Amazing Trip to Italy minus American Express issue

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.

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.

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

Agree with the previous...

Sounds like car stuff to me.

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.

Rental car damage????

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

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!

so a smile at the end :-)

Glad it worked out!

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! :-)