AI SUCKS

[Djmac1031]

No, this isn't yet another "My story got rejected because of AI" posts.

This is a "My debit card got declined because of AI" post.

For the second time in two weeks, my debit card got declined. Had to call the bank to get it reinstated.

When I asked what the problem was, I was told it's because I tried to make a purchase "outside my area" (whatever the fuck that means,) and the computer does random flags.

Now, I travel around a lot for work so I'm on the road all day, often many miles from home.

And now all of a sudden after years with no problems, I have some dumbass computer monitoring where I travel and blocking my purchases if it decides I'm too far from home.

What the actual fuck???

I asked the guy if there's some new AI program in place, he could neither confirm nor deny.

But I'd bet money AI is the issue.

It's also why the autocorrect/ auto fill feature on my new phone is so fucking stupid it randomly replaces the word I'm attempting to type with something random and not even close.

It's incredibly annoying and frustrating.

 

[AndyJacker]

Sucks because of job losses

 

[TiberiusPrime]

Take the time to inform your bank of where you're traveling to, that'll eliminate the problem.

 

[MrPixel]

^^^^^ What he said.

Your problem is not AI, DJ, and not random. The credit/debit card world has been doing that for a number of years. Gosh... I'm recalling from 12 years ago getting a call from the "security department" when my laptop blew-up and I had to buy a replacement 2000 miles from home. Anything that is wildly divergent from your normal usage pattern - usually mostly local - is going to get their attention, especially anything that's not travel-related like a hotel or rental car.

Anything high-dollar and away from home like electronics is going to be flagged.

Your next move on this is to call customer support and let them know that your job circumstances have changed and you travel more than before. The online account management for at least my mostly-used card even has the ability to "let them know" I'm going to be traveling, and where.

 

[Djmac1031]

Take the time to inform your bank of where you're traveling to, that'll eliminate the problem.

And why should I have to call my bank every morning before I leave for work?

 

[MrPixel]

No, they'll click a box on their side that says, "Allow for travel" or something like that.

 

[Djmac1031]

Your next move on this is to call customer support and let them know that your job circumstances have changed and you travel more than before. The online account management for at least my mostly-used card even has the ability to "let them know" I'm going to be traveling, and where.

Nothing has changed in my job circumstances; I've been doing this for years and never had a problem.

Its not like im buying a fucking TV. I'm trying to get lunch.

And its not like im thousands of miles away. I travel within NJ and PA, usually no more than a 100 miles give or take.

No, this is very new.

 

[MrPixel]

Then they're clamping down. Talk to them. (Calmly... )

 

[Djmac1031]

Then they're clamping down. Talk to them. (Calmly... )

I did. And I was very nice. And yes, they said they'd add a note that i travel throughout South Jersey etc on a daily basis.

Doesn't make it any less annoying.

 

[joy_of_cooking]

And why should I have to call my bank every morning before I leave for work?

That advice is for trips farther afield. If you're going to fly overseas, you may need to tell them specifically, "I'll be in Thailand tomorrow through next Monday." If you're going to make house calls over a hundred mile radius as part of your normal job, they can just note that once.

 

[Djmac1031]

That advice is for trips farther afield. If you're going to fly overseas, you may need to tell them specifically, "I'll be in Thailand tomorrow through next Monday." If you're going to make house calls over a hundred mile radius as part of your normal job, they can just note that once.

That i understand.

What i dont understand is getting flagged for trying to buy a cheeseburger on my way home from work.

 

[TheLobster]

So, this is the new trend, eh?

My story got rejected? AI.
My car's engine doesn't start? AI.
I'm stuck in traffic? AI.
My kid got a cold? AI.
My kid left a Lego brick and I stepped on it? Definitely AI.

We have the best scapegoat for everything -- because of AI.

 

[Djmac1031]

So, this is the new trend, eh?

My story got rejected? AI.
My car's engine doesn't start? AI.
I'm stuck in traffic? AI.
My kid got a cold? AI.
My kid left a Lego brick and I stepped on it? Definitely AI.

We have the best scapegoat for everything -- because of AI.

"Blame AI" is the new "Thanks, Obama"

 

[TheLobster]

"Blame AI" is the new "Thanks, Obama"

More seriously, though, if you're in the US then you're probably not "supposed" to use a debit card for payments at all. Gotta rack up that credit score.

 

[HordHolm]

Personally, I wish AI did suck. Might make it more pleasant...

 

[Djmac1031]

Personally, I wish AI did suck. Might make it more pleasant...

I'm sure Japanese scientists are working on that as we speak...

 

[Nynah]

i travel throughout South Jersey etc on a daily basis.

Personally I would read this as the universe being concerned that you're in South Jersey at all.

(I used to travel from Bergen County down to AC and Vineland for work all the time so I have a weird fondness for it but it's also kind of a swamp.)

 

[MrPixel]

What i dont understand is getting flagged for trying to buy a cheeseburger on my way home from work.

No, you were declined on your burger because of hard goods previously purchased away from home. The card fraud they're usually trying to prevent are cases where a big something is purchased that can be returned for cash. iPads bought at Walmart were the most common deceit a decade ago - a quick $600 if they gamed it right. When it was attempted for us was when a restaurant server stole the number, etc., when we paid for our meal. And yes, we were far from home, so were an easy mark.

(I'll have to aside here... sometimes cards are cloned, and the fake card can then be used for PIN-less "convenience" unattended transactions, such as a gas pump. Consider that a possibility, too.)

What saved us on the restaurant deal was: 1) I reported it immediately after detection that evening since I typically check the account daily when on the road; and 2) it was a credit card and not a debit card, so the bank was obligated to make good on claims of fraud that were reported to police. Debit cards have no such protection; once that virtual check has been written, the money is as good as gone.

Yes, a declination for no reason you're aware of is infuriating, but it's basically the bank being maybe a bit overzealous about protecting your account.

 

[StillStunned]

That advice is for trips farther afield. If you're going to fly overseas, you may need to tell them specifically, "I'll be in Thailand tomorrow through next Monday." If you're going to make house calls over a hundred mile radius as part of your normal job, they can just note that once.

Learned this the hard way twenty years ago. The wife and I were visiting Australia. Half the time her credit card was declined, other times it was accepted. Rather than waste money phoning home, we left it until we were back.

Turns out they noticed "suspicious behaviour". Using the card in Australia. Even though we'd used the same card to book the plane tickets and all the hotels. In restaurants it worked fine, "because we wouldn't want to cause any embarrassment." But causing embarrassment in shops was fine.

My bank card is set to "Europe" by default, but I've been caught out in the Caribbean a few times when I'd forgot to set it to "Worldwide".

 

[StillStunned]

No, you were declined on your burger because of hard goods previously purchased away from home. The card fraud they're usually trying to prevent are cases where a big something is purchased that can be returned for cash. iPads bought at Walmart were the most common deceit a decade ago - a quick $600 if they gamed it right. When it was attempted for us was when a restaurant server stole the number, etc., when we paid for our meal. And yes, we were far from home, so were an easy mark.

We took a cruise from Miami once, just a few days around the Caribbean. When we got home, I had several charges up of to $999 on my credit card, mostly at Walgreen. I didn't know you could even spend that amount there.

 

[Baztrachian]

When I asked what the problem was, I was told it's because I tried to make a purchase "outside my area" (whatever the fuck that means,) and the computer does random flags.

Sounds like your bank is trying to cajole you into installing their garbage app on your phone so they can Hoover up all of your data and your real-time location 24/7/365.

Who's your bank?

 

[MrPixel]

We took a cruise from Miami once, just a few days around the Caribbean. When we got home, I had several charges up of to $999 on my credit card, mostly at Walgreen. I didn't know you could even spend that amount there.

Yeah. "Green Dot" cash transfer cards. Very, very frequent avenue for theft/fraud/whatever. Green Dot cards are a very well known instrument for it, and it is surprising to me there aren't better safeguards.

Sounds like your bank is trying to cajole you into installing their garbage app on your phone so they can Hoover up all of your data and your real-time location 24/7/365.

I wouldn't doubt that for a microsecond. Not only am I slightly familiar with the inner workings of the financial trade, I was an app developer. Double trouble if you're on an Android device - there are ways around user preferences for disabling location and contact list access. But even with iOS, I would bet a paycheck (...I'm retired...) the bank app would not work without location tracking. Evil.

 

[TiberiusPrime]

So, this is the new trend, eh?

My story got rejected? AI.
My car's engine doesn't start? AI.
I'm stuck in traffic? AI.
My kid got a cold? AI.
My kid left a Lego brick and I stepped on it? Definitely AI.

We have the best scapegoat for everything -- because of AI.

Feels like AI wrote that....

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

"Blame AI" is the new "Thanks, Obama"

Obama created AI just like Gore created the internet, right?

 

[MrPixel]

I'm stuck in traffic? AI.

Now that is a distinct possibility! AI tools are in fact being used for traffic flow management (used to be in the biz). Most (in)visible application is dynamically adjusting traffic light timings in urban grids.