Halifax - Fraudelent transactions allowed by the bank

brandyslad

Last year a payment of £9.99 was taken from my bank account and charged as Portland Enterprise with a phone no beside it, I rang it and it was TV X, this is where the nightmare began, someone had set up an account with them in a false name using my bank details. They refused to cancel or stop the payment as the account with them wasn't in my name. I then turned to the Halifax they cancelled my card and that was supposed to the end of it. I also reported it to the police to get a crime refernce.

Then over a year later I have been charged £9.99 again, I rang the Halifax and they said the payment was taken of my old debit card that was cancelled! The girl said she would refer it to fraud. I then got a letter today telling me it wasn't fraud and I had to take it up with Portland. I have been in touch with Halifax who seem to think it is ok for them to let debit card payments be taken from a cancelled card. They are refering it to their head office now cos I have complained again today.

Can anyone offer any advice? Aside from closing accounts as this is what I think I will have to do but Halifax say that I will not get either of the £9.99 payments back. I am disgusted with them! What was the point of cancelling the card in the 1st place.

Mikeyorks

Sounds as though it isn't a standard Debit Card transaction - it's a 'recurring payment'. So Halifax are quite right to allow it ..... but it's hardly worth fraud at £9.99 per annum ..... so are you sure it isn't you?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/direct-debit#steal

But you're in a Catch22 if TVX say it's in a different name - you can only continue to pursue it as a dispute with Halifax?

brandyslad

Yep, it's one of those recurring payments, something I had never heard of before until this happened. Thanks for the link - explains it clearly. The first one came out listed as Portland and the second one listed just as Cash.

No it's defintely not something I paid for, it is just over a year since the first payment so it is not exactly annual. And yes it is very wierd that they would bother for £9.99!!! That's what I thought, if they are going to take money you would think they would try for a major whack. At the minute I am just raging that it has happened and also concerned that this could happen again.

The last time I even rang TV X's headquarters in Jersey to try and stop it as I was getting nowhere with their call centre.

Mikeyorks

Came back from my tea to change the original - but you beat me to it.

2nd and better thoughts? It's not fraud - 'cos it's not worth it. So - whatever TVX sell for £9.99pa ..... they probably do some of it on paper. Strikes me it's probably a legitimate transaction but where someone's captured the DC number slightly incorrectly ...... and you're the 'victim'?

Write to TVX (Recorded - I would suggest) quoting the Ref from your statement and pointing out you tried to resolve this last year. Ask they provide you with the signed authority to use your Debit Card or ......resolve it and give you (all) your money back.

But beware their Admin looks a bit suspicious .... I notice the DTI waged a bit of war on them a couple of years ago.

brandyslad

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Came back from my tea to change the original - but you beat me to it.

2nd and better thoughts? It's not fraud - 'cos it's not worth it. So - whatever TVX sell for £9.99pa ..... they probably do some of it on paper. Strikes me it's probably a legitimate transaction but where someone's captured the DC number slightly incorrectly ...... and you're the 'victim'?

Write to TVX (Recorded - I would suggest) quoting the Ref from your statement and pointing out you tried to resolve this last year. Ask they provide you with the signed authority to use your Debit Card or ......resolve it and give you (all) your money back.

But beware their Admin looks a bit suspicious .... I notice the DTI waged a bit of war on them a couple of years ago.

Think I'm gonna have to go down the writing to them route. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

Incisor

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Sounds as though it isn't a standard Debit Card transaction - it's a 'recurring payment'. So Halifax are quite right to allow it ..... but it's hardly worth fraud at £9.99 per annum ..... so are you sure it isn't you?

If the OP did not set up the transaction, the bank are NOT at all right to allow it.

Mikeyorks

But how would the Bank know that???? A DC transaction doesn't carry a name for secondary verification.

Following your principle .... there would be no fraud!

Incisor

Mikeyorks wrote: »

But how would the Bank know that???? A DC transaction doesn't carry a name for secondary verification.

Then the banks should know better, after all, they understand finance. They do, don't they? ....

anniecave

but if the debit card had been cancelled then if it was a debit card transaction then it shouldn't have been authorised the second time ... isn't that the point of cancelling a card ... so it can't be used again?

brandyslad

anniecave wrote: »

but if the debit card had been cancelled then if it was a debit card transaction then it shouldn't have been authorised the second time ... isn't that the point of cancelling a card ... so it can't be used again?

Yes, that was my arguement with Halifax, I asked them 'What was the point of cancelling it?'. They are using old card details and still able to take money out of my account. They said they would contact Portland Enterprise to do a claim, I wished them luck. I spent hours on the phone with them last year and all they did was threaten me with debt collection if I tried to stop payments my end, they would not allow me to cancel anything or give me any info as their account details aren't in my name. I even had to ring the local police and get a crime ref.

Mikeyorks

Incisor wrote: »

Then the banks should know better .....

As my previous response ....... just how would they know that? It's a comment you could make for any fraud ..... I'd copyright it! :rolleyes: