Surprise! A $4500 bill!

[magster65]

Last payday I logged on to my on-line banking to pay a couple bills. I just about pooped! There was a charge for $4500 to the Sony store for something (don't know what) that wasn't mine. I called the credit card company right away and they said there has been a rash of this just recently. Also, some of my credit card info. had been changed like my address and phone number plus a spare card was ordered. The credit card company credited my account right away and said that the Sony Store is on the hook for the money. That's some scary stuff considering I still had the card in my wallet! They asked me to cut it up (gladly) and a new one will be here in a couple days. I was instructed to call the credit bureau and let them know as well.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

I feel for ya magster. A few years ago I got a welcome notice from a cell phone carrier. I thought that is was misleading advertising so I called them. They asked if I hadn't received the three phones I ordered.<br /><br />Turns out that someone used my social security number and good credit to order the things. I called for credit reports and there were a whole armload length of companies that had sent goods. Many thousands of dollars worth.<br /><br />I don't no how the welcome letter got to me because the bad guys had changed my physical address as well as my billing address. I had never received any bills for any of the goods.<br /><br />It took me months to clear up the mess. Even with a delivery address law enforcement would do nothing about it.

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Scary stuff this identity theft...I'm glad you didn't end up wearing the cost magster. How about you Boomyal?<br /><br />What peeves me is how I'm continually getting letters and documents sent to me in the mail from banks, credit card companies etc that contain what I consider to be too much information (credit card numbers, credit details, name, address etc). If I throw them in the trash, who knows who gets to see them and use the info for their dodgy purposes...?<br /><br />I end up putting them through a shredder, but it's still a darn nusiance as well as a security risk.<br /><br />Does anyone else here use a shredder for these sort of documents?

 

[Homerr]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Been there done that with the cell phone.<br />Sprint wireless did the same thing. They allowed someone to open a cell phone account in my name and sent me the bill.<br /><br />When I contacted them, they were quick to get the bill and account out of my name, but didn't even give one apology in the process.<br /><br />As a result, I had to put a fraud alert on my credit profile and security codes on all my credit cards.<br /><br />Kiwi, you can opt out of all the mailings. It takes a few months after you opt out, but it works. I never get those credit card offers anymore.<br /><br />Go here to get started on opting-out:<br /><br /> http://www.creditinfocenter.com/cards/preventSellLists.shtml <br /><br /><br />H.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Originally posted by magster65:<br />and said that the Sony Store is on the hook for the money.

As a seller that is the scariest part. While it may not be a big deal to a Sony store, the *******s at the credit card companies always stiff the merchant - big or small. They certainly had no part in the crime...the credit card company should be footing the bill.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Originally posted by 62_Kiwi:<br /> <br />Does anyone else here use a shredder for these sort of documents?

Either the shredder or the wood burning stove <br /><br />Same goes for the begging letters from the bank asking me to "regularise" my overdraft <br />Gee's if they're gonna be dumb enough to lend someone like me money then they obviously didn't do their homework

 

[Link]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Originally posted by Stan_Deezy:<br />

Originally posted by 62_Kiwi:<br /> <br />Does anyone else here use a shredder for these sort of documents?

Either the shredder or the wood burning stove <br /><br />Because I was having a blonde moment and used my home address when filling out the business lic I get about 8 catalogs a week and anything with my name cust number etc goes through the Almighty Shredder!

 

[12Footer]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

Never had a card ripped-off. But i have been rolled regularly each year....From my escrow!<br />Seems they can't be satisfied with the amount set-asside for things like homeowner's insurance and property taxes.<br />I even remortgaged 5 years ago, souly to increase escrow,and lower interest charges.<br />Well, what i saved on interest was quickly devoured by escrow shortfalls, and then some -- again!<br />There ought to be a law against it.

 

[rwise]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

just had 2 $1 charges on my card, called the company and they said it was a start of a revolving charge and if I had not called I would have been responsible for it! they removed it and changed the card number. I always look at the charges placed on my card and if there is something I don't like, well it's an hour or 2 on the phone. Now the phone bill thats another, when I moved they put a cell phone bill and some ones high speed dsl on my bill. Took many phone calls and 3 months of arguing to get it removed, I hope.

 

[magster65]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

That's something I should add. It's VISA that I deal with. There phone service is automated but I had a real person on the line with real authority in about 1 minute. However, when I called the 2 credit bureaus for the 'fraud alert' report I waited on hold for about 40 minutes.<br />Zmoz - Sony had no part in the crime but they did accept a stolen credit card number for a rather large purchase. If they'd called VISA for a confirmation # it may/would have been rejected. The purchase was made in a different city.

 

[Baldguy]

Re: Surprise! A $4500 bill!

12Footer, exactly the reason why I dumped my escrow impound account and decided to pay the insurance and prop taxes myself. They kept telling me that the taxes were due 3 times a year when in fact their due twice a year if you wish. <br /><br />They even argued with me when I tried to close the impound account. Geez. It's my money.<br /><br />Credit Card fraud is getting worse and here's a new one. The other day there was a news story about low lifes putting a device on ATMs that look like the ATM but swipe your card before going into the ATM. Then they either have a camera or someone close by to get your PIN. <br /><br />Scary stuff....watch your back.