Your card company “tracks” your usage, even by the individual card (yours, wifes, etc). You have a “spending pattern” according to their computer system. When you deviate from that, whether it’s buying gas from a station you never used before, making a purchase for a larger amount than you normally do, or charging something online if you never did are examples of going off your “spending pattern”. This flags your account that someone may be using it without authorization, and they place a hold, or make you confirm the purchase. I can see how this would benefit the company in this day and age of scammers, but I can’t tell you how many people got pissed at this. Even after explaining the reasoning behind it, many people were angry about this. I suggested to them that they call the company first before making such purchases, so if a charge came through like that, it would be on their record as being authorized. Some people understood, some didn’t. Hey, I got yelled at if I took too long with a customer, cs reps have their calls timed. So if you wonder why they are in a hurry to get off the phone with you, that’s why. One of the main reasons I left Citi, it shouldn’t matter how long you take with a customer.

But, in a way I feel secure…Citi is watching the cards closely.