Before Setting Up Alerts
How can credit card alerts help me?
Credit card alerts can help you:
- Track when your card is used: Get notified when your card is used for specific reasons and merchant-types, and identify potential problems faster.
- Stay on top of your finances: Monitor your card activity and help avoid late payments with balance and payment alerts.
- Budget better: You can easily track single purchases and daily spending based on amounts that you choose.
- Protect your account: If we detect suspicious card activity, we may reach out to you by phone or text asking you to verify one or more suspicious transactions. You do not need to enroll to receive this alert.
Important reminder: Alerts do not replace the need to review your transaction history and monthly statements for unusual or unauthorized activity, balance and payment details.
What types of credit card alerts can I set up?
A variety of customizable alerts are available to fit your needs, and can be delivered to you by text message, email, or mobile push delivery for Wells Fargo Mobile® app users.
Transaction Alerts
We'll notify you when your card is used for certain types of transactions and purchase activity. You can sign up for:
- Single Purchase Amount: Alerts you when a purchase is above an amount that you choose.
- Card Declined: We'll let you know when your card is declined.
- Online, Phone or Mail Purchase: Know when your card number is used to make a purchase online, by phone or mail.
- Foreign Transaction: Get alerted for purchases made outside the United States (amounts are shown in U.S. dollars).
- Gas Station Purchase: Know when your card is used at a gas station.
- ATM Cash Advance: Notifies you if your card is used for a cash advance at an ATM.
- Daily Total Spending and Purchases: Track when your daily card activity goes above amounts you choose.
Payment and Balance Alerts
- Payment Due: Before your payment is due, an alert will remind you to pay it. Just tell us when you want to receive it each month.
- Payment Posted: Get a confirmation alert when your payment has posted.
- Approaching Credit Limit: We’ll let you know when your available credit drops below an amount you choose.
When will I receive transaction alerts?
- We'll do our best to notify you within minutes of the transaction that triggered the alert. However, alert delays might occur for a variety of reasons, including service provider outages, system errors, and other unforeseen events.
- Transaction alerts are sent when the purchase is authorized, not after the charges have posted to your account (which can take 2 or 3 days after the transaction is made).
- Credit card transactions that were never submitted by the merchant for authorization might not trigger an alert.
What types of transactions are included for the Daily Total Spending and Daily Total Number of Purchases alerts?
All purchases, ATM cash advances, and declined amounts count toward the daily total. We'll send this alert only once a day, the first time that your credit card activity exceeds the preset amount you chose. Additional transactions made in the same day will result in an alert only if they qualify for a different alert type to which you've subscribed.
Is there a charge for using alerts?
Wells Fargo does not charge for alerts, however, your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply.
Will I receive a large number of alerts?
The number of alerts you receive depends on which alerts you set up, the threshold amounts you choose and how often your card is used. We typically send you one alert per transaction. In some cases, you might receive two types of alerts for one transaction.
For example:
An online purchase that results in your daily spending to go over your daily threshold would trigger both alert types, if you're subscribed to both alerts. To change the parameters that trigger an alert, or to stop receiving an alert, sign on to Manage Alerts and adjust your alert settings.
What if I receive an alert about a transaction I don’t recognize?
Please report any unauthorized transactions immediately by calling the number on the back of your card. If you're not sure about a transaction, check to see if it is one of the following:
- A one-time or recurring bill payment you set up for a service, such as telephone or cable
- An aggregated charge (several small purchases combined into one, such as buying $0.99 songs online)
- A purchase initiated by a joint account holder or authorized user who has the same card number
- An authorization charge from a restaurant or hotel
You can also visit our Security Center for resources to help you reduce your risk of fraud and identity theft.
If my card number changes (for example, if I lose my card and order a replacement card) will I need to set up the same alerts again?
If your card number changes due to a replacement card, we will do our best to automatically transfer any previous alert settings to your replacement card. Check your alert settings at any time by signing on to Manage Alerts.
After Setting Up Alerts
Why is the purchase amount shown in the alert I received different from the amount on my bill?
Some alerts are sent based on the initial authorization amount the merchant sends to us, and not the final total purchase amount. For example, a tip added to your restaurant bill may not be included in the initial authorization amount. You might receive an alert for both, but your card will be charged only for the final total amount.
Why did I receive an alert that a purchase was made from an international location when I haven't traveled outside the U.S.?
Sometimes merchants located outside the U.S. provide goods and services on the internet, by mail, or by phone order so these transactions originate from an international location even though the cardholder does not travel outside the U.S. If you do not recognize a transaction, please call the number on the back of your card.
Why did I receive a text message or email asking me to verify transactions made with my card?
We use multiple methods to help protect our customers against potential fraud. If we detect suspicious card activity, we may reach out to you by text, email or phone asking you to verify one or more suspicious transactions. If contacted, please review and respond promptly to verify the transactions.
Why didn't I receive an alert for my gas station purchase?
In some instances, a gas station purchase may not be submitted by the merchant in a way that triggers an alert.