DavidR Posted May 29, 2005 Posted May 29, 2005 I'm in the middle of trying to get a fraudulent transaction refunded to me (chargeback). Checked my credit card online a week or so ago. Saw a charge of 38 Euro from "E*SellErate" - never heard of them! Called the bank (well, if you Virgin Money a bank) - they were like "oh you must have forgotten that you bought his". So I explained that I'd never bought anything in Euros before (only US$ and Sterling). They initially told me the merchant was a record dealer - that got me wondering, as I've bought from numerous record dealers in the past, but not for more than 12 months and NEVER in Euros. Then they said 'no, sorry, it appears to be an online computer shop'. After a fair bit of insisting, they agreed to raise a dispute. They said they'd send me a form (still waiting) which I had to sign, declaring that I had no knowledge of the charge. They give the merchant 30 days to respond, but they didn't tell me what happens if they merchant responds and says "yes we sent this - blah blah blah". I'm wondering - has a merchant had their system hacked? Does that mean they'll have my address, which they could then claim they've sent goods to? Anyone else had experience with getting a chargeback? To make matters worse, I've been billed twice on my damn statement. The Virgin flunkey said that they deduct the disputed amount from your balance, but I've actually had it ADDED.
rosco99 Posted May 29, 2005 Posted May 29, 2005 I'm in the middle of trying to get a fraudulent transaction refunded to me (chargeback).Checked my credit card online a week or so ago. Saw a charge of 38 Euro from "E*SellErate" - never heard of them! Called the bank (well, if you Virgin Money a bank) - they were like "oh you must have forgotten that you bought his". So I explained that I'd never bought anything in Euros before (only US$ and Sterling). They initially told me the merchant was a record dealer - that got me wondering, as I've bought from numerous record dealers in the past, but not for more than 12 months and NEVER in Euros. Then they said 'no, sorry, it appears to be an online computer shop'. After a fair bit of insisting, they agreed to raise a dispute. They said they'd send me a form (still waiting) which I had to sign, declaring that I had no knowledge of the charge. They give the merchant 30 days to respond, but they didn't tell me what happens if they merchant responds and says "yes we sent this - blah blah blah". I'm wondering - has a merchant had their system hacked? Does that mean they'll have my address, which they could then claim they've sent goods to? Anyone else had experience with getting a chargeback? To make matters worse, I've been billed twice on my damn statement. The Virgin flunkey said that they deduct the disputed amount from your balance, but I've actually had it ADDED. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As a retailer I can tell you that if a client disputes a charge the first thing the bank does is to deduct the amount disputed from my daily balance. Then they ask me to send them the copy of the signed transaction (up to 6 months old). If I can't find it I have lost the money!!. Fortunately this has only happened twice and each time I had the docket and got my money back. The customer didn't remember the transaction! On the other hand I was wrongly charged for an internet transaction. I went to the bank and they tried to fob me off with "you must have forgotten it" I repeated how I get treated as a retailer and demanded they give me a copy of the paper work from the internet company which I did not recognise. Despite me chasing it every two weeks and explaining everything over again to each different teller I received no paper work. After six months still with no paperwork I told the bank that if I did not get my money back, with interest I would make the story public. I was then put on to their head office "fraud dept". Still no paperwork came but my account was reimbursed for the charge. It is easy to see that the banks automatically target the "little guy". If it is hard for them they will get their money the easiest way they can. I would recommend that anyone who has suspect charges demand copies of the paper work. So what if it is a charge you have forgotten-- at least that way you will know the truth.
betty boop Posted May 29, 2005 Posted May 29, 2005 I'm in the middle of trying to get a fraudulent transaction refunded to me (chargeback).Checked my credit card online a week or so ago. Saw a charge of 38 Euro from "E*SellErate" - never heard of them! Called the bank (well, if you Virgin Money a bank) - they were like "oh you must have forgotten that you bought his". So I explained that I'd never bought anything in Euros before (only US$ and Sterling). They initially told me the merchant was a record dealer - that got me wondering, as I've bought from numerous record dealers in the past, but not for more than 12 months and NEVER in Euros. Then they said 'no, sorry, it appears to be an online computer shop'. After a fair bit of insisting, they agreed to raise a dispute. They said they'd send me a form (still waiting) which I had to sign, declaring that I had no knowledge of the charge. They give the merchant 30 days to respond, but they didn't tell me what happens if they merchant responds and says "yes we sent this - blah blah blah". I'm wondering - has a merchant had their system hacked? Does that mean they'll have my address, which they could then claim they've sent goods to? Anyone else had experience with getting a chargeback? To make matters worse, I've been billed twice on my damn statement. The Virgin flunkey said that they deduct the disputed amount from your balance, but I've actually had it ADDED. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As a retailer I can tell you that if a client disputes a charge the first thing the bank does is to deduct the amount disputed from my daily balance. Then they ask me to send them the copy of the signed transaction (up to 6 months old). If I can't find it I have lost the money!!. Fortunately this has only happened twice and each time I had the docket and got my money back. The customer didn't remember the transaction! On the other hand I was wrongly charged for an internet transaction. I went to the bank and they tried to fob me off with "you must have forgotten it" I repeated how I get treated as a retailer and demanded they give me a copy of the paper work from the internet company which I did not recognise. Despite me chasing it every two weeks and explaining everything over again to each different teller I received no paper work. After six months still with no paperwork I told the bank that if I did not get my money back, with interest I would make the story public. I was then put on to their head office "fraud dept". Still no paperwork came but my account was reimbursed for the charge. It is easy to see that the banks automatically target the "little guy". If it is hard for them they will get their money the easiest way they can. I would recommend that anyone who has suspect charges demand copies of the paper work. So what if it is a charge you have forgotten-- at least that way you will know the truth. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My dad got involved in something like this where actually store staff ripped his card off without his knowledge. He ended up having to lodge a police report. After that the bank followed through with a refund and no doubt the store staff member got the sack - they could not show a signed credit card reciept showing my dad had authorised the payment. Another friend came back from OS and started getting al sorts of transactions show up on his card. Card got cancelled and he got money back. But interestingly he is still responsible for any transactions for the card even though its cancelled and even now has amounts owing show up and notices sent through from the back demanding payment. So its an ongong saga. Apparently once you have a credit card it always stays in your name even after its cancelled and your foreever responsible for any payments against it.
DavidR Posted May 30, 2005 Author Posted May 30, 2005 An update. I got the process explained. They haven't debited the card twice, "it just appears that way". I need to calculate the actual balance owing by deducing available credit from the credit limit. Who designs these damn forms? It's sort of a good reason to have a second card, one with a low limit, for Internet purchases, and your main one. I do have to say tho, that I'd rather deal with Virgin (someone in Australia who speaks English) rather than someone in India speaking some strange dialect vaguely related to English).
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