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Amazing Trip to Italy minus American Express issue

I have returned from my incredible two week trip to Italy - Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome. It was absolutely amazing! I enjoyed every leg of the trip (loved Cinque Terre!) and had no major problems throughout the journey. Unfortunately, when I arrived home, I had a phone message from American Express questioning some charges and it looks like there has been some fraud. I was very careful with my AE card and tried to just use it for hotels and occasional meals. However, it appears that a charge to "Zurich-Connect.imilano" for $1400+ went through and then a few charges to "genertel" were denied on the day I was traveling home.

I think that American Express will straighten it out (card has been cancelled and investigation is in process). I'm not sure what I could have done differently but I thought that I'd send out a warning about what happened.

Posted by
151 posts

Thanks for the tip - didn't know whether to bring my AmEx. Did most places you visited take it? I am also bringing a couple Visa cards for insurance.

Posted by
19 posts

I do not use my AMEX card in Europe because many places do not accept AMEX. Also my card charges foreign transaction fees. I usually take a Capital One Visa and my Wells Fargo Signature Visa. Both do not charge foreign transaction fees and are both Chip and Pin (really chip and signature). My DH usually carries an AMEX in case we are staying at a HIlton (it is a Hilton Honors AMEX) and one other Visa with a different card number than mine. That way if something happens to my cards, then we are not left with no ability to pay by credit card.

Sorry to hear about your fraudulent charges. It could happen to any of us! I've just been lucky and we travel in Europe a couple of times per year. I'm sure AE will get it straightened out.

Posted by
3812 posts

How strange, both Zurich Connect and Genertel are insurance companies. Did you rent a car?

Posted by
32512 posts

Agree with the previous...

Sounds like car stuff to me.

Posted by
3150 posts

Though I use my CapitalOne Visa almost exclusively when in Europe, I also carry an AMEX Delta gold affinity card. As of May 1st, AMEX has eliminated the 2.7% fees on SOME of its cards. Check before you you use it. Just call the tel# on the back of your card and talk to customer service - or muddle around their website.

Though most issuers have cards without the FX fee, check to insure that the particular card you want to use is one of them. I have a Wells Fargo chip & pin card but this particular one has a 3% fee.

Posted by
11613 posts

I have had very good results with Amex resolving disputes, I hope your issues will be resolved as well. I always use my Amex card to reserve hotels through booking.com (only two hotels in five years and over 150 reservations have asked for a different card), then pay the bill with Capital One, or Discover in the few places that take it.

Posted by
146 posts

No, I didn't rent any vehicles at all in Italy. I used the train the whole trip. They are definitely strange charges. The card number actually tried to get charged several more times while I was on my flight but the charges were denied.

I had three credit cards with me - I used AMEX for hotels and just a couple of meals, VISA for everything else (tours, trains, and meals). I can only remember one restaurant turning down my AMEX.

Posted by
771 posts

Zoe, just curious--why do you use AmEx to reserve, then pay with a different one?

Posted by
11613 posts

va from va, I pay with a card that has no foreign transaction fee, but I reserve with Amex because of their customer service.

Posted by
4406 posts

Perhaps someone else rented a car, and owes thanks to Sue.

I've sat in my living room while someone made phone calls all the way across Arizona with my debit card number...so someone got my number from someone who got my number from someone who got my number from someone...OR they just guessed and got lucky.

It happens. Short of canceling all credit, charge, and debit cards and living in a cave, I don't think there's anything you can do. But I'm glad you had an incredible trip!

Posted by
19 posts

Sue when your issue gets resolved with AMEX, please let us know the results!

Posted by
146 posts

American Express resolved the issue and refunded my card the $1400 that was charged. My card got cancelled and a new one got issued so nothing else fraudulent can be charged. I still wonder what happened!

Posted by
146 posts

I've very glad that it got resolved quickly. Now I can just savor my wonderful memories and not have to deal with any negatives. Major smiles! :-)