Credit card mistake

[Mr. Bean]

I have just received a credit card statement for April which has just one debit. This is for 1st. April for �350. to an online DVD business and is certainly nothing to do with me - my card has been in my safe for the whole of April. On ringing the card company, they said they will send forms to me and the shop to confirm that it is a result of "mis-keying" and not in any way suspicious. However, by pure co-incidence, this same card company has sent an interest-free offer if I use their card. So I should like to take this offer up but it means that this �350. is disputed and so of course, I cannot use that amount of credit until it is settled. Do you think I should E-mail the shop in question giving bare details and asking them to start their investigation now so that they can confirm to the credit card co. that this item is not my responsibility and they can credit my account. (The card co. seem used to this "mis-keying" and say if it were fraud, more than one item would have appeared)

[alunrw]

Not really sure what the mis-keying refers to. but I had a statement a year or so ago and there was an entry for 1,800 dollars which had absolutely nothing to do with me - I called the card company and they eventually sorted it out , it took a month or so though but this WAS just the one entry on the card ,

[Mr. Bean]

The mis-keying is that they think the shop entered the wrong number from the card - mis-read a figure or reversed two numbers etc. which is quite easy to do. But I find it strange because I can take credit cards for my mail-order business, it`s all "card not present" - so no terminal just log into site and enter numbers and dates. I was told it was essential that the card number was entered correctly, security code entered, start date AND expiry date, telephone number or e-mail address and registered address of card holder (not address given for delivery) MUST all agree with their records or sale would be rejected. Obviously this did not happen in this case. As you say, these cases take a long time to get sorted out. I would not normally worry too much about this but as I wanted to use the card I could do with it being settled quick. If I contact the on-line shop who presumably made the mistake they should be able to credit my card and debit the person who made the purchase, always supposing that they do have the correct card number somewhere. As I have no idea of the ins-and-outs I do not know if I am wrong to take that course.

[gammaray]

If the card has been in your safe at all times and you have had no dealings with the shop then it can only be fraud. Someone has cloned your card.

[malaise]

Ooft, cancel your card pronto! Sometimes people only make one fraudulent transaction because it's easier to go unnoticed. They may still have your card details and are waiting to use it again.

If I were you, I'd close your business with this credit card company. They should have dealt with this properly and never fobbed off your concerns with some rubbish about "mis-keying". Ask to speak to a manager regarding this and complain to get things moving.

I used to work for a very large bank, and I've never heard ot anyone being advised of "mis-keying". Fact is, it's still your money, and you still didn't spend it, no-matter what the reason!

[undercovers]

i used to take payment from customers when they were not present e.g. keying in the card details, i find it hard to believe that a miskeying situation could occur (i often got the wrong numbers down because of peoples hand handwritting etc) as the number of the card has to match the start date, the security code etc. so the chances of doing this by accident are very remote.

i would recommend a further complaint to the credit card company as this is indeed fraud - kick up more of a fuss with them e.g. at least get the interest frozen on the amount until it is sorted out by them. I wouldn't contact the shop though as they may well be involved in the scam

hope it all works out
undercovers