Fraudulent use of debit card

Fuzzy_Duck

Hi, just read a similar thread but was still confused after reading it, so hope it's okay to post I found out my debit card has been used fraudulently yesterday. Someone has been paying a mobile company £30 a week using my card, costing me £120 last month. They've probably done it at least once this month too. I'm with a different company and spent £30 a month. I feel so stupid for not realising sooner- my OH was made redundant a few months ago so i have been really careful with my money- last month I had only 8p to my name (thankfully a few days before payday) and just assumed I'd been careless. Speaking of being careless, I am very good with my debit card. I can only assume a dodgy member of staff got my card number in a pub or a restaurant.

I rang my bank Barclays yesterday evening and spoke to a woman at an Indian call centre. I asked for a block on my card and she said she couldn't do it?! She told me all I could do is speak to the company. So I did, and although the member of staff I spoke to was extremely apologetic, he told me they did not have procedures in place to trace and prevent the fraud and I would have to speak to my bank and the police.

I am going to go to my nearest branch when it opens as I think the woman in the call centre was telling me nonsense, and this fraudster's probably already used my card again already. Does anyone know what their procedure usually is? Last time I spoke to Barclays I'd bought tickets off what turned out to be a scam site. The first woman I spoke to fobbed me off, saying because I had a debit card they could do nothing for me. I rang again and got a really nice man who blocked the payment before the scammers got to it and cancelled my card.

Any advice? I'd like to know what I should expect as I'm concerned I'll be fobbed off again I'm at least £120 down, probably more and really worried they won't reimburse me.

Mark_In_Hampshire

The bank certainly can put a block on the debit card - indeed this is why you're meant to report fraudulent activity in the first place. Then a new card can be issued.

The bank should give you a charge-back form to fill in and then refund your account.

Fuzzy_Duck

Thanks very much for the prompt reply Mark_In_Hampshire- that's made me feel a lot better! I thought that was the case. I can only assume with Barclays it's complete luck whether you speak to someone who knows what they're on about!

pmduk

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

I can only assume with Barclays it's complete luck whether you speak to someone who knows what they're on about!

That's true with all banks

Fuzzy_Duck

pmduk wrote: »

That's true with all banks

Indeed the only reason why I won't bother cancelling my account with them!

Fuzzy_Duck

Phew, am pleased to say I spoke to an incredibly helpful and reassuring member of staff at Barclays who disputed the charges, cancelled my card and reimbursed me the full amount. The fraudster had done it twice this month, last time yesterday in fact, racking up a bill of £180. I just have to fill in some paperwork now to confirm I wasn't responsible otherwise I will lose the money.

I will try to be careful with my card in future but according to the woman I spoke to it happens all to often to the most cautious of people, and all you can do is try and spot it as soon as it happens.

Olipro

remember, after you inform them your card has been used fraudulently, they are 100% liable for any transactions that happen subsequently, just make sure you can prove that conversation happened.

as for getting the money back; assuming your card is a Visa one, which I imagine it is, you are entitled to do a chargeback under visa's operating regulations since the purchase was probably a Card-Not-Present jobby, it shouldn't (in theory) be too difficult... you need to call their fraud dept though, get the number from saynoto0870.com

Fuzzy_Duck

Olipro wrote: »

remember, after you inform them your card has been used fraudulently, they are 100% liable for any transactions that happen subsequently, just make sure you can prove that conversation happened.

as for getting the money back; assuming your card is a Visa one, which I imagine it is, you are entitled to do a chargeback under visa's operating regulations since the purchase was probably a Card-Not-Present jobby, it shouldn't (in theory) be too difficult... you need to call their fraud dept though, get the number from saynoto0870.com

Thanks for this, typically I didn't get the woman's name I'm usually quite good with that kind of thing, but I was just so stressed as the time thinking I wasn't going to get my money back, I didn't think to ask. I did make the call in my local branch so the member of staff I dealt with there can hopefully confirm I came in and made the call. The woman on the phone did sound very thorough though- explaining everything she was doing as she located and disputed the transactions, so I am hoping I won't have any problems there. I have notified the company in question that someone is using my details just in case they are able to identify the fraudster as well. I doubt they'll care or if they do, be unable to do anything, but worth a shot I thought.

It is indeed Visa, and they did do a charge back. I should get my £180 back in my account by the end of the day and my new card in a few days time. Here's hoping all goes well with the fraud forms and they don't suddenly accuse me of being responsible for what happened!

Cheers again all.