General Chat

Morning Everyone, I am paranoid about my bank account. I check my bank account every morning on the internet to make sure there have been no dodgy payments. A couple of months ago there was one from a supermarket which was suspect, I phoned them immediately. It all got sorted, but the problem was with the girl on the phone, she couldn't understand how I had picked it up so quickly as the purchase was made 2 days previous and the money taken out that day, and I was on the phone at 6.30am querying it. I then had to explain about internet banking, all she kept saying was 'B*******' isn't an internet bank!! Eventually I got through to her I think lol. Sorry for going on, but I think its vital to check everyday to nip it in the bud. If you wait a month for a statement theres no telling how much would be gone before you noticed. Sue

My card was copied a couple of years ago and the credit card company phoned me and asked me about major purchases made on in it London which seemed suspicious. The cheeky so and so's had spent over £2000 on it on Jewellery amongst other things. It was before chip and pin and I was informed it must have been 'cloned' it happened to my friend at the same time and it all led back to a petrol garage we had both used on the same day. When we thought back there was a lot of under the counter messing about with the card 'machine'. Fortunately, the credit card company sent me a statement within a day and I just had to go through and tick what was mine sign a legal declaration and all the other stuff got taken off. My friend and I informed the company about the garage we both used and then the police got involved from there. I didn't hear any more about it after that. I hope that you manage to get this all sorted out and these scumbags get what is owing to them for causing you such upset. I do sympathise, it is a horrible feeling. xx

If they do happen to come back and you are on your own,,,speak through a window and tell them the matter is now in police hand,,,,do you have security fitted? Camera system can be reasonable at A****ok not the very best but maybe more effective then nothing,,,,,,,,,plus mock wall camera's can be got,,,,,,,,,police will advise on this,,,,,,,,, Hope you stay safe and your money returned,,

I showed this to my OH-he couldn't believe it. It's a shame that police surveilance is so costly-I was thinking of along the lines of a sting. If the guy comes back-get your OH or family member to be there or even a policeperson hand the card over, and then when he goes to the depot to collect the telly strike. But sadly this ain't a tv movie and it costs money to do this. Would hav been good though. There's alot of talk at the moment that using your debit card over the internet is far more risky than your credit card. I'm sure you will get your money back catherine xx

I am sure you will get the money back, even if you have to have the TV sent back to the supplier( or they re-claim it from the courier,)which i am sure they will. paying for bus tickets with a card confuses me slightly - they must be able to tell you where those tickets were purchased ,to and from. its not like they handed over cash to the driver,is it? I'd be ringing the local travel inn too - or somewhere walkable from your house,where they might have stayed overnight,although to have used your card to book that would be perhaps too condeming- CCTV and all that. Is there anywhere obvious?

Kay: I know where the television was despatched from as I have the Invoice. They seem to be a reputable firm in London. I contacted them immediately and they have promised to refund the money. I will have to wait and see on that one. If they don’t then my bank insurance will have to. After getting a crime number I forwarded it to them so they know I am not trying to defraud them. Jess: I too have been thinking about it during the early hours and hopefully they won’t come back again. I just feel so lucky that something just made me check my bank account. Something I will be doing much more often from now on. The worrying thing is that on the day the order was placed I had only used my card at two reputable high street stores. Both with chip and pin machines. I will update if I hear anything else. In the meantime if you receive a card from a delivery agent that has someone else’s name and your address check your bank accounts. Gill

I lay thinking about this last night. they tried, it failed. I bet you a pound the wont come back, just pull the scam on another poor less astute soul. Jess

City Link should have on record where the TV was sent from. If these people come back tell them you will bring the delivery card from City Link when it comes to them and where do they live?

Liz. I think will get my money back but it is inconvenient. I just can’t believe their cheek. I will be interested to see if City Link have released the goods to them knowing they do not live at the address. They should have to provide some proof of identity to pick the goods up. Gill

Hi Bob Yes I shred everything with my address including envelopes recieved. So it can't be that that has allowed them to get my details. Jay. No I haven't made any phone purchases. I do tend to buy on the Internet but only on secure sites. I think I will also open a new account just for that. My card is Visa Verified but the site in question dosn't use it. Heather. Yes it was a foriegn name (seems to be nigerian) and I only checked my account because I felt uneasy. I know I would usually not have bothered and wouldn't have noticed the money had gone until next month.

Gillian, that is really scary, I would hate that to happen to me. My son had someone spend £300 on his card recently and doesn't know how it happened, he got his money back but it is certainly worrying. Hope you have no more problems and all is sorted out. Liz Just wrote a card to an Aylesbury address an hour before I came on here, have friends there and relatives around Bucks area.

It is the combination of card number AND address that is worrying. Have you made any recent phone transactions, Gillian? I always wonder if firms can guarantee the honesty of ALL those on their premises - temps, reliefs, workmen called in for maintenance etc. Only needs one rotton apple. Jay

I am seriously thinking of having an internet and phone account and keeping a very small sum of cash in it and topping it up only when I know I have bills to pay over the phone, like oil deliveries, car insurance, TV licence. Would also use this in restaurants or anywhere the card might go out of sight. Bank would be immediately querying and blanking payments! Jay

Surely they would use your card to buy the telly, have it delivered and then nick it - that would be madness! Was it a foreign name? Its incredible if they have done that, isnt it!! Did they think you wouldnt notice the money had gone? I had my card skimmed or whatever in July - it must have been over the telephone - Ive a strong suspicion what company it was. I didnt know til the bank rang and asked if I had just tried to buy a camera and had I bought a phone 20 mins earlier. The first transaction went through, they had stopped the second as suspicious. I got my money back but it was a damn nuisance and it was not a nice feeling knowing someone had used your details.

things MAY be different now, BUT several years ago, where I worked,a high street bank had a branch at the firms premises.. they had a 40 gallon oil drum as a waste bin, into which went things like the extra pages of swipe card pages.......you know when they used to use a machine for card payments . all one needed to do was to Acquire these sheets, and bingo, everything anyone would need, to be able to buy over the telephone, was on these pages.....Bob

To be honest, given what you have said to me,both here and in PM's, i'd be inclined to ring the local police station back and talk to them again. if they do return, you need a number that you can ring right away, and the person onthe other end know what you are talking about. Dont be too afraid , leave any outside lights on tonight, Mind you, two coach ticket,each £6 sounds as though they may have gone home again. how far would £6 buy? not very I guess

The more I am thinking about this the more paranoid I am becoming. They have my address. They have my card details. They must be fairly local to be able to pick up the item. What else do they know about me? If they haven’t been able to pick up the television do think I have it in my house and will they attempt to obtain it by burglary. I am now becoming very fearful that I may have a break in. My card has been cancelled so I cannot use it and will not get a replacement for up to five days and I still have my Christmas Shopping to do. Gill

Thanks everyone. I now have a crime number and I must say the police woman I spoke to was most helpful. She thinks maybe the visit by the person last night was more than likely related. She also said that obtaining goods by deception was rife. So take care. Gill

Think i would report the caller to the police and the name on the parcel, like NOW. Police would have the ability to trace the name, i'd guess its going to be someone local. Do you use a card at a local takeaway or anything ( sorry , just making an association with the ethnicity comment you made)

Do you think it was the thieves that ordered the telly coming to collect it? If it was that has got to be the ultimate in hardfaced cheek I ever heard of. Hope you get it sorted-Imagine if you had been planning the dosh for your family holiday or something and it went. good luck catherine xx sorry for ranting a bit but things like this I see red.