Advice please - Abbey refuse to refund internet fraud

ellatyler

Hello
Hope this is the right place for my question.

Last month when finalising my accounts, I spotted 2 incidences of Internet Fraud on my business account from Feb 2008 (three payments of approx £100 each) and May 2008 (3 payments of approx £100 each) to a company called MTL Online Retail, which I have never heard of.

I contacted Abbey two weeks ago and filled out their fraud claim form.

Yesterday I got a letter from them saying that it was too late for them to do anything about it, so unlucky for me.

Can they do this? It was only 6 months ago.
Many thanks,
Ella

xplora

ellatyler wrote: »

Hello
Hope this is the right place for my question.

Last month when finalising my accounts, I spotted 2 incidences of Internet Fraud on my business account from Feb 2008 (three payments of approx £100 each) and May 2008 (3 payments of approx £100 each) to a company called MTL Online Retail, which I have never heard of.

I contacted Abbey two weeks ago and filled out their fraud claim form.

Yesterday I got a letter from them saying that it was too late for them to do anything about it, so unlucky for me.

Can they do this? It was only 6 months ago.
Many thanks,
Ella

I don't know for Abbey and Business Current Account , but my friend only spotted his account got fraud after 8 months totalling £13,000 being used. It was NatWest and they willing to help him but the refund was not in 1 go and per transaction. He got all the money back but probably losing £3-4(as he said). Hope it helps.

Another note for you: How does MTL Online takes money from you? If it was direct debit, cancel them, or if it was card, I would said get a new card. I experienced the same problem as you but it was done by different company started with Haymarket something, but I got the money back since i spotted earlier and cancel the direct debit.

manavo

Probably not much use now...

I came across this thread when searching for MTL ONLINE RETAIL. I thought I was a victim of fraud. Turns out I had forgotten that I charged tickets from Madame Tussauds in London (MTL).

suellu

Thanks manavo - have just done exactly the same thing!

andr00ster

I find it highly unlikely that "MTL Online Retail" has anything to do with Madame Tussauds. Madame Tussauds is owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, who also own Legoland, Sealife, Alton Towers and other similar attractions. Why would they abbreviate their name on a bank statement to make it confusing? And surely, if they were going to abbreviate their name, then "MEG Online Retail" would make more sense?

But anyway, I know for a fact that "MTL Online Retail" has nothing to do with Merlin Entertainments because I found a payment on my account last month to "MTL Online Retail" and the last time I visited one of Merlin's attractions was when I went on the London Eye, which was some years ago. Also, I have never been to Madame Tussauds in London.

I have reported this transaction to my bank as fraudulent activity. They have immediately refunded the amount (£112) to my account and are looking into it.

andr00ster

I have now received a letter from my bank stating that basically they have concluded their investigation and the money will be staying in my bank account. They don't actually admit that the transaction was fraudulent but that is essentially what it amounts to.

So, if you see 'MTL Online Retail' on your statement, tell your bank! You're being done!

egigolf

You were great! MTL online retail IS Madame Tussaud's. I was worrying already, but it is perfectly correct.