Unauthorised transactions

Waldemar

I thought I was doing reasonably well with my finances until I decided to log into my accounts online and have a detailed look with the view of paying off a good chunk of debt from my credit card.

I was shocked when I saw that my debt was not £1500 as expected but over my limit at £6580. I looked at all the transactions and they were all paypal ones. I had that sinking feeling as I knew immediately it was my wife that was responsible. In the last 6 months the only thing I have used my card for is the congestion charge. All my wife needed was my card details no pin or password required.

This unauthorised spending has occurred over the last 6 months and I kick myself for not looking at my accounts online on a regular basis and just keeping a mental note of my incoming and outgoings. Not only that but as our current accounts are joint I have seen over £7000 leave my current account to top hers up each time it nears her overdraft limit. That sum has been over a 12 month period and is something I have discussed with her on numerous occasions and been reassured that it would not continue.

That though is being sorted once and for all as she has agreed to go to a bank appointment this week to have our accounts separated and a non linked joint one for bills ect will be set up.

Anyway I digress the credit card issue was the final straw and I have taken action by calling the Step Change Charity, going through budgets discussing with my wife and having a frank discussion that this stops or our marriage does despite the fact that this would be last thing I would want to happen. We have a young child and I am devoted to my family but also realise that if I don't take control of the situation and my wife does not allow me to take control of the situation then we will never move forward with our lives.

We both earn well above average earnings and really should not be in this position. Obviously I am really angry and frustrated as I really don't spend that much at all and am finding it hard to understand why my wife has this need to spend so much. She has been diagnosed with Bipolar and this manic spend which is worse than the previous overspending we could cope with is correlated to some personal issues that we have had. I have also downloaded the guide to debt and mental health here.

I called my bank explained the situation set up an appt at my local branch and then asked if they could help re the credit card, at the credit card company I was passed on to their collection services they asked for my incoming and outgoing info and then said that as I could afford to pay the debt they were unwilling to do anything. I asked to be referred to a specialist team that deals with mental health issues despite repeated requests this was refused with the answer that my case did not qualify to be heard by this team.

I am disappointed that the bank are unwilling to do anything to help. I have paid off enough so that I am back within my limit but still have to pay the over limit charge and am faced with about 5k of debt that I had not authorised. I am sure that the bank must have a duty of care in these sort of cases and there must be something they can do to help if they choose. Freezing the interest and agreeing to a payment plan would be what I am looking for. I might be facing a losing battle though in which case I will look at getting a 0% balance transfer card or a lower interest rate loan to clear this and my wife's other debts!

Advice greatly received.

HappyMJ

To get your money back you would need to report your wife for fraud. Then the police will investigate and with your help she could get a criminal conviction for fraud. You can then take her to a civil court to retrieve your money.

You can afford the debt. The bank do not have to freeze the interest for the reason you've given.

If you would like to stop paying the credit card then after a few months once you've got a default recorded against you then the bank will reconsider freezing the interest. Of course this will stop you from getting any further credit for years.

Anthorn

So how did your wife have the card to use when it should be in your own wallet? If you provided her with a card as an extra cardholder or you gave her permission to use your card there is nothing you can do about it: She used the card with your permission. If she used your card without your permission then it's fraud and should be reported to the card company. Perhaps in that circumstance you won't be liable for the debt acrued by your wife. But more than likely you will be liable for the card use before you reported it.

Waldemar

HappyMJ

Thank you for posting however I must say I can't see that as constructive advice really.

I am aware of the details around what you have posted and whilst I might look at talking to action fraud and the credit reference agencies to provide detail on the situation, possibly a crime reference number and potential involvement of financial ombudsman there is no way I will be pursuing a criminal conviction against my wife who as I stated in my above post I love very much and am not seeking to destroy our family thank you very much!

Do you think taking such action would have a "Happy" ending for our relationship and family?!

Your second piece of advice is also not a sensible course of action. I would like to protect my credit rating as much as possible and have future lines of credit open to me in the future. Hence why I am looking at 0% balance transfer cards and/ or a lower interest bank loan for this and other debt's my wife has racked up.

What I wish to focus on is the familiar fraud that has taken place and what can be done in a constructive manner. Without destroying families or credit lines!

HappyMJ

Waldemar wrote: »

HappyMJ

Thank you for posting however I must say I can't see that as constructive advice really.

I am aware of the details around what you have posted and whilst I might look at talking to action fraud and the credit reference agencies to provide detail on the situation, possibly a crime reference number and potential involvement of financial ombudsman there is no way I will be pursuing a criminal conviction against my wife who as I stated in my above post I love very much and am not seeking to destroy our family thank you very much!

Do you think taking such action would have a "Happy" ending for our relationship and family?!

Your second piece of advice is also not a sensible course of action. I would like to protect my credit rating as much as possible and have future lines of credit open to me in the future. Hence why I am looking at 0% balance transfer cards and/ or a lower interest bank loan for this and other debt's my wife has racked up.

What I wish to focus on is the familiar fraud that has taken place and what can be done in a constructive manner. Without destroying families or credit lines!

OK what answer would you like?

I thought you were looking for advice.

Waldemar

Anthorn,

Thank you for your post.

As the title of my post is " unauthorised transactions" do you really believe I gave my wife permission to use said card?

To avoid any confusion this card was my card and for my sole use only. I have not added her as an extra cardholder and she did not have my permission to use my card.

Like most people, I keep my credit card in my wallet. I did not expect my wife to help herself to my card in my wallet that I would reasonably expect to leave in a safe place around my house if I do not wish to carry it on my person at all times. Please tell me if I am different do most people have their wallets on their person at all times in their own homes!

I have contacted the credit card company and explained the unauthorised use of my card. If you were to look at my statements you would see that from the time they were taken out the pattern of spending had been on parking, congestion charge, hotels meals, drinks and fuel basically it was used for work expenses. I then stopped using it 6 months ago apart from congestion charge. They in a similar fashion to you seem to think that my card should be under lock and key in my own home!.

Again constructive advice and reading of the original post would be appreciated!

HappyMJ

Waldemar wrote: »

Anthorn,

Thank you for your post.

As the title of my post is " unauthorised transactions" do you really believe I gave my wife permission to use said card?

To avoid any confusion this card was my card and for my sole use only. I have not added her as an extra cardholder and she did not have my permission to use my card.

Like most people, I keep my credit card in my wallet. I did not expect my wife to help herself to my card in my wallet that I would reasonably expect to leave in a safe place around my house if I do not wish to carry it on my person at all times. Please tell me if I am different do most people have their wallets on their person at all times in their own homes!

I have contacted the credit card company and explained the unauthorised use of my card. If you were to look at my statements you would see that from the time they were taken out the pattern of spending had been on parking, congestion charge, hotels meals, drinks and fuel basically it was used for work expenses. I then stopped using it 6 months ago apart from congestion charge. They in a similar fashion to you seem to think that my card should be under lock and key in my own home!.

Again constructive advice and reading of the original post would be appreciated!

You don't need any of the back story if you accept the debt and are not willing to report your wife for theft of the card and fraudulent use of the card.

Waldemar

Happy MJ

As i am sure you can tell, this an emotive topic one that perhaps would be wise to treat with some sensitivity.

Having the respect to fully read the original post and then give constructive advice would be a start. ( this goes to Anthorn as well )

With regards to yourself HappyMJ please reread this part of my original post:

" frank discussion that this stops or our marriage does despite the fact that this would be last thing I would want to happen. We have a young child and I am devoted to my family but also realise that if I don't take control of the situation and my wife does not allow me to take control of the situation then we will never move forward with our lives"

How then is it helpful to advise pursuing criminal charges against my wife? What would be the likely result for our family? I do agree that I may need to report it and get a crime reference number in order to have the full range of options open to me. However to pursue it all the way to a conviction, no this is in no way an option and yes got my back up.

Your second piece of advice, cant be bothered to quote my original post but I clearly state that I can afford the repayments and whilst this is the case it certainly is not going to be pain free. I also do wish to have credit lines open to me in the future and when I come to think of it I really do not think that is good advice to give anyone as that should surely be way down the list of options kinda down the last resort end of options.

Waldemar

Happy MJ

Where does it say that I accept the debt?
I have reported the fraud to my credit card company!
Before I report to Action Fraud / Police I need to fully understand the implications of doing so. Not doing so would be foolish would you not agree? As previously stated even though I might report to criminal agencies I would not be willing to pursue a criminal conviction against my wife!

If you can't be bothered to read my original post in full then don't bother posting a response would seem to me the decent thing to do.

grumbler

Waldemar wrote: »

...a non linked joint one for bills ect will be set up.

What sort of account is it?

Anthorn wrote: »

So how did your wife have the card to use when it should be in your own wallet?

Many people would need a small briefcase to carry all their cards. Not to mention that most spend at least nights at home and don't keep their wallets under their pillow.

Money_maker

The wife only needs the card number then she can go on a lovely spending spree with paypal. She doesn't need it each time. Paypal is so open to abuse by family when the cardholder wont report them (and there is many cases why this would be inadvisable).