"Verified by Visa'' - #!*#!&#*

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I have attempted to use my Cap One visa, the one without the 3% junk fees for foreign usage, at several European LCC's and always get blocked by their ''Verified by Visa'' program, as indeed is my other Visa card. I call Cap One and they tell me that no charge request ever reaches them, it is apparently blocked by Visa earlier. I can other use my Cap One Visa in Europe at merchants and over the internet, as long as this assinine Verified by Visa program is not is place. The airlines give me a case number, but there are no contact provisions on the Verified by Visa website to even run down the problem with them. I end up having to use my Mastercard, which goes through a similar verification program but works, and that costs me the extra 3% junk fee which is annoying.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Why can't these incompetent jerks at Visa simply send my request on to Cap One and let them handle it?

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Can't help with your problem but I am interested in a card that does not charge 3 percent for foreign purchases. That's why I got rid of my last Cap One card. My credit union only charges 1 percent. Is it a special card or program from them?

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

Carolinian, I booked flights for 3 LCC's this past May, not that far in advance, and didn't have any prob with my Cap One Miles card - RyanAir, EasyJet & Air Malta. Is it possible that ISP's from eastern Europe have an additional security layer or something?? (there's a lot of credit card fraud emanating from eastern Europe.)

philsfan, the Miles One card has no fee for charges in other currencies.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

My Cap one card has no foreign exchange fees...both visa and M/C.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Carolinian, I booked flights for 3 LCC's this past May, not that far in advance, and didn't have any prob with my Cap One Miles card - RyanAir, EasyJet & Air Malta. Is it possible that ISP's from eastern Europe have an additional security layer or something?? (there's a lot of credit card fraud emanating from eastern Europe.)

philsfan, the Miles One card has no fee for charges in other currencies.

It may well be something like this, but with the similar program with Mastercard, it does not block usage.

Also, I can use my Cap One card for other European purchases online with no problem, for hotels, rental cars, Skype, etc. They apparently do not use this ''verified by Visa'' program. It is just the LCC's where the problem occurs, and they all prominently mention using the ''verified by Visa''.

I would be a little less irate at these Visa jerks if they at least provided contact information to try to resolve the issue, but they don't.