scam

When I was in the world of unemployment, I racked up some credit card debt. It’s something I’m working on trimming as fast as I can, so the reality is I don’t use these credit cards all that much.

I have one card with a very small limit. I use that one sometimes to pay for online items – such as my geocaching membership etc.

One subscription I had renews automatically. In late August, I got an e-mail saying the payment didn’t post and the subscription was canceled. The reason? My card was denied.

I thought that to be quite odd, considering I knew I wasn’t maxed out. And, I didn’t think I was within the $30 of the max, which could also screw up this subscription.

So, I went to my online account and looked it up. Turns out I was within $30 of the max – because I had a charge for $49.95 – from somewhere I had no idea what it was.

Where did it come from, you may ask?

888-364-7209.com.

Of course, I went searching right away. Being this was a pending transaction, I needed to know what this was. Maybe it was something I had looked at? But I would remember a $50 charge, especially on a card I rarely use.

The website had a place for support. So, of course I went with it and my question was simple –

I see I have a pending charge on my credit card for $49.95 … what exactly is this company?

Once an operator finally came to chat with me, I needed to dig. But this person needed my e-mail address, full name, name of the merchant or company that billed me, first four and last four digits of the card being charged, date and amount and my zip code.

Seemed like an awful lot of needed information, especially being I didn’t know the merchant.

So I told the gentleman some basics … and the runaround came. I posed the question asking if they were a billing company. All I’m told is they need that info to locate the account in their databases.

Here’s the discussion:

07:58 Me: Does that mean you are a billing company? I don’t know the merchant that billed me because it just shows your company
08:00 Me: If I give you the other info are you going to be help me with what this is? Because I don’t know the merchant. And I don’t know this charge.
08:02 Me: Or is that not possible?
08:02 General Support: Well we need that information please
08:02 General Support: In order for a better assistance
08:03 Me: I don’t have the merchant info
08:03 Me: i don’t know what this charge is
08:03 Me: i’ve never heard of your website
08:03 Me: i haven’t used this credit card in a few weeks.
08:03 Me: What is your company? Why is it on my credit card?
08:04 General Support: Well we are customer support and we do provide customer service for a lot of companies world wide

So I relented. And I asked if I gave most information, would I be able to get the info. He assured me they would.

Meanwhile, I was also on a chat with my credit card company, who were trying to figure this out as well and be as helpful as they could be.

Back to our pal at this company … who is now looking this all up. I kept the timestamps on here, so you could see how much time they took with all of this.

08:15 General Support: Thank you very much. Please provide me with a few minutes to verify your information. I will be right back with you.
08:15 Me: thank you
08:18 General Support: Our records show that we have a one time purchase under your name for Raspberry Ketone Strenght which is a natural supplement that helps you to: – Increase the energy and lose weight

OK, I’m working on losing weight … but where would this have come from? I never would have given my card for this. I’m then asked what I wanted to do with this purchase?

Of course I tell him I never made that purchase and I didn’t want it. In fact, I wanted the purchase canceled and a refund given.

The response?

08:20 General Support: Instead of the cancellation/refund we can offer you an additional extra bottle, and this one will be send to your shipping address without any extra charge

Do you want to continue with this offer ?

Are you freakin’ kidding me, pal? You’ve somehow charged my credit card this crap and you want me to keep it and do more? Sounds like the Better Business Bureau should know more about you and your supplement.

And I respond in kind…

08:21 General Support: No. I want to cancel it and have it NOT appear on my credit card, or I will dispute it
08:22 General Support: I did NOT place this order. I do not want it. I do not want to be charged. I will go to the BBB and anywhere I have to if it is not canceled. I will dispute it on my credit card.

Apparently, they work quick, too:

08:23 General Support: Today we have cancelled your account and you will not longer be charged. Here is your confirmation number :XXXXXXX
08:23 General Support: We are very glad to inform you that your refund has been successfully approved today, and your refund confirmation number is XXXXXXXX

Please allow 7-10 business days (Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays are not included) in order for your bank or credit card company to complete the refund process.

But, of course, what is customer service without a little niceness at the end?

08:24 General Support: Thank you for visiting us. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us anytime. We are available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
Thank you for purchasing our product, we are looking forward to do business with you again.
08:24 Me: Well, I didn’t purchase the product. But thanks anyway.

Needless to say, now that I know what – kind of – happened here, I plan on requesting a new card and new number so it doesn’t happen again.

Has anything like this happened to any of you before? I guess it’s good to make sure you are always looking at the charges on your cards.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!