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Debit card fraud

Kimmy84
Kimmy84 Posts: 5 Forumite
Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
edited 9 May 2009 at 11:31AM in Budgeting & bank accounts
Hi everybody,

I wanted to find out how best to deal with a rather alarming problem.

I agreed to make a debit card payment from my bank account over the phone to a company (I have been using them for a while and have had no problems with them before). So I was really shocked to discover that when the payment went off it they had taken DOUBLE the amount agreed! So I call them to find out what they are playing at and I have been totally stonewalled. Every time I call there is never anyone of sufficient seniority available (no matter what time of day) but I am assured that they will get a message to them to call me back; which of course never happens. So I have spent the past week calling them and getting nowhere.

I contacted my bank's fraud department but they have said that although the transaction was not what I authorised I did give the card details willingly so they can't do anything.

Anybody know what to do now?

Thanks.

Comments

  • agsnu
    agsnu Posts: 1,457 Forumite
    Who is the company, who is the bank, and what type of card is it?
  • ShelfStacker_3
    ShelfStacker_3 Posts: 2,180 Forumite
    Is the company a debt collection agency? They are well known for this type of thing.
  • Kimmy84
    Kimmy84 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    The company is Welcome Finance =0( and my bank is RBS.
  • ShelfStacker_3
    ShelfStacker_3 Posts: 2,180 Forumite
    Are you in arrears with Welcome at all?
  • Kimmy84
    Kimmy84 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    No, they were only due the one monthly payment
  • ShelfStacker_3
    ShelfStacker_3 Posts: 2,180 Forumite
    OK, bloody weird. Definitely keep on at them, and if they won't reply to phone calls then send letters (not emails), preferably by recorded delivery asking for your money back.

    For what it's worth, also, see if you can get them to take payment by Direct Debit rather than debit card. You have a lot more control with Direct Debit, and almost none if you pay by debit card.
  • Kimmy84
    Kimmy84 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Thanks, will try the old fashioned letter then. I have repeatedly asked for the D/D form from them and they say they will post it out to me but I haven't seen one yet.
  • agsnu
    agsnu Posts: 1,457 Forumite
    Kimmy84 wrote: »
    Thanks, will try the old fashioned letter then. I have repeatedly asked for the D/D form from them and they say they will post it out to me but I haven't seen one yet.

    If it was taken by debit card, what does the direct debit form have to do with it?

    Unfortunately since it was RBS which is currently using Maestro cards, you can't do a chargeback (Visa Debit cards can be charged back).

    Strongly worded letter to Welcome by recorded delivery is probably the way to go.
  • hippey
    hippey Posts: 849 Forumite
    agsnu wrote: »
    If it was taken by debit card, what does the direct debit form have to do with it?

    Unfortunately since it was RBS which is currently using Maestro cards, you can't do a chargeback (Visa Debit cards can be charged back).

    Strongly worded letter to Welcome by recorded delivery is probably the way to go.

    Any unauthorised transaction can be subject to a 'chargeback' this is the name given to the recall of the money, Maestro will chargeback the retailer if the payment is taken outside the rules of the card scheme.
    These are my thoughts and no one else's, so like any public forum advice - check it out before entering into contracts or spending your hard earned cash!

    I don't know everything, however I do try to point people in the right direction but at the end of the day you can only ever help yourself!
  • Mikeyorks
    Mikeyorks Posts: 10,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have they actually taken 2 payments ...... or is it just one and with a further one 'pending'?
    If you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !
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