Too many security questions

peawack

I thought I had bought a camera from Pixmania, until they refused to send the item to me until I provided both a copy of my passport and current utility bill !
They had already taken the money from my credit card, so now I have to get it back as I cancelled the order immediately.
It's easier to open an ISA account ! Anyway why do they need such info if they have been paid ?
Anyone experienced this before ?

Mikeyorks

Had exactly the same with CamerasDirect a couple of years ago. Fully completed the order - saw my credit card authorised around £500 online (available balance dipped). Then the following day had an Email requesting Passport / Utility bill.
After a couple of exchanges - told them they could keep the camera - and had my money refunded a couple of days later. I think they went out of business a few months later - with that business model I wasn't surprised.

Pixmania has a very mixed feedback - check it on PriceRunner?

johnmoney05

peawack wrote: »

I thought I had bought a camera from Pixmania, until they refused to send the item to me until I provided both a copy of my passport and current utility bill !
They had already taken the money from my credit card, so now I have to get it back as I cancelled the order immediately.
It's easier to open an ISA account ! Anyway why do they need such info if they have been paid ?
Anyone experienced this before ?

Are you serious? Well, tell them to keep the camera! If they want, they can easily check with the credit card company.

I remember 2 years ago, Lastminutes.com kept rejecting my credit cards, even debit card. Since then, I never deal with them again.

wigglebeena

So they want to have;

a) Your name
b) Your address
c) Your credit card number
d) Your cc expiry date
and e) A copy of your passport.

Sounds well dodgy! Sure it's not an entrepeneurial member of staff doing a bit of freelance 'data collection'?

Mikeyorks

Incidentally, if it follows my experience. Your CC company won't do a refund until you've given Pixmania a 'reasonable' period to return the money to the card. Which I took to be about a week - and did have the money re-credited in that time.
But the requirement for passport etc is entirely unreasonable. Your CC authorisation (unless you've asked the camera go to other than your billing address) - gives them all the assurance they are entitled to.

Nilrem

Isn't Pixmania based in France?

IIRC companies based outside the UK can have trouble verifying card billing addresses, and as such can ask for additional proof of identity to help protect themselves against fraud (I believe they need an office inside the UK to comply with the DPA or something similar)..
It's something i've had to do a few times for U.S, Aus and Canadian DVD retailers in the past, normally they are quite happy if you blank out most of the card numbers from the statement copy and card you fax them (I normally blank out all bar the first 4* and last 2-4, so there isn't much more detail on it than you get from many receipts).

It's a pain in the neck, but I can understand the reasoning, especially if they are dealing in high value goods and it's your first order.



*As they are common to anyone with a card from that company.

ManAtHome

But they are part of DSG (Dixons, Currys, PC World) - I'd tell them (and anyone else) to stuff it if they wanted more than credit card linked details.

Nilrem

Ah, I thought they were independant.
In that case i'd tell them to get lost, not necessarily because of the security questions (I've had a few problems with DSG in the past).

peawack

My CC company tells me they based in Belguim. Even so, I don't understand why they need so much information as the payment had been made successfully anyway.
I have told them to cancel and I hope there are no snags !
If I was to pass on the info they require there is not a lot of data about me left for them to collect ! There must be someone I can complain to.