I haven't experience BOA doing that but when they suspend my account for possible fraudulent charges, they free up my account instantly.

Banks always do that durig the holidays with debit cards. If you charge a big amount or have a change in spending pattern they will temporarily freeze the account until either you contact them and confirm the charges. WaMudid this to me 2 xmases ago. They freed up the account instantly when I told them i authorized the charges. They also explained to me that during the holiday season they check accounts for possible suspicious activity.

I use to work for a car rental agency years ago at the airport and you can imagine all types of credit card denials and the people's response to them.

The only time it has happened to me was several years ago. My credit union debit card had a nasty "valid dates" system. Which meant it was good from 2/99-2/01 only. Most cards just have an exp date and can be used as soon as you get the new card. Well this credit union sent me the replacement card early January so I could not use it yet as it was not valid until February. So I left it in the envelope and forgot about it. I went to the gas station to get a soda and gave them my expired card. So I just used another card instead. No biggie.

Now, I personally LOVE watching other peoples cards get declined. I am going to hell, I know. But when they get all indignant about it, I get a smile on my face that nothing will whipe off. At the grocery store a few months ago this woman tried using her debit card, declined. After four attempts including using a plastic bag for the mag strip she used her Chase Southwest Airlines Visa, declined! So she used a check and went to an ATM whille I checked out. My Discover worked perfectly. So then as she was leaving she showed the cashier some cash that she obtained from the ATM "Look! See! I just got cash so its YOUR machine!!" So I said, crazy, my card worked. LOL

I tried to spend $2,100 at best buy last Christmas on my debit card. Not only did I get a Card Declined, Wachovia froze my bank account.

I got a call an hour later from a fraud specialist.

Wachovia and Bank of America has done that to me before, now that I recall. I was furious, I went on and on to the rep about how I was being denied assess to my OWN money and needless to say, she started preaching to me about the importance of security and how I would feel it it were not me, yada yada yada. Now whenever I want to make a large purchase, I do it as a pin transaction. I've had no problems so far, but that's not to say I never will.

I know I would.

Interjack, that's very true. But if someone had stolen your card you would have been happy that Wachovia had taken those extra steps.

That makes sense since you are making a large purchase on a debit card. If your debit card was stolen and the thief tried to buy a large ticket item, it would be a HUGE problem getting the money back from the bank.

I tried to spend $2,100 at best buy last Christmas on my debit card. Not only did I get a Card Declined, Wachovia froze my bank account.

I got a call an hour later from a fraud specialist.

I don't consider that hassle, I believe it provides you a peace of mind.

Also realize that the bank monitors your spending habits and where you use your card most frequently. Many times I have went back to California and had to let BOA know I would be traveling so when they started to see charges other than the Atlanta area they would not automatically decline me and shut the card down. Its a hassle but for your own protection !

Brian23 your dad is very lucky. They did the same thing to my boyfriend and had the nerve to ask him if he could make a payment for the pending (had not received bill for) charges on his account before they released the block. What a bunch of junk, Amex is too wishy-washy for me.

I haven't personally had one yet either, but my dad was trippin today because he tried to charge a plan ticket (for 235) to his AMEX charge card today and it was declined. He has used that card every month for every single little thing and pays in full (his monthly charges are between 3500 - 5000 a month). Today he called in and they told him because his score has dropped a few points (he was confused about this one, caude he pays everything with that AMEX card) they put a 3000 limit on his card (his balance is at 2900). He talked to 4 reps be4 he finally got a supervisor and told him that if they did not remove the limit off his card, he would take his business elsewhere (he's been a customer of theres for 17 years but was ready to move back to citibank where hes been with them for 26). Needless to say, he was one of the fortunate ones and they removed the limit off his card. I told him to keep a very close on eye on them, cause they might try to pull a fast one on him again.

I get about 3 declined cards a week at work and nearly all of them are AMEX. HAHA... Guess everyone here looks at their credit limit with caution.

I can't recall, but I'm not going to say it has never happened, maybe mine was just too long ago to remember, but during these times, I won't say it won't EVER happen to me either, since banks can do whatever they like, WHENEVER they want. If it does happen, I'll be sure to remember this thread. I was with a friend when her card declined at Red Lobster and she turned red (she's black, lmao). She went scrambling through her purse and gave the server another card, it was declined too. I ordered her another drink and told the waiter to put on my tab. She was so embarassed; now that I think about, she never paid me back.