorize it, but never a blanket deny and certainly never block the card because of an out-of-country purchase. Certainly not in today's world with internet access across the world.

HarryT · 03-02-2015, 02:41 PM

The fact that you have an established history of purchases in foreign countries is probably why it's never happened to you. Banks and card companies have sophisticated software that detects abnormal usage of a card, so if the OP never travels, and never normally makes foreign purchases, a card usage in a different country would be sufficient to raise a red flag.

lilbit1123 · 03-02-2015, 02:42 PM

I purchase from China all the time with no problems but for some reason my bank did not like the Canadian set up.

JSWolf · 03-02-2015, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbit1123

I purchase from China all the time with no problems but for some reason my bank did not like the Canadian set up.

That's because it's flagged as an unusual purchase. China and Canada are not even close. When you purchase outside your home country, it's best to let your card company/bank know about the purchase ahead of time so it won't get denied.

robko · 03-02-2015, 09:25 PM

This was a big issue (along with banks charging foreign exchange fees and Kobo being blamed for them by people assuming that Kobo was adding/receiving these fees) when Kobo first moved into the U.S. They set up a subsidiary to do the billing there to get around the issues.

darryl · 03-02-2015, 11:39 PM

As annoying and inconvenient as this can be, I give full credit to the relevant bank for its actions. As long as they promptly and courteously fixed things up I would appreciate rather than condemn their actions. Customer service, of course, could be better. I once had a telephone call from my bank minutes after an overseas transaction was declined asking me if I wanted to proceed with it. When I confirmed I did they adjusted their system and I was able to go back and make the purchase a few minutes later. That, of course, was exceptional.

pssquirrel · 03-03-2015, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

After I click on buy and log into my Kobo account, it brings me to Step 1/2 Payment Methods. At the right side of that page, my options are Credit Card, PayPal, Visa Checkout. This is from the US site.

Ah, I see it now! Thank you!

crich70 · 03-03-2015, 03:24 AM

I had my account locked up once. Someone had hacked me and tried to use the info. to get $ and my bank caught it. I ended up having to get a new account #, bank card and checks as well as changing my passwords. A real headache.

BearMountainBooks · 03-03-2015, 02:42 PM

I've had my account hacked and locked and I've had it just locked for "suspicious activity" that was just me. I can't seem to use a credit card at kobo--I've tried twice and it fails so I just use paypal. Don't know what the problem is and it isn't worth making it work. It is a tad annoying, I admit.

Tarana · 03-03-2015, 02:58 PM

I had a similar issue with my Target Visa. They blocked it because of a foreign purchase (in this case, I was shopping Kobo UK). However, they have 24 hour contact so it was easy to get it fixed.

It is unwise to use a debit card to do online shopping because you don't have the same protections that you do with a credit card. Think seriously of getting a credit card just for that purpose. I do use a debit card for certain purchases, but I placed a daily limit of $200 on it to restrict fraud (which is a real hassle in December, but otherwise, not a problem). Sure, eventually the bank will fix you, but will you have enough money for that car payment or mortgage in the meantime? Some folks have had their accounts entirely drained when using debit cards.

Purple Lady · 03-03-2015, 06:18 PM

It's not even safe to use a debit card in person anymore. My husband used his debit card at Target when they were breached. At first I told him he was crazy for using a debit card online, but it turns out he used it in person. He had to get the card replaced.

susan_cassidy · 03-03-2015, 06:44 PM

Some debit cards have the same type of protection as a credit card (e.g. $50 max out of pocket, etc).

03-03-2015, 03:24 AM	#26
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I had my account locked up once. Someone had hacked me and tried to use the info. to get $ and my bank caught it. I ended up having to get a new account #, bank card and checks as well as changing my passwords. A real headache. Last edited by crich70; 03-03-2015 at 11:07 PM.

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03-02-2015, 01:25 PM	#18
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	When you make a purchase out of your home country using your credit or debit card, you must first notify the credit card company or bank to let them know before you try to make the purchase or you can get the transaction denied and/or blocked and you then have to contact your card's provider to get it sorted.

03-02-2015, 02:41 PM	#20
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The fact that you have an established history of purchases in foreign countries is probably why it's never happened to you. Banks and card companies have sophisticated software that detects abnormal usage of a card, so if the OP never travels, and never normally makes foreign purchases, a card usage in a different country would be sufficient to raise a red flag.

03-02-2015, 02:42 PM	#21
lilbit1123 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: none	I purchase from China all the time with no problems but for some reason my bank did not like the Canadian set up.

03-02-2015, 09:25 PM	#23
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	This was a big issue (along with banks charging foreign exchange fees and Kobo being blamed for them by people assuming that Kobo was adding/receiving these fees) when Kobo first moved into the U.S. They set up a subsidiary to do the billing there to get around the issues.

03-02-2015, 11:39 PM	#24
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	As annoying and inconvenient as this can be, I give full credit to the relevant bank for its actions. As long as they promptly and courteously fixed things up I would appreciate rather than condemn their actions. Customer service, of course, could be better. I once had a telephone call from my bank minutes after an overseas transaction was declined asking me if I wanted to proceed with it. When I confirmed I did they adjusted their system and I was able to go back and make the purchase a few minutes later. That, of course, was exceptional.

03-03-2015, 02:42 PM	#27
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	I've had my account hacked and locked and I've had it just locked for "suspicious activity" that was just me. I can't seem to use a credit card at kobo--I've tried twice and it fails so I just use paypal. Don't know what the problem is and it isn't worth making it work. It is a tad annoying, I admit.

03-03-2015, 02:58 PM	#28
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,038 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I had a similar issue with my Target Visa. They blocked it because of a foreign purchase (in this case, I was shopping Kobo UK). However, they have 24 hour contact so it was easy to get it fixed. It is unwise to use a debit card to do online shopping because you don't have the same protections that you do with a credit card. Think seriously of getting a credit card just for that purpose. I do use a debit card for certain purchases, but I placed a daily limit of $200 on it to restrict fraud (which is a real hassle in December, but otherwise, not a problem). Sure, eventually the bank will fix you, but will you have enough money for that car payment or mortgage in the meantime? Some folks have had their accounts entirely drained when using debit cards.

03-03-2015, 06:18 PM	#29
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	It's not even safe to use a debit card in person anymore. My husband used his debit card at Target when they were breached. At first I told him he was crazy for using a debit card online, but it turns out he used it in person. He had to get the card replaced.

03-03-2015, 06:44 PM	#30
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Some debit cards have the same type of protection as a credit card (e.g. $50 max out of pocket, etc).