Kudos to Amex

This morning someone on Freecycle asked for packing peanuts and I sent her our phone number. This is to explain why I picked up the phone when it rang an hour ago when normally we always let a machine get it.

It was a lady with a very strong Indian accent calling from Amex. {American Express} Now, my heart always sinks when I get someone with that accent  because I, too, have a very strong accent {English} and we always, ALWAYS spend a lot of our time saying to each other, “Would you repeat that, please?” Any way, after the obligatory requests for repetition on both sides, she was calling to ask me to verify three charges to my card yesterday. One was to Fredericks of Hollywood, one was to some other place I couldn’t understand and the third was over  $1000 and declined.

Well, of course I knew immediately that they weren’t mine {Fredricks of Hollywood!??} because I didn’t use my Amex card on line {or anywhere else as it happens} yesterday at all. So, I told her they were not mine. Then she said that I would need to get a new card and gave me a number. I called this number and was immediately asked  to put in my 15-digit card number.  At this point I hung up because it occurred to me that perhaps this was a scam. So, I dialed the number that was on the back of my card and was again asked to put in my card number. Ok, so, although the other number I had been given was different from the one on the back of the card, it wasn’t a scam. I made my way through the press this and press that menus and eventually got the card replacement department. Once I had identified myself {last four digits of Social Security number and first four letters of mother’s maiden name} without me asking at all, the young lady answering told me that the three charges had been removed from my account and my card had been cancelled. She then asked me to verify my address and told me I would be getting a new card in the mail and gave me the date to expect it. She told me I would have to call to activate it but that would be no problem.

One reason I use an Amex card for my online transactions is that they advertise that they check dubious transactions and this was certainly a good call. But I would love to know what triggered the phone call. I used my card in Mississippi when I was there and in England when I was there, also.with no problems.  I am thinking it was probably the amount, the $1000 one that was declined. Anyway, aggravating though this was {I had to find my social security card to find the last four digits} kudos to Amex for catching this.

 I have been for my first walk of the day. It is gorgeous here with sunshine, temperatures in the middle 50’s and a light wind from the north. I did 30 minutes at 3.5 mph and found it fairly easy. Mind you, I didn’t try any steep hills this time.

Now I am off to clean the stove and do the dishes.

Until later…