Credit card security query?

[Biscuit]

I am on the road and tried to log onto my credit card summary tonight only to find out that it was locked. After 1 representative and 2 supervisors, this is what I have.

Apparently, someone hacked into one of the merchants I shop with and they may have gotten my credit card information. In response, they have sent me a new card. After informing them that I won't be home for 10 more days, my credit card will remain active just that long. However, they still won't let me online to monitor my account.

I find this disturbing for 2 reasons:
1. They say they couldn't tell me who the merchant was.
2. Someone can use my credit card, but I can't get online to see what is going on.

Does anyone else have thoughts on insight on this? I am a little bit disturbed tonight.

[Jim O]

I believe that it is up to the merchant with whom you shop to make public that they have been hacked. Often they don't do that until they throughly fix the "holes" in their security. And they may never tell you. When my account at Buy.com was hacked (Google Checkout picked it up almost immediately), Buy.com's security department was fairly non-plussed over the whole thing.

Not allowing you online to see your account may have to do with the fact that you now have a new account number and they want you to use the new card with the new account number and the new three digit security code to re-activate your account and your online access. Frustrating, but makes perfect sense unless you are traveling.

[Biscuit]

Thanks Jim! Good to know that I am not the only one. I am happy to take it on faith that they do all this for a reason, I just don't get it and am a little cranky over the affair. I was hoping someone would spell it out, preferably with graphs and charts.

No Type A personality over here though!