My Bank just denied me a purchase at the MVS Web Site!

[Cheetah]

I AM SO [edited] ...... RIGHT NOW that I can scream.
My bank, Valley National Bank N.A. just denied me the right to make a purchase at the MVS (My Vapor Store) web store because, now get this, The BANK'S card agreement states, (and this is in the usual fine print, "You may NOT use your card for illegal or IMPERMISSIBLE transactions including, but not limited to, gaming, lottery tickets, internet gambling, internet tobacco purchases or child pornography."

Well, I can see the "illegal" part of the statement, and the "child pornography" portion as well, but WHO THE HELL gave them the right to tell me that I can NOT use MY card to make the purchase of a tank, I was NOT even buying NICOTINE base, I was buying a tank!!!!!! ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

And, the self satisfied, self confident little twerp of a supervisor wouldn't even hear it when I told her that I wasn't purchasing "Tobacco" from the site, that the site doesn't SELL "TOBACCO" (tobacco derivative products, YES, BUT NOT TOBACCO in IT's TOBACCO Form) she just said that "that was the agreement that you agreed to when I accepted the card" and for all intents & purposes told me to "[edited]" myself!!!!

Bottom line here, watch what you are buying and from where, if the store is classified by your bank as an "Online Smoke Shop" your purchase may NOT go THROUGH!

I know for one thing, I am going to be complaining all the way up to the president of the bank, and if that doesn't do any good (and it probably won't) I guess I'll be looking for a more accommodating bank to do business with, besides, I NEVER liked the fact they charge you $1.00 each and every time you use your card as a DEBIT card to make a purchase, either online or at a B&M store, YES, I am REALLY PO'd right now!!!

 

[DaveSignal]

I never use my debit card for anything except taking cash out of an ATM, so I don't know what policies my bank has. But not only do credit cards work everywhere, they are safer with zero-liability fraud protection. And many of them earn rewards for the same purchases that you get absolutely no extra benefit for right now.

 

[Cheetah]

hello Dave,
Yeah, that's great IF you have a CC, I and my wife are getting over 15 years of caring for sick & dying parents, that shot our financial condition to h_ll in a handbasket!

We're living in an apartment right now because we lost our house (the one my wife inherited from her folks) to property taxes due to all the bull c#$p that we've been having to deal with, and NO help from her now deceased brother or her sisters, not even a call to find out if we were alive!

I've said enough on that!

My debit card is what I have to work with, and since I'm on unemployment right now, NOBODY (read financial institution) in their right minds (especially in this crazy economy) is going to give me a CC!

 

[Judge Dredd]

NOBODY (read financial institution) in their right minds (especially in this crazy economy) is going to give me a CC!

Off-topic: I know someone with credit in the 500s that got 5% APR on a BMW...

Best wishes with the issues in your personal life. As far as the bank goes, you might as well not waste your time writing to them and simply switch banks.

 

[Cheetah]

Sorry, ya, that was off topic of me, my apologies to you and every one else out there for my rant, but the smug, self righteousness that some people have these days is, well galling to me and when someone, like that little twerp of a supervisor talks to me in the tone that she used, well I get my hackles up, and I'm sorry that someone like you, who was trying to be nice got it, and that not's right, and I am VERY sorry about that!

You might be right, that may be the only thing I can do, because their CEO isn't going to stand up for a depositor, his fat cushy job is to represent & protect "The Bank," and NOT do what's right, BUT I HAVE GOT TO TRY, or I will not be able to look at my self ion the mirror in the mornings, and believe me, that's scary enough!

 

[Judge Dredd]

Sorry, ya, that was off topic of me, my apologies to you and every one else out there for my rant, but the smug, self righteousness that some people have these days is, well galling to me and when someone, like that little twerp of a supervisor talks to me in the tone that she used, well I get my hackles up, and I'm sorry that someone like you, who was trying to be nice got it, and that not's right, and I am VERY sorry about that!

You might be right, that may be the only thing I can do, because their CEO isn't going to stand up for a depositer, his fat cushy job is to represent & protect "The Bank," and NOT do what's right.

Oh no I wasn't trying to say that you were going off-topic or anything, I was just sharing an experience with you. The point of my comment was that you'd be surprised at the people to whom banks will issue credit cards.

Anyway, Valley National sounds like a local bank. If they're in your area, you may look into opening a checking account with one of the big banks. They have too many customers to think of denying vaping purchases, and they make too much money off of it, so you're probably safe with them. I am with BMO Harris, personally, which is Bank of Montreal (I live in the U.S.) and Harris Bank at the same time, and haven't had an issue since I started vaping four-or-so years ago, including with MVS.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

BB&T has been great for me. No additional charges for a debit.

 

[Izan]

Three words.

Visa Gift card.

Adapt and overcome.

Cheers
I

 

[Judge Dredd]

Three words.

Visa Gift card.

Adapt and overcome.

Cheers
I

Inconvenient, but a really good idea nonetheless.

 

[Cheetah]

Ya, they are a "local" bank, IF you can call a bank that has offices in NJ, NY, PA, & now (after their acquisition of a bank down in) FL as well.

Tried to get a CC through PayPal the other day, & guess what they said, NO!!

I've been fighting to get my $ house in order for a few years now, and I left Citi Bank about 2 years ago because they just didn't treat me with ANY kind of respect AT ALL, they had an attitude that it was I who owed them respect because they allowed me to bank with them, that after having been with them for OVER 10 years, and my folks for over 30 before that!

Even while they were being bailed out with our tax dollars (especially then) their attitude just got so bad, that they were practically charging you for breathing the air inside their offices. I just couldn't take their altitude any more. My father & mother in law were banking with Valley for years, and they just loved them, the few times I went in with them they were welcomed by name, and treated like they mattered (no, they weren't filthy rich or anything like that) it was just the culture of the bank. When I needed to switch banks, I remembered that feeling, and that's why I went with them, but, I guess things have changed there, while a "Senior Citizen" (anyone over 55) can get an account for free, they charge you for everything, getting cash out of a NON valley ATM, (in addition to the owners charge) and for debit card purchases.

Well enough for now, take care,

 

[Cheetah]

Inconvenient, but a really good idea nonetheless.

maybe an Idea! let me think on it!

 

[Cheetah]

Thank you Also Izan!

 

[Izan]

maybe an Idea! let me think on it!

WE are smarter than THEY are.
Let 'em make all the rules they want...WE will find a way to prevail.

 

[Robino1]

Ugh, banks and their politics. I would definitely say something, at least to let them know why you are taking your business elsewhere. If enough people stand up against these types of control freaks, things may progress in a more positive light.

I mean, what can you lose? If they (can miracles really happen?) actually reverse their decision, you win. If they don't and you move to a bank that will let you buy things without looking over your shoulder, you win.

Good luck !

 

[Cheetah]

I like your attitude mate, cheers!

 

[Cheetah]

yeah robino, I agree with you, I have to try, I've been tilting at windmills for years, sometimes I win, sometimes, no, but for whatever reason, RIGHT is RIGHT, and what gave them the right to say that I can't do business with someone just because they MIGHT have some connection to the daemon Tobacco! Really these people are getting to be too damned much!

 

[Bionicunderwear]

Sounds like it's time to switch banks!

 

[Cheetah]

yeah Bionicunderwear, but they (if you'll pardon the pun) bank on that, that's a major P.I.T.A., Line of last resort, and as I said, I've done it before, I can do it again if I must.

 

[twgbonehead]

Three words.

Visa Gift card.

Adapt and overcome.

Cheers
I

Izan's suggestion is a great one! It not only would let you buy from pretty much everyone, it also protects you against fraud, since nobody can take more from you than what's on the gift card! (And you can probably buy the gift card with your debit card).

Rather than using your debit card, though, it might be cheaper to just withdraw cash to buy the gift card; I sincerely hope your bank doesn't charge you $1 for a withdrawal!!!

The only problem would be the residual balances, when your online purchases don't quite add up to the total - but you can use the rest for whatever, just about any place will accept a partial payment on a gift card.

Does seem to be the time to change banks, though... And let them know why.

Sorry to hear of your trials, hang in there, and I hope for better times ahead for you!

 

[Cheetah]

Thanks twgbonehead, I still have my old pay card from when I was working @ Wally world, I can use that, cost me now to make deposits but yeah, that's for all intents a pre paid now, don't have to worry about loosing half the pay check to some crook any more, good idea, THANKS!

Got to look around, see what banks are nearby, don't want to have to go 20 minutes away when I've got to "hit the bank for a reason.

Thanks for the wishes, now I've just got to find a decent job, yeah, 1 dragon at a time right