unauthorized charges on bank account
Complaint
christopher st st ange
Country: United States
I have been charged several times for Credit Report that I did not order or request. The first two charges were
as follows:
09/29/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
10/03/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877 300-2507 $14.95
10/31/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
10/31/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
As a result of these unauthorized charges my account was charge 4 over drapft fees of $37.00 totallying $148.00 and 5 other checks were returned due to insufficient funds because of these unauthorized charges. That is a total of 9 overdraft charges at 37.00 each since September 29/2011.
Total amount to be refunded to my account is $59.80 for 4 charges at $14.95 and 5 insufficient fund charges of $37.00 for an amount of $185.00.
185.00+59.80=$244.80 to be refunded
as follows:
09/29/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
10/03/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877 300-2507 $14.95
10/31/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
10/31/2011 Experian *FreeCredS 877-300-2507 $14.95
As a result of these unauthorized charges my account was charge 4 over drapft fees of $37.00 totallying $148.00 and 5 other checks were returned due to insufficient funds because of these unauthorized charges. That is a total of 9 overdraft charges at 37.00 each since September 29/2011.
Total amount to be refunded to my account is $59.80 for 4 charges at $14.95 and 5 insufficient fund charges of $37.00 for an amount of $185.00.
185.00+59.80=$244.80 to be refunded
Comments
In the meantime, you can actually get a FREE credit report WITHOUT signing up for anything and WITHOUT giving credit card info. Of course, they attempt to get you to sign up for credit monitoring and such but you don't have to. The FREE site is www.annualcreditreport.com. It is the official "free" site (NOT freecreditreport.com which actually charges you).
1) a store employee stole your card number.
2) the store is signing you up for this "service" without your authorization, or relying on terms hidden in fine print. (BestBuy/HSBC has been caught doing this.)
3) your card number is floating around in cyberspace being used for intangible untraceable purchases by card thieves. They may have used your card to order some other victim's credit report.
Who does Experian say ordered their services?
What store?
What type of complaints show up in connection with their card customers?
Check for complaints of fraudulent telemarketing associated with affiliated comarketers of the store.
Check your contract, possibly on-line, to see if there are buried terms.
Regardless, dispute the charges as fraudulent, and block the card number immediately to prevent further fraud.
I got charged the 14.95 too from someone with a different name than mine and I called them to dispute this charge and I had to order a new credit card. What a pain in the b*tt!
Experian has a history of deceptive marketing of credit monitoring services through subsidiaries, including two settlements with FTC.
However, what is appearing recently are an increasing number of reports that Experian is claiming the charges were by various named people, unknown to consumers calling about the charges.
If we assume that Experian is not just making up these names to deflect fraud complaints, that indicates that the credit reports of those people are being pulled, over the internet, using stolen credit card numbers.
Experian is vulnerable to fraudulent purchases of credit reports using stolen credit card numbers.
You don't use a stolen card to purchase your own credit report, as the theft is traceable directly back to you.
So who would do this? People wanting to get access to credit reports anonymously, and who have access to stolen credit card numbers.
Complaints of fraudulent Experian charges may be an indication that Experian is selling credit reports to id thieves.
See the following article, from Red Tape Chronicles. In particular, note this, which is consistent with these fraudulent charges: "the hackers' bragging about how easy it is to infiltrate websites like AnnualCreditReport.com or CreditReport.com."
Fraudulent credit card charges would be half of the trail left by this trade in credit reports. The other half would be credit inquiries visible on your own credit reports, if you caught it and realized you hadn't requested them.
http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/26 ... ainst-consumers
"...
EXCLUSIVE: Hackers turn credit report websites against consumers
By Bob Sullivan
The most important tool consumers have to fight against ID theft has been turned against them by hackers, msnbc.com has learned. Websites that offer consumers a chance to see their credit reports are being brazenly used by hackers to steal victims' information.
The prices of the reports rise and fall depending on the credit score of the victim. For consumers with credit scores in the 750s, report data might fetch $80; reports from victims with scores in the low 600s sell for about half that, according to "for sale" pages viewed by msnbc.com.
"It shows how people with good credit and a net worth now have a bull’s-eye on their backs," said Dan Clements, who operates the Internet security firm CloudEyez.com. Clements gave msnbc.com a virtual tour of the marketplaces, which he has been observing for months.
The most troubling part of these markets however – many hosted in the .su domain, which stands for the now-defunct Soviet Union – is the ready availability of credit reports and the hackers' bragging about how easy it is to infiltrate websites like AnnualCreditReport.com or CreditReport.com.
"I'm selling super prime credit reports and scores which include all 3 bureaus and other information," brags one advertisement on one site.
Clements helped msnbc.com view dozens of credit reports on the forum, many of which had CreditReport.com stamped across the first page. But others viewed by msnbc.com indicated they were stolen from AnnualCreditReport.com and Equifax.com. Clements said most other online credit report and some credit score suppliers were hit, too -- he shared a page showing a victim's score produced at CreditKarma.com.
"We really have no idea how many reports have been used or put up for sale in the 'libraries,'" said Clements, who also operates a consulting firm
..."
Experian *freecreds 877-3002507 Ca $15.88
Experian *creditrep 877-2977790 Ca $21.20
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My credit card company refunded the money and is most likely my credit card was used to buy someone elses credit report. (I only use my credit when traveling, so I'm guessing it got picked up at a hotel or restaurant)
My credit card company cleared the charges from my account, and both companies said that they have blocked any future usage. But it seems a bit odd that they just allow anyone to charge with someone else's card, without the CVV. Sounds like a front for clearing payments through traded card numbers.
Block the card number to prevent future fraud.
And follow up on the police report
Also file a complaint with FTC, as they are responsible for regulating companies that expose consumers to fraud through security breaches.
Companies selling intangible products (like downloaded software, music, or credit reports), that don't actually cost them anything if paid for with fraudulent cards, often have poor security policies on verifying identity for credit card purchases. They make a business decision to make it easy for customers to order and pay, and ignore the costs of fraud, since it doesn't really cost them. They make their business rationalization based on their risks not yours..
Folks, this bleep is so far over the line - this isn't "oh we got you with the small print and now you're stuck with our recurring charges, THIS IS OUTRIGHT THEFT.
One person had two accounts opened up with my card number.
Then two weeks later 4 charges unauthorized from experian. I called my credit card company, together we called experian and found someone with a different name first name last initial is all they would tell me, had used it. They refunded the charges and I have a new card coming.
I firmly believe this company does this to themselves on purpose - i.e. somehow gets a hold of your card and purchases. If that isn't it, then it's something with their security system because if you look on the web there are thousands of these reports online all saying the same thing.
I'm putting a freeze on my credit now.