Can they do this?! "We have declined your transaction as you used a non-Bank of America..

[improper_validation]

I ordered online from Bank of America foreign currency a small amount of euros for an upcoming trip. Their site states you may order foreign current upto $500 with a Visa or MasterCard and up to $5000 with a bank of america checking or credit card.

 

My order came to $108 shipped and I paid using a credit card from my Local CU as they said this will be charged as a cash advance- my CU doesn't charge a CA fee, nor will they flip if they see this.

 

I get an email today..

Thank you for using the Bank of America Foreign Currency and Travelers Cheques Web site to order foreign currency.

 

 

Regrettably, we have declined your transaction as you used a non-Bank of America credit card to pay for your transaction.

 

 

We have had to decline your order due to recent changes to the rules of the Visa and MasterCard associations. If you have a Bank of America Checking or Savings account, please visit us again online and submit a new foreign currency order using your Bank of America account for payment. Enhancements to our Web site that will reflect this change are currently in development.

 

What? I think I'm going to ask them where in their merchant agreement it allows this. Clearly they are trying to avoid a transaction fee(and make 3-5% CA fee) to make more on the currency.

Edited October 13, 2009 by wcnghj

[centex]

website shows that any card should be able to be used...

 

How can I pay for my order?

If you are a Bank of America customer with a U.S. deposit account, you may pay by having your Bank of America checking or savings account debited, or by using your Bank of America check card with the VISA® logo (ATM/debit card). We are unable to accept non Bank of America debit cards, including those with the VISA® or Mastercard® logo. You can also charge your order to any MasterCard® or VISA® credit card. However, credit card purchases will be considered cash advances and all fees and charges associated with cash advances will be applied.

 

emphasis added

 

Makes me wonder if they considered your card as a debit card...

[sfbehr]

website shows that any card should be able to be used...

 

How can I pay for my order?

If you are a Bank of America customer with a U.S. deposit account, you may pay by having your Bank of America checking or savings account debited, or by using your Bank of America check card with the VISA® logo (ATM/debit card). We are unable to accept non Bank of America debit cards, including those with the VISA® or Mastercard® logo. You can also charge your order to any MasterCard® or VISA® credit card. However, credit card purchases will be considered cash advances and all fees and charges associated with cash advances will be applied.

 

emphasis added

 

Makes me wonder if they considered your card as a debit card...

 

Could be. I sometimes have that issue when I use my CU Visa at store POS terminals.

[improper_validation]

non-Bank of America credit card

 

They seem to know I paid with a credit card, but I'll surely ask them and see where this goes.

[Uncle Leo]

website shows that any card should be able to be used...

 

How can I pay for my order?

If you are a Bank of America customer with a U.S. deposit account, you may pay by having your Bank of America checking or savings account debited, or by using your Bank of America check card with the VISA® logo (ATM/debit card). We are unable to accept non Bank of America debit cards, including those with the VISA® or Mastercard® logo. You can also charge your order to any MasterCard® or VISA® credit card. However, credit card purchases will be considered cash advances and all fees and charges associated with cash advances will be applied.

emphasis added

 

Makes me wonder if they considered your card as a debit card...

Could be. I sometimes have that issue when I use my CU Visa at store POS terminals.

Patelco, by chance? I used to get that all the time with my Patelco card.

[sfbehr]

Could be. I sometimes have that issue when I use my CU Visa at store POS terminals.

Patelco, by chance? I used to get that all the time with my Patelco card.

 

Yep, my Patelco card is the culprit.

[improper_validation]

website shows that any card should be able to be used...

 

How can I pay for my order?

If you are a Bank of America customer with a U.S. deposit account, you may pay by having your Bank of America checking or savings account debited, or by using your Bank of America check card with the VISA® logo (ATM/debit card). We are unable to accept non Bank of America debit cards, including those with the VISA® or Mastercard® logo. You can also charge your order to any MasterCard® or VISA® credit card. However, credit card purchases will be considered cash advances and all fees and charges associated with cash advances will be applied.

emphasis added

 

Makes me wonder if they considered your card as a debit card...

Could be. I sometimes have that issue when I use my CU Visa at store POS terminals.

Patelco, by chance? I used to get that all the time with my Patelco card.

Nope, local CU. When I swipe it never thinks it's debit.

[centex]

website shows that any card should be able to be used...

 

How can I pay for my order?

If you are a Bank of America customer with a U.S. deposit account, you may pay by having your Bank of America checking or savings account debited, or by using your Bank of America check card with the VISA® logo (ATM/debit card). We are unable to accept non Bank of America debit cards, including those with the VISA® or Mastercard® logo. You can also charge your order to any MasterCard® or VISA® credit card. However, credit card purchases will be considered cash advances and all fees and charges associated with cash advances will be applied.

emphasis added

 

Makes me wonder if they considered your card as a debit card...

Could be. I sometimes have that issue when I use my CU Visa at store POS terminals.

Patelco, by chance? I used to get that all the time with my Patelco card.

Nope, local CU. When I swipe it never thinks it's debit.

 

It is always possible that the systems 'see' things differently on a card-not-present purchase than when it is swiped...and it could be a CU network thing...or BofA could just be acting like bug stupid poo-poo heads.