hello, this is the fraud department

photo by Guillermo Esteves

I had a surprisingly pleasant phone conversation with a nice lady (a couple of years ago I would have said "girl" but that seems sexist at my age) of the fraud department of my credit card company. I called them toll free from Germany as they had asked me to do so (a letter I received in the mail today).

They wanted to confirm my contact data since it seems someone has been trying to use my credit card from abroad! Well, yes, of course, that was ME!

I've been trying to throw some business at apple using my credit card that has worked fine for everything else over here in Europe - including buying a ipod through the store before. iTunes doesn't like it though and it seems that my bank is careful of purchases through apple overseas. Good thing for customers whose card has been stolen - bad thing for expats who just want to buy their stuff and take the foreign fees for granted just so they can have whatever might be "shiny new gotta have" at apple (no, can't really afford the macbook air...).

Anyway... seems everything is squared away again and I can start spending my money - even at the apple online store - from here. Good to know my bank is careul and reacts quickly and courteously.