Ridiculous Capital One problem

I have a US Capital One card that I make payments on and that my ex makes payments on. It's one of the fastest ways for him to get money to me.

He made a payment yesterday and when I checked my balance today, the money had been applied, but I had no available balance.

I called them up and here's what I found out....

I'm being investigated as a terrorist because I'm paying too much of my credit card bill.

They have me flagged because I'm making too many payments. (The ex and I each made one at the end of November. Bank of America bounced mine, so I had to resubmit it the first week of December. Then he made a payment on the statement due date yesterday. I've had Capital One note on my account that I'm in the UK and that my ex will be making some payments from his account. So nothing on the account is unusual.)

Apparently the only way you can be above suspicion is if you don't make payments by the due date and allow your credit cards to get out of control.

Oh dear.

Every week I go through our bills and if there is any money owed on our credit card, I pay the amount off from our current account so we don't have an outstanding balances. (We use our credit card for convenience, e.g. online purchases, not to delay payments for things).

I guess that makes me a terrorist too.

I really didn't expect three payments in two months to be considered terrorist activities, especially when the only charges on my account during that time were one shop at tesco and a regular payment to a music download site.

When I was on the phone, the guy even said "why are you so eager to get these funds cleared? What do you intend to do with the account?" I just said "I want to go grocery shopping." I had to really stop myself from laughing, though I did laugh when I asked him to clarify that I was in fact being investigated because I'd made too many payments on my card.

It must be something to do with the fact that it's a US credit card being used in the UK? That's the only thing I can think. Regardless it is supremely stupid.

the guy even said "why are you so eager to get these funds cleared?

Er, because it's debt that I have to pay interest on and I would rather pay as little interest as possible? What is WRONG with them?? 

It was suspended before because I'd used it in the UK, even though I'd given them notice that I was living in the UK. Back during the summer, I had to sit on the phone with them for about an hour while we went through and I confirmed that all the charges were mine. After that one, they said it shouldn't be a problem and that it was noted all over my account that I live in the UK.

This time it was just that I'd made too many payments, and the guy actually listed all my payments. I had to point out to him that one of the payments was returned, which was why there was the payment on Dec. 6.

The representative told me that since 9/11 they have to be extra careful about people paying more than their limit (definitely NOT my problem) and people making too many payments.

The whole thing is amazing to me. Maybe this is why there's such a credit crisis in the States -- too many people don't want to be classed as potential terrorists.

Good grief, now I've heard everything! Will they be sending your future statements c/o Guantamo Bay then? I didn't know it was possible to pay too much!

Ok, that's the worst Capital One story I've heard yet! 

We have a card with them as well, and it took us ages to persuade them to send statements to our UK address. They still insisted on having a US address on file because they couldn't send new cards out of the country. Hmmmm, let's see, which is more secure, sending our cards to us at our home address, or sending them somewhere else? Good thing we have parents in the US, with whom we get along well...

Google is my friend:

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RAISEALARM-02-28-06

That's ridiculous.   I have a U.K. Capital One card and just paid £800 a few days ago.   I guess I'd better start waiting for the terror squad to arrive on the doorstep, especially as it was paid in cash! 

My husband and I just paid off a £3000 loan at once so we could have 0 debt.

I guess we ought to turn ourselves in to the authorities.

Careful now... with all these confessions, this whole site might get taken down!

im sorry to hear that, i have a citibank card, and due to my relgion im not allowed to pay any interest, so as soon as i use my card i pay it off....and i make payments like atleast 10 times or more a month, andif they knew my relgion... LOL.. i think that is a good reason for u to talk to a supervisor, or someone over that person if u did already...amy

I'm supposed to call them back today after 9 (Eastern Time). Apparently there's a special department just for terrorist threats such as myself.

As long as we are on the subject of national security and financial institutions, I have a question.

I bank at Abbey. When I need to get a new savings book, the cashier makes out a new book for me, but then gives me a receipt for the book while the bank holds the book for three days. Three days later, I go into the bank with my receipt and get the book.

What are they doing with the bankbook for three days? And if the second cashier can hand me the book once I show her the receipt, why can't the first cashier, who gives me the receipt, just give me the bankbook to take home?

As long as we are on the subject of national security and financial institutions, I have a question.

I bank at Abbey. When I need to get a new savings book, the cashier makes out a new book for me, but then gives me a receipt for the book while the bank holds the book for three days. Three days later, I go into the bank with my receipt and get the book.

What are they doing with the bankbook for three days? And if the second cashier can hand me the book once I show her the receipt, why can't the first cashier, who gives me the receipt, just give me the bankbook to take home?

I'd ask them why you can't have it immediately. I worked for a building society and if someone needed a new book, we gave it to them immediately. The only time we retained books was if there was something that needed to be done with the money (i.e. invest into a different account, etc) that either needed to be done at a later date due to a maturing bond or we absolutely had no time to do it immediately. Retaining the book was always the last option.