|
Post by tod2 on Oct 30, 2021 10:27:17 GMT
Mick & Whatagain - do you have any inkling when or where this happened. At a certain ATM, or online purchases?
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Oct 30, 2021 10:54:05 GMT
Mick & Whatagain - do you have any inkling when or where this happened. At a certain ATM, or online purchases? Absolutely no idea tod. It happened over about 3 months. Online purchase seems most likely but who knows? £7.99 each time on 5 occasions all connected with Amazon.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 30, 2021 10:59:51 GMT
Thanks Mick. I am forbidden to purchase anything online with my card and have to use a special allocated card from my son. He does something that is a sure safe bet and I think the card has the exact amount transferred into it just before the purchase. These young people know a thing or three....
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 30, 2021 11:27:04 GMT
I use my card online 10-20 times a week.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 30, 2021 12:27:09 GMT
Can I ask if all the purchases are made with one of those "secure" or PayPal way? Also do you only keep a reasonably small amount in the account. Not like your whole fortune is in one card....
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Oct 30, 2021 12:31:08 GMT
Can I ask if all the purchases are made with one of those "secure" or PayPal way? Also do you only keep a reasonably small amount in the account. Not like your whole fortune is in one card.... I am a pensioner. There is never much in my account..,
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 30, 2021 12:36:21 GMT
Ha Ha! Mick, I too am a pensioner that is denied any pension by the South African government. Unlike the UK, Where I believe you are entitled to all or part of a pension if you have contributed all your life, and even if you live abroad. You have to be dirt poor to be dished up the miserable amount of government pension here.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 30, 2021 13:43:41 GMT
I have only ever used ordinary cards. I was hacked twice on the same card, but I must admit that Carrefour Banque is brilliant, because both times I was refunded before I was even debited for the fraudulent purchases.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 30, 2021 15:32:01 GMT
I changed all eight of my clocks, even the one on the oven, to winter time today. I'll try to remember to change the time on my wristwatch when I go to bed.
|
|
|
Post by casimira on Oct 30, 2021 15:47:25 GMT
My Bank account has been hacked so all cards cancelled. It’s a pain in the backside. It's only happened to me once, but, that was enough. I got a message from my former bank that showed suspicious activity and had me making purchases in NOLA. NYC, and Rio de Janeiro all within 24 hours. They cancelled my card and eventually issued me a new one. None of the charges held. But, it was a pain to be sure.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Oct 30, 2021 21:43:33 GMT
Happened to me about 10 years ago...bank phoned me asking was I sending money abroad...small withdrawals to western union. As it was Visa I had to call to US to cancel card. Several nervous hours where I was told the bad guys could 'clean me out' and to withdraw as much cash as possible, 'just in case'. It was a long weekend so could only use ATM. By the time it was traced...W Union > Lithuania > Mumbai, I was down $800. It was not able to be reimbursed by my bank because it was a valid W Union transaction.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Oct 30, 2021 22:25:35 GMT
Sorry to read this Mick, was your bank policy able to cover the charges for you?
It has happened once to myself, but to my VISA, the bank called me due to unusual activity, all charges were declined by VISA after confirming with me. The bank worked it back to either a restaurant or hotel in Toronto we had been to the day before where they think someone scanned my card. They cancelled the card immediatley and I picked up a new one from the bank 2 days later.
One thing we do not do it use our phone for any banking or on-line orders, we have not felt comfortable doing so. I have been told I could put VPN on my phone. I also have all my cards in RFID sleeve guards in my wallet.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 31, 2021 0:14:59 GMT
Occasionally we hear of “skimmers” having been installed surreptitiously on gas pumps around here (ATMs are susceptible, too). These add-on devices steal info from the credit cards of anyone who uses it.
Credit Cards are actually pretty safe, as opposed to Debit Cards that have direct access to your bank account. Charges that are not yours are almost always reversed if your card is lost or stolen or if fraudulent activity is detected.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Oct 31, 2021 0:33:44 GMT
Occasionally we hear of “skimmers” having been installed surreptitiously on gas pumps around here (ATMs are susceptible, too). Yes, we have the same issues here as well Kimby. We do not pay at the pump, we always go into the store. We also try to go to the same place for gas, family station down the highway. But when on trips, we will go into the store to pay, we usually need some bottled water. lottery tickets and treats anyway. We rarely use a solitary ATM but I do worry about that when we have to. Now if there ever becomes a problem with debit at the grocery stores, we will have some problems! I think we all try our best to be careful but thieves are always finding new ways.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Oct 31, 2021 8:57:39 GMT
mich, the Bank said they will recover the money for me but he did say Amazon were “tricksy” which suggests this is not uncommon.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Oct 31, 2021 11:30:38 GMT
I have one card I use only for online purchases and one I use for ATM withdrawals plus the rare shop purchase. I get a notification on my phone for every payment or money in roughly within a few minutes of it happening. I try and pay cash for most normal day to day things and with cash I've obtained (usually) from the same ATM which I am familiar with. My online purchases are rare, the most being for flights or hotel rooms. I'd like to think I'd pick up on anything untoward fairly quickly (touch wood). But, my situation has just changed this weekend to such that I'm about skint now anyway -
Went to Slovenia. Bought and apartment. Came home.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 31, 2021 12:10:38 GMT
Occasionally we hear of “skimmers” having been installed surreptitiously on gas pumps around here (ATMs are susceptible, too). I don't think we've heard of any cases of skimmers in France for about 10 years. Maybe they have all been exported to the U.S.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Oct 31, 2021 15:15:47 GMT
Well Mick that helps me in making my decision on where I am buying one of my gifts for Mr. M. for Christmas. I found similar items on Amazon and Best Buy. I am now thinking I will use Best Buy as this is something I have to order on-line. Went to Slovenia. Bought and apartment. Came home. Looking forward to reading more about this!
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Oct 31, 2021 16:52:31 GMT
Not so much to tell really Mich. Got fed up of the banks mucking me about, one specifically introducing negative interest when they said they wouldn't and another blocking my access to my money until I proved a few things to their satisfaction, which meant they never were until I complained heavily and frequently. So I had been looking to buy something in Germany but the prices were too much for me and over valued in my eyes. Then with having connections to and in Slovenia I looked there and found the idea a lot more viable. Saw some places, decided on one and signed for it. Nope, I won't be living there but I told a close cousin of Mrs M who is going through a messy and vindictive divorce with her two children, she can do so for a peppercorn rent for the foreseeable future. Could be many months or even a couple of years until she finds her feet. No problem for me. After that I'll rent it out properly.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 31, 2021 16:58:55 GMT
"Negative interest"? Do you mean you have to pay them to keep your money in their bank?
Of course, low borrowing rates mean also low interest on bank deposits.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 31, 2021 18:06:36 GMT
Negative interest has been a major thing in finance for the last few years, but normally it doesn't concern ordinary people.
|
|
|
Post by whatagain on Oct 31, 2021 18:36:25 GMT
I am in the process of buying excellent wine from the winemaker. Price is below 5 euro a bottle and the wine is real good. The guys are fantastic, the place is out of the ordinary We are spending a moment on another planet, with aliens, but nice aliens. .or we are the aliens.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 31, 2021 18:50:34 GMT
Where are you, Whatagain? What kind of wine is it?
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Oct 31, 2021 19:43:09 GMT
"Negative interest"? Do you mean you have to pay them to keep your money in their bank? Yes. For example, and they're not the only one, - ING are charging 0.5% negative interest (it is called a 'Custody Fee') on savings (above 50,000?) because they hold their excess money in the European Central Bank who has, for the last seven years, been charging the banks negative interest. I'm not sure but I think it is just European banks as they all tend to use the European Central Bank for the same thing.
|
|
|
Post by whatagain on Oct 31, 2021 19:55:04 GMT
I am in Loire valley Bjd. Visited Azay le Rideau castle today. Wine is Loire, Chinon.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 31, 2021 20:06:24 GMT
I visited Azay le Rideau with my grandmother and took her to the only Michelin starred (one star!) restaurant where I have ever been.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Oct 31, 2021 20:22:07 GMT
Negative interest has been a major thing in finance for the last few years, but normally it doesn't concern ordinary people. No idea what is the cut off point in France but I think there are more and more people than thought of who hold savings of 50,000 Euros or more in Germany. They are quite obsessive about savings.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 31, 2021 20:52:40 GMT
I have saved more than that and I am still earning interest.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Nov 1, 2021 0:23:42 GMT
"Bricks and Mortar" and "The quarter-acre block" is firmly established in the ethos of kids growing up in Australia. After the 2 major wars the various Governments released land, dwellings and the idea was of every family owning their own free-hold home.
The developers moved in and suburbia spread out faster than the Govts could provide infrastructure. In the 70/80s hikes in petrol and transport costs made this an expensive option. The wise people started moving back to the city centres and the old bungalows became things to treasure. "Renovate or detonate" became the new catch cry. The quarter acre blocks were sub-divided into apartments...many with pools or multiple car parks. Many jobs became work from home, or fly in/fly out. Some needed employees to travel on multiple year placements.
The idea of renting became acceptable and youngish professionals started buying up and renting the "close to amenities" flats. These landlords were nurses, taxi drivers, tradesmen and women and teachers etc. Often they lived on one salary and paid off the investment with the other, or they take out a loan from "the Bank of Mum and Dad".
It will be very interesting to see how this pans out. I know of a schoolkid who waited until he was 18 then letterboxed dozens of flats near a major university. Picked up enough customers to go into business as a Property Manager.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 1, 2021 1:49:18 GMT
Last night we were driving at a fairly high speed, on a very dark, rural, two lane road in the state of Georgia, when a huge buck, with a full antler rack, stepped out in front of us and just stared. My daughter, the driver, managed to stop just short of hitting him and, fortunately, the two cars behind us realized what was happening in time to avoid us. We’d actually been watching for deer, but certainly didn’t expect this one. He was one of the largest (southeastern USA) deer I’ve ever seen in the wild. After standing there a couple of seconds, he turned around and slowly meandered back to the side of the road. Like he had no care in the world.
|
|