Bank wont stop unauthorised payment??

bellabear_2

Hello there,

Really hope someone can help me, feel like I'm banging my head up against a brick wall at the mo.

Yesterday, I received an email from amazon.com to say that I had authorised a payment of $1858 via their payment account system. I have an amazon.co.uk account (didn't know until yesterday that this also gave me an account on their .com and to the payment system thing they have, looks similar to paypal?). Immediately phoned amazon customer services, who put me through to amazon.com. They then told me that I need to speak to the payment department who wouldnt be open for another hour.

While I was waiting for them to open, I called my bank (I don't really want to name them as I'm feeling a bit paranoid now! But they are a high street bank), who confirmed that there were currently 3 transactions pending on my account, one for £1, and two for £500 and something each, they also said that even though this will take me over my overdraft, they can't do anything about it until its gone!:mad::mad:

They have said that they will reimburse it back into my account when it has gone (I need to keep an eye on this, which goes without saying anyway) but then will need to do a fraud investigation (at which point they could still deduct it back from my account). Asked the CA at the bank if there was anything I could do to prevent any more money being taken out over and above this, they said no! I ended the conversation, then realised that they hadn't given me the option to cancel my card (I was very upset at this point so wasn't thinking as clearly as usual) so called up to do this.

Then called Amazon back, transferred through to amazon.com again as expected (after cutting me off twice but thats another story!), the CA then advised that they don't have a number to transfer me to the payments department, they would need to take my info then get them to call me back in 24 hours. I gave the info, explained I was in the UK and gave my number with the int dialling code, waited by the phone patiently, only to receive an email saying that they could not make calls to the UK :mad::mad: The email also said that they would communicate via email but would not be able to give me details about the unauth payment. They have also emailed to advise that they have closed my account (I think they mean both .co.uk and .com as I cannot log in to either).

I just need to know if this is standard procedure with banks? I've heard lots of occasions where a bank has blocked a card or a transaction because it looked suspicious, just so frustrating that I've notified the bank of this early on and they can't do anything to help. Also I know that there is never a good time for this to happen but this really is awful timing!

Thank you in advance for reading and if you are able to offer any advice.

BB

pinkdalek

I am assuming it is debit card, if so then yes the bank need to wait for the funds to leave your account before they can instigate a fraud claim and refund you as at the moment they do not know if the transaction has been authorised fully and your account may end up not being processed. They cannot stop a visa debit purchase without confirmation from the vendor that it is a mistake.

Most banks fully refund your fraud claim there and then and only should it occur it was not fraud that your account would end up being re-debited.

Safest way of purchasing is credit card as it is not your money you are dealing with and a freeze is put on the amount until the dispute is resolved.

bellabear_2

pinkdalek wrote: »

I am assuming it is debit card, if so then yes the bank need to wait for the funds to leave your account before they can instigate a fraud claim and refund you as at the moment they do not know if the transaction has been authorised fully and your account may end up not being processed. They cannot stop a visa debit purchase without confirmation from the vendor that it is a mistake.

Most banks fully refund your fraud claim there and then and only should it occur it was not fraud that your account would end up being re-debited.

Safest way of purchasing is credit card as it is not your money you are dealing with and a freeze is put on the amount until the dispute is resolved.

Thank you for that pinkdalek, I wasn't aware that they couldn't put a freeze on a debit account (you were right it was from debit card), I'm just wondering which banks are the ones that block payments or put accounts on hold when they spot a suspicious transaction (not just credit cards, but debit too).

Thank you again

[Deleted User]

bellabear wrote: »

Thank you for that pinkdalek, I wasn't aware that they couldn't put a freeze on a debit account (you were right it was from debit card), I'm just wondering which banks are the ones that block payments or put accounts on hold when they spot a suspicious transaction (not just credit cards, but debit too).

Thank you again

most banks do e.g lloyds saw me spend an unusually high transaction and blocked it on point of sale

Wannabedebtfree

Had something similar happen to a family member.

Lloyds telephoned them and asked if they were buying like mad on the internet, they mentioned 4 payments all of various amounts. Two had already gone through. Long story short they did give the money back but they had cancelled the card and stopped the 10-15 payments that were trying to go through after the phone calls.

They said it was better to use credit cards rather than debit cards.

I'm still sitting on the fence on it.....

bellabear_2

vinh1000 wrote: »

most banks do e.g lloyds saw me spend an unusually high transaction and blocked it on point of sale

Wannabedebtfree wrote: »

Had something similar happen to a family member.

Lloyds telephoned them and asked if they were buying like mad on the internet, they mentioned 4 payments all of various amounts. Two had already gone through. Long story short they did give the money back but they had cancelled the card and stopped the 10-15 payments that were trying to go through after the phone calls.

They said it was better to use credit cards rather than debit cards.

I'm still sitting on the fence on it.....

So I take it these were both debit cards? So frustrating as I'd like to think I'm really wary of giving out information, phishing scams etc, I'm just worried they might say that they can't prove that its fraud and try and take the money back off me? (I know I definitely havn't spent it and that I havn't been silly with my info) but still concerned

meer53

If it's your Amazon account which has been compromised and not your card details, then there is no need to stop your debit card as these details won't be available to the fraudster. The bank won't be refunding you, it will be Amazon who process the refund. If Amazon have confirmed that these amounts are fraud don't worry, you will be refunded eventually. Any charges which you incur on your bank account should be refunded by the bank as this is not your error.

If your bank have confirmed that your card details have been compromised then again, you'll be refunded in full by them for any fraud, but your card does need to be stopped.
It doesn't really matter whether you use a debit or credit card as this isn't a dispute, it's fraud and will be refunded. Payments on Credit cards are usually only frozen in disputes and all that does is stop it incurring any debit interest, it doesn't remove it from your account, it will still be taken away from any available credit you have.

When your bank said they couldn't prevent any further transactions, they're right and until the transactions debit they can't deal with them or refund them as they may just disappear from the system without debiting. (ie, if Amazon manage to reverse them) When they say that they may re debit you, they're just giving general info about fraud procedures, banks have to advise you of this, don't worry, it's just part of a script which includes lots of standard phrasing.

pinkdalek

bellabear wrote: »

Thank you for that pinkdalek, I wasn't aware that they couldn't put a freeze on a debit account (you were right it was from debit card), I'm just wondering which banks are the ones that block payments or put accounts on hold when they spot a suspicious transaction (not just credit cards, but debit too).

Thank you again

Can't really advise but I know at my bank there have been scenarios where suspicious debit card transactions have not been authorised and the customer has been asked to contact their bank but in the same light have seen it where debit card transactions go through.

I dont know you personally but maybe your age profile, and your account activity might not have prompted your bank on this occassion, dont know, but rest assured your fraudulent debit card claim should be processed as per their procedures. It's stressful and frustrating I know and it is not the answer you want to hear right now. Good luck with it.

Rosie111

I've had a similar sort of thing happen to me yesterday. I signed into my online banking and realised that there was a big deficit between the balance of the account and the amount available. So, I phoned the bank up and said I had not used my Debit Card so could they block the transactions. They said they were unable to block the transactions. I simply had to wait until the actual transactions showed on my account, then i was to report it to the Fraud department. They cancelled my card for me.

Turns out my card had been cloned and used in a cashpoint in Bangkok!!!! The money was refunded back in to my account today. Very speedy service. However they did ask me if I was in Bangkok yesterday!!!!!

jezzaruni

Can anyone tell me if banks are allowed to guarantee payment on a card which has expired or been cancelled?

I am with Lloydstsb and they have authorised a payment to a loan company which has left me with £950 in arrears. When I initially phoned them I confirmed that the payments were unauthorised and a few days later, when it was clear who had made the withdrawal, I cancelled the transaction and was told I would be refunded.
On Monday they contacted me to say I wouldn't be refunded as the transaction was with a loan company and the card used, despite having been cancelled prior to entering a Debt Management Programme, was still valid as a guarantee of payment.

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jonesMUFCforever

jezzaruni wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if banks are allowed to guarantee payment on a card which has expired or been cancelled?

I am with Lloydstsb and they have authorised a payment to a loan company which has left me with £950 in arrears. When I initially phoned them I confirmed that the payments were unauthorised and a few days later, when it was clear who had made the withdrawal, I cancelled the transaction and was told I would be refunded.
On Monday they contacted me to say I wouldn't be refunded as the transaction was with a loan company and the card used, despite having been cancelled prior to entering a Debt Management Programme, was still valid as a guarantee of payment.

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Yes they can - the dispute is between you and the loan company not your bank.
If it is fraudelent and the loan company will not refund get in touch with the bank's chargeback team.
If you owe the money and what the loan company has done is within the terms and conditions of what you agreed to you are stuffed.