Stolen Credit Card - Subscriptions?

Mich81

My credit card was stolen 2 months ago, and it seems whoever stole my purse has set up a subscription with Sky TV.

Subscription charges keep appearing on my statement, and this month it has taken me over my credit limit.

Barclaycard say they cannot stop this from happening - has anyone any advice on how I can prevent this? Could Sky trace the person who has set up the subscription through my old card number?

Amazon were amazingly helpful and searched under my old card number so they could cancel gift certificates bought on my card.

Thanks in advance.

Ebe_Scrooge

Did you report the card as stolen ( to your bank ) immediately ? If so, I'm surprised the bank didn't cancel the card straight away ?

If you did report it as stolen, then I think you need to be speaking directly to Barclaycard to find out how it can still be being used.

Mich81

It wasn't immediate, as my purse was stolen out of my handbag so I didn't realise right away.

Barclaycard say that as its a recurring payment they can't stop it - which is very annoying as it shows on my statement with a picture of a credit card with a cross through it to show that the transaction was on my old card.

Its driving me crazy, each amount coming out is higher than the last!

jonesMUFCforever

They are fobbing you off!
Your card was stolen the transactions are fraudulent - end of!

Prepare a strong letter of complaint.

bigadaj

Bizarre thing to do as this should surely be a way of tracing the thief?

macman

Speak to someone at Barclaycard who has a clue-they have to cancel a recurring debit authority if you request it. Any transactions made before you reported it stolen however may not be refunded.

jonesMUFCforever

bigadaj wrote: »

Bizarre thing to do as this should surely be a way of tracing the thief?

Only if they could be ar*ed to find out and as probably the police are not involved - they will get away with it.

eskbanker

I agree with the other posts above and would add that, given Barclaycard's liability for costs since you reported it as stolen, it's surely in their interests to pursue someone stupid enough to use stolen card details for an ongoing service at a specific address? Barclaycard obviously won't know this address yet but I'd have thought that reasonable evidence of a crime should be enough to get Sky to pass on the details - OP, was the theft logged with the police for a reference number, etc?

Mich81

Wow, influx of replies! Thanks everyone!

It was the police who actually found my (half empty) purse and informed me, I'd been blissfully unaware the purse had been stolen as I was on my way to work. When the first transactions came out I passed on all the police details to Barclaycard.

The subscription has come out twice since, and each time Barclaycard just say they'll refund me, but they don't seem particularly concerned about trying to cancel the recurring payment.

I've sent them a message online to complain, and again to ask them to cancel the recurring payment now I've read that they can do so - so fingers crossed they pull their finger out.

I don't think they even care about trying to trace the person who the Sky is registered too, maybe the amounts are too small for them to care?

National_Debtline

Hello there.

These types of payment are called 'continuous payment authorities'

Continuous payment authorities are covered by the Payment Services Regulations 2009. These regulations set out how payment service providers, such as banks, building societies, credit card companies and so on, should operate payment systems.
The Payment Services Regulations make it clear that you can withdraw your permission for a payment, or series of payments, to be made using your debit or credit card. The regulations say the following about consent.

• “Part 55 (3) The payer may withdraw its consent to a payment transaction at any time before the point at which the payment order can no longer be revoked under regulation 67.
• Part 55 (4) Subject to regulation part 67 (3) to (5), the payer may withdraw its consent to the execution of a series of payment transactions at any time with the effect that any future payment transactions are not regarded as authorised for the purpose of this Part.”
• Part 67 of the regulations deals with time limits for stopping payments. For continuous payment authorities, this will usually be the end of the business day before the payment is due.

The thing to do is to write to barclaycard informaing them that you wish to remove the continuous payment authority. They have a LEGAL obligation to do this for you.

I really hope you get it sorted.

David @ NDL.

Mich81

Thanks, I'll quote that to Barclaycard and see if they pull their finger out!