Did not authorize a $19.95 charge on my debit card

ComplaintsOtherexperian creditrep 8772977790 CA

Complaint

0
Victoria E. Hartney
Country: United States
I went to balance my bank account and came across this unauthorized deduction from my account (via my debit card).  I do not know how they obtained my information to process the charge.  I have informed my bank of this fraudulent action and will pursue it until I get my money back.

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    Immediately contact your bank to dispute fraudulent charges, and close your account or block your card number due to fraud, to prevent additional fraud.  Follow up with a WRITTEN DISPUTE or FRAUD AFFIDAVIT sent to your bank's dispute address from your statement, to document your timely dispute.  Mail your dispute certified, for proof of timely mailing.

    Your bank can reverse disputed charges if you dispute within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charge, under FRB Reg. E or FCBA.
  • 0
    Jenn
    | 1 reply
    I too woke up this morning only to find an unauthorized charge for 19.95 to Experian Credit. I immediately contacted my bank to have my card blocked and then I also contacted Experian at 877-297-7790. I was told by them that 3 other orders had been placed on my credit/debit card...a Danny S...a William L...and person by the name of Rogelio had purchased these things. I do not know anyone by those names. She refunded the 19.95 and said I should see it back in my account within 7-10 business days. I have also made a police report and have contacted the FTC. I have read so many complaints about this same issue on various other websites. I will be keeping a very close eye on my account, I always do anyway....thank goodness I just so happen to catch it this morning before my account was completely drained!!
    • 0
      william.nerbonne@gmail.com replies to Jenn
      Jenn,

      same thing is happening to me.  I just called they said 7-10 days as well.  I was just wondering did they make good with the unathorized charges or did you have to get the CC dispute department involved to get the refunds?

      thank you.
  • 0
    yellow
    Yep, I got one too on a card I never use anymore but I keep for my credit score.  On phone to credit card company and Experian now..
  • 0
    ChubChub
    | 2 replies
    Found the same charges twice - one on March 23 and one on April 11 (today). I disputed the charges with my bank, and called the number in the description. They claim the account was opened by a Jason B. I don't trust the person I spoke with although he gave me a confirmation number that a refund was on the way. Has anyone been refunded yet? I also called my bank and had them reissue my debit card.
    • 0
      tj replies to ChubChub
      There have been many similar complaints, involving fraudulent charges for someone else's credit report.

      It appears that id thieves have discovered that they can anonymously purchase credit reports using stolen card numbers.  See the article on redtape.msnbc.com

      This is not a "merchant billing dispute", as the charge is, in fact, fraudulent.  You did not order this credit report, you did not even give Experian your card number.  Your number was submitted by someone stealing credit report information, for purposes of id theft, or for sale to others.

      You should dispute it through your bank as fraudulent, to both protect yourself if the money isn't refunded, and to force Experian to eat the chargeback fees, so maybe they will tighten up their security.
      You also want a fraud dispute on record with your bank, as your old card number is being used by a thief.
    • 0
      Bubba replies to ChubChub
      ChubChub,

       This happened to my wife, one in March and one in April, both $19.95.  I noticed them last week, found this thread and a couple similar ones, and sent them to her.  She called the number on the charge (Experian/CreditReport.com), and they reversed the charges.  Her bank has issued a new card.  She called Saturday and the charges were credited back by Monday.  Hope yours works out as well.
  • 0
    MSinNYC
    Same scam as others are complaining about.  In my case I did order a report, but then cancelled any subscription.  When called the number, they first denied that there were any charges to me from them since the cancellation.  When I read them back from my credit card activity, they asked me if I knew a "Marie R" and that Marie R was using my card.  This is very odd as there is no other unauthorized charges.  It's not clear whether they used my card to get my credit report or someone else's.   They told me the only way they would give me more info was with a subpoena, which sounded odd.  It didn't sound like they were planning to do anything other than block the card and credit the charge.   If this is on a huge scale, then the CreditReport company should certainly be a bit more concerned.
  • 0
    mMichigan
    Similar experience, but with a twist that makes me speculate Experian, or someone with them, is in on the fraud.  In April, I ordered a free annual credit report through annualcreditreport.com, the FTC approved website for obtaining a free credit report.  I chose to go through Experian and was directed to its website.  I ordered the free report and did not request any purchases or order any of the other services Experian tries to sell you.  I also never provided my credit card number to Experian.  Yesterday, I was looking over my credit card statement and there was a charge from "Experian*credit report" for $19.95 dated Aoril 12, 2012, which coincides with the time I requested the free credit report.  There were no other suspicious activity on the statement and until now, I've ever had any problems with fraudulent charges made on the account.  I called Experian, and got a call center in the Philippines.  The woman I spoke to said someone by the name "   " and proceeds to give me the first name and last initial saying that person ordered her credit report using my credit card number.  Experian wouldn't tell me where that credit report was sent to or give me any other information regarding the fraudulent charge, but did say it would credit my account.  I called my bank and it's canceled the credit card.  I filed a complaint with the FTC and plan on filing with my state attorney general and encourage everyone who's had fraudulent charges from Experian to do so too.  Either Experian is part of the fraud itself or its security is so weak it allows anyone to purchase a credit report using names that don't match up with the names on the credit card numbers used.
  • 0
    Raine
    I had the same experience with a charge from Experian appearing 5/1 on my chase credit card.  Chase canceled the card immediately and will send a new one to me.  I was told that fraudulent Experian charges are one of the most frequent complaints that the get.  We'll still have to fill out paperwork to dispute the charge, however.

    Thanks for the heads up on filing a complaint with the FTC and state AG.  I plan to do so.
  • 0
    Varmit
    Brent L. got mine. Appeared early this morning. Called and talked to a rep, said that it would be refunded within 7-10 business days.

    My bank said this is the 5th fraudulent charge from Experian within the last WEEK. They are currently filing with the FTC, and are in the works of blocking the company.
  • 0
    kenz kenz
    My case is quite different. I ordered the report, yet when i called to cancel before they charged me the $19.95, the man on the phone said that I didnt request the emails. So I tried, and I couldnt figure out how too. I told the man, and he said it was okay, and he would take it off. THEN, i just got on to check my account balance, and of courseeeeee, there was a chargee. i dont know who to call, or what to tell them. Do I call my bank, or experian? please help me .
  • 0
    Elle
    I saw two of these phony $19.95 Experian charges on my transactions listing online for my credit card today. My bank's credit card side is taking care of refunding the money, cancelling the old credit card, and issuing me a new credit card.

    I have not been on Experian in over two years, and then I was helping out a relative for whom I had POA. I never gave Experian my credit card number.
  • 0
    AnotherVictim
    Just identified 5 recurring charges on my citibank card for 19.95 experian based. Citi and experian promptly removed them (well a total of about half hour on the phone). Experian does not ask for security code (which means they benefit from fraudulant use of card numbers until discovered). Only possibility of benefit is experian, who gets money from non existant purchasers using real credit card numbers. This is big time fraud and I hope investigations are ongoing and prison time awaits the perps.
  • 0
    Still Another Victim
    Ditto to everything everyone has said.  $19.95 charge from Experien on my credit card.  I am disputing this with my credit card company and will be filing the affidavit.  I called Experien and they said an S. Chong was using my card.  I gave them the card #'s because I knew I would be cancelling it.  They did not ask for the three digit code or exp. date.  They said they would block this card from their site- I don't trust them at all! Thanks for all the info.  I will file a complaint with the FTC as well.
  • 0
    Yet Another
    Just dug into my online banking activity after not paying too much attention for the last few months; what do you know, four charges of $19.95 from some company called Experian. A quick google brought me here, so I called my bank and Experian to dispute the charges.

    First I called my bank, JP Morgan Chase, and they gave me a number at Experian to call to ask for a refund. The guy told me, "if they give you a refund, great, if not, call this number," and he gave me Chase's fraud claims line.

    Called Experian and they were able to pull up my charges in their system, but they told me I was a subscribing member, and that I should just take advantage of my membership. I told them, no, I want to cancel my never-requested membership and I want the charges refunded. The woman assured me there was no way possible to do this, as I had signed up for an account myself. I told her I had not and tried to keep my temper in check.

    Called Chase's claims line and the woman was immediately helpful. She put in a claim for the four charges and said that three will absolutely be refunded in about 4 hours to my account (the fourth was outside of a window that makes it a guarantee, but she put it in my claim anyway and said it's possible I'll still get it.). The way she dealt with it, it's clear they know this type of [***] well, and they probably know Experian by this point.
  • 0
    Jessica - another victim
    I too checked my online credit card statements after months of just paying my monthly payments. I decided to finally check my last statement for June and saw a charge for $19.95 and immediately was alerted because I don't even know wtf Experian is (experian healthcare, perhaps?) Anyway, started going back to previous statements, and there have been charges since April - a total of 3. That's some BS! I immediately called my credit card company and they said I should call Experian at the number that shows on my statement. The lady at experian was able to pull up my credit info and asked if I knew someone by the name of Jedd M. (the hell?!) Once I assured her that I didn't she said she'd be able to refund me 3 charges of $19.95 each. I then called my credit card company and cancelled my credit card and ordered a new one. I will probably go along with everyone here and look into it and will try to file some sort of complaint. You'd think that if it were happening to so many people they'd try to block it or Experian would at least look into it more.
  • 0
    Scott
    My story is a bit weirder.  I had the $19.95 charge and cancelled my card.  The very next month, I had it again with the new card.  I Haven't used Experian in years, so there is no way I had account with them.  Anyway, so I call Experian using the number on the transaction and they can find no record of my card being used.  They told me they would look into it, but a month later I had no return call from them and another charge.  I agree that either their security is extremely weak, or they are scamming people themselves.  Now I have to cancel my card again.
  • 0
    Eric
    I have just had one from them in June.  I learned that I have been charged in July as well when I was reporting to my credit company.  The credit card company took care of both charges for me.
  • 0
    adreanna
    i just went on to my account online and found a $21.20 charge on my account. i have tried calling my autimated thing for my bank and that thing is so confusing. how do i notify that this charge was made without me knowing about it. this charge completley drained my account and now i have a fee to pay since it overdrew my account. if anyone can tell me how to go about this and how to get this fix it would be greatly appreciated.

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