Mastercard # theft - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Eagle Eye · 12-13-2006, 10:15 AM

Hey guys just need some advice here.

3 weeks ago we had two charges show up on our mastercard that we did not purchase. The totals came to almost 1 thousand dollars and were purchased over the internet. We filled a complaint and requested that we get new cards (accounts). They told us that we have to fill out a form that would be at our house in 10 business days disputing the charges and that the would not cancel the account unless there were 3 charges or more.

Just found out today that if they indeed find out that we did not make the charges to our card (They said they dont know if they will be able to prove that we didn't) that it would take approx 8 weeks for the credit to be applied (so I would have to pay the amount and wait almost 3 months to get a credit). We probably spend approx $2,000 a month on our card. Do you think that by saying that I will switch to a different card the process doesnt speed up? I always thought that credit card companies were pretty good with disputed charges, but this is turning into a real hassel.

Any recomendations?

Madman · 12-13-2006, 10:18 AM

Who is your Mastercard through?

I personally wouldn't put up with that type of service from a credit card company and definately threaten to cancel it.

Eagle Eye · 12-13-2006, 10:22 AM

Bmo

Burninator · 12-13-2006, 10:25 AM

I wouldn't just threaten to cancel your card, I would. Get a Visa. Visa has a pretty much a no questions asked policy for fraudulent charges. My mom a couple of weeks got a phone call from Visa saying we didn't approve an $1600 charge to a resturant in Ontario (she lives in Calgary). They canceled her card and gave her a new number with no hassle.

That's pretty crappy the way they are treating you. Especially when you told them about the two charges you didn't know about and they wouldn't do anything about it till 3 happened. That's poor.

jolinar of malkshor · 12-13-2006, 10:25 AM

I had a problem with charges being made on my VISA after I visited the DR. It was two charges of about 100 each. VISA took it really seriously....they took those charges off my card pending the investigation. They also sent me a form to fill out and sign. After about two weeks they came back and said yes....you didn't make those charges....it's all taken care of.

Sounds like MC is giving you the run around.

Tron_fdc · 12-13-2006, 10:25 AM

I remember taking something in my law class that stated that legally, you are under no obligtion to pay charges on a card that aren't yours. I would request a copy of the receipt, and tell them it's not your problem.

One thing I have learned from my G/F who works retail is that it's actually the retailers problem if they allow tthe use of a stolen card....visa won't reimburse them for it, and the legal owner of the card isn't liable for anything.

habernac · 12-13-2006, 10:48 AM

There is no Master Card in my wallet anymore. When my wife and I got married three years ago, we called and requested a name change and a new card. 5 months and 8 phone calls later, we ended up cancelling the card. Apparently, the post office must have lost the replacement card 6 times. Their incompetence in something as simple as a name change on a card was enough for me to cancel it.

CubicleGeek · 12-13-2006, 10:53 AM

I second the VISA. I have a RBC VISA and had disputed a charge in the past. All it took was a phone call and signing and returning some postage paid papers. Was credited to my account shortly after.

JiriHrdina · 12-13-2006, 10:55 AM

I had a pretty huge amount charged to my GM Visa. They wouldn't take the charges off right away per say but "suspended them or something". So when i went to my TD bank page the charges were there, but interest wasn't being charged or anything. After about a month they were simply removed. Really smooth process.

Bill Bumface · 12-13-2006, 10:58 AM

When I was in California a few weeks ago Mastercard decided that I'd used my card in too many different cities in too short of a time and decided to deactivate it without even attempting to contact me (I'm sure its automated, but still, a phone call would have been nice). Good thing I wasn't alone when I was at a till in San Francisco when my credit card with thousands of dollars of room on it kept getting rejected and I was out of cash.

Slava · 12-13-2006, 11:02 AM

My wife had someone open a MC under her name without her knowledge. All of a sudden a bill showed up one day....at her parents house! She called and complained and they took care of things right away without any trouble. Visa on the other hand gave me the run around some years ago. I go with MC only now, but I guess its different for everyone?

Resolute 14 · 12-13-2006, 11:14 AM

I'll echo the above. Dump Mastercard and go with Visa. Much, much easier to deal with with any problems.

kermitology · 12-13-2006, 11:20 AM

Visa's been great for me. I ordered something online and got a message saying that it was shipped. Turned out that was an automated message, but after about a month and nothing had come I got irritated and tried e-mailing the contact e-mail. The e-mail was invalid. I figured I was getting screwed over, so I called Visa. They said that they usually give 30 days for shipping and if it didn't come by then, to call them back and they'd reverse the charges.

I ended up getting the stuff after about two months, so I didn't cancel the transaction, but it was no problems on their part.

Madman · 12-13-2006, 11:26 AM

Don't forget about American Express as well. Nothing against VISA, but I primarily use an AMEX and love it. The customer service is great and all disputed charges are dealt with swiftly.

I know it's not accepted in as many places, but that's why I have 2 different cards.

Tron_fdc · 12-13-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

When I was in California a few weeks ago Mastercard decided that I'd used my card in too many different cities in too short of a time and decided to deactivate it without even attempting to contact me (I'm sure its automated, but still, a phone call would have been nice). Good thing I wasn't alone when I was at a till in San Francisco when my credit card with thousands of dollars of room on it kept getting rejected and I was out of cash.

Visa does that s well. Anytime I travel overseas I have to let them know I'm going, or the card is deactivated the minute I use it.

Burninator · 12-13-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Visa does that as well. Anytime I travel overseas I have to let them know I'm going, or the card is deactivated the minute I use it.

When I use to work in retail this would happen fairly often as people from outside the province would come to our store. But it shouldn't deactivate the card. We would usually call Visa and they would need us to verify that it is the correct person and then they would approve the transaction. It really was only a couple of minutes and they were on their way.

Resolute 14 · 12-13-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Visa does that s well. Anytime I travel overseas I have to let them know I'm going, or the card is deactivated the minute I use it.

In some cases, it doesnt even have to be foreign travel. My sister, who lives in the NE, had her debit card cancelled by ATB becuase she was using it downtown. They justified it by suggesting that it was "out of her normal shopping patterns".

She dumped ATB about one second after that.

Bill Bumface · 12-13-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

In some cases, it doesnt even have to be foreign travel. My sister, who lives in the NE, had her debit card cancelled by ATB becuase she was using it downtown. They justified it by suggesting that it was "out of her normal shopping patterns".

She dumped ATB about one second after that.

I know it sucks, and its a hassle, but I'd still rather them pull the trigger too early than too late. Especially with a debit card. Getting your card reactiviated is a lot easier than reversing fraudulent charges.

kermitology · 12-13-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Visa does that [a]s well. Anytime I travel overseas I have to let them know I'm going, or the card is deactivated the minute I use it.

Any time I've used a card overseas I've had no troubles. Bank card as well. When I was in China I used both, same with Ireland, Scotland, England, Czech Republic.. Maybe it's the bank?

Gugstanley · 12-13-2006, 12:28 PM

Stay away from American Express. I have been fighting them for over 2 years because of identity theft. They have horrible customer service.
A friend of mine also cancelled his American Express when charges showed up that weren't his and they hassled him about removing them.

Cancel that Mastercard right now. Don't give them another chance to treat you poorly.