I can't believe it happened to me!

[smo1g]

I rarely use my debit card or checks since I started using a budget, however I still look at my account on a weekly basis to make sure nothing funny is on there. Well today there was a charge for 663.56 for some RyanAir. I google it and it's like an Orbitz type website, but for Ireland. I called my bank asap since they are closed and they were able to reverse the charge. I can't believe this happened to me! I'm not sure what to do. They said that it may still end up posting and if it does they will dispute the charge. I am really worried as I cannot afford to lose that amount. I am going to the bank first thing in the morning and see what I should do.

[californiashopper]

So sorry you have to go through that.

It happened to me less than a year ago. The way I found out was that I got an automated call from Visa Fraud about suspicious activity (across the country). By then, there were already three charges to my account (from my visa debit card number), all within a couple of hours. Visa canceled the card, but when I called the bank the next day, they told me that since the charges were still shown as "pending", I would have to wait to file a dispute until the charges actually posted. We ended up having to borrow money from my in-laws to cover our expenses, but within a couple of weeks, the bank reversed all the charges.

[Noritaarf]

This is the reason Clark Howard says to never have/use a visa debit card. You can have your entire bank account drained and/or tied up while you try to sort through this. A regular Visa or MasterCard would not be tied to your bank account. You can read on his webpage ClarkHoward.com Home: Save More, Spend Less and Avoid Rip-Offs on clarkhoward.com lots of info on debit cards. I found this post interesting, maybe it will help you? Update on Visa check card rights on clarkhoward.com
Feb 14, 2005 -- Update on Visa check card rights
Visa’s check card is supposed to help elminate debt by drafting money directly and immediately from your account that has money. But there are some problems with the cards. First, criminals can empty your checking account if they get their hands on your card. Who pays the bounced checks charges if your check card has been stolen? YOU DO! Also, on a real credit card, if you order something you have the right to dispute the charge if something happens to your order. Until now, you could not dispute an order problem on your check card. Visa is now offering modified dispute rights for check card customers. If you have a check card, look on the back and see if it says ‘enterlink’. If your card does say this, then you might be covered under Visa’s new policy. Make sure you check with your bank to see if you are covered before you begin ordering on your check card.

[californiashopper]

Originally Posted by Noritaarf

This is the reason Clark Howard says to never have/use a visa debit card. You can have your entire bank account drained and/or tied up while you try to sort through this. A regular Visa or MasterCard would not be tied to your bank account. You can read on his webpage ClarkHoward.com Home: Save More, Spend Less and Avoid Rip-Offs on clarkhoward.com lots of info on debit cards. I found this post interesting, maybe it will help you? Update on Visa check card rights on clarkhoward.com
Feb 14, 2005 -- Update on Visa check card rights
Visa’s check card is supposed to help elminate debt by drafting money directly and immediately from your account that has money. But there are some problems with the cards. First, criminals can empty your checking account if they get their hands on your card. Who pays the bounced checks charges if your check card has been stolen? YOU DO! Also, on a real credit card, if you order something you have the right to dispute the charge if something happens to your order. Until now, you could not dispute an order problem on your check card. Visa is now offering modified dispute rights for check card customers. If you have a check card, look on the back and see if it says ‘enterlink’. If your card does say this, then you might be covered under Visa’s new policy. Make sure you check with your bank to see if you are covered before you begin ordering on your check card.

Even with the hassles involved, and even having gone through the fraud problems, I still choose to ONLY have a Visa debit card and NO credit cards. It's too easy to let that credit card balance build when unexpected things happen during the month. I much prefer to only spend money that I have in my account.

[go falcons]

I am so saddened this happened to you ! What a nasty experience.

One site we came across recently is privacy rights .org ( Privacy Rights Clearinghouse--privacyrights.org) . On it they give information on recent breeches in security involving peoples personal data exposed. When you read the case accounts it makes for some interesting reading as to how thieves obtain this information. In my quick reading of it - I've really learned to be especially careful with lap tops and flash drives and what is stored on them.

[crazycereal]

Having seperate visa and debit cards does not guarantee you will not have money stolen from either one. Hackers can use your credit card just as easiley as they can use your debit card. I would assume its a little more personal when they get your debit card is all.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by crazycereal

Having seperate visa and debit cards does not guarantee you will not have money stolen from either one. Hackers can use your credit card just as easiley as they can use your debit card. I would assume its a little more personal when they get your debit card is all.

True both can get stolen, however, you have more protection against fraudulent charges with a credit card verses a debit card.

[californiashopper]

Originally Posted by Bear

True both can get stolen, however, you have more protection against fraudulent charges with a credit card verses a debit card.

Maybe not all are the same, but I had absolutely no problems with getting the charges reversed from my bank account for the fraudulent activity on my Visa debit card. The only issue was that it did take some time, and since the money had come from my checking account, it obviously was way more inconvenient than just having it billed on a credit card bill. And Visa is who actually alerted me to the fraudulent activity, within a couple of hours of when it started. Now, having learned that lesson, I keep some emergency money in a separate account. That way if my main account is compromised, once I cancel the card on that account, I can transfer money and still pay my bills and expenses until the fraudulent charges get reversed. For me, personally, I just don't choose to use a credit card and probably never will again (been there, done that, wasn't pretty).

[smo1g]

I went to the bank this morning and canceled my debit card, it was a Mastercard debit card. They said that their fraud center tried to contact me after this transaction occured to see if authorized, however when I changed my number I forgot to give them my new one. If it post then they would refund my money which can take up to 2 weeks.

[savingsmom]

we were on our honeymoon and were using our debit card a bit - i had called them in the AM to do some phone banking - we went to use it in the PM and the bank had put a stop use on my card cause we were using it about 100 - 200 miles from where we lived!!
so after having to find a phone and call them and verify who i was they strightned everything out.

and i HATE the way banks verify things- like who really can tell them the day and amount of thier last withdrawl!
and the thing that irks me about verifycation with anything is - they cant take any info that u offer -so if u tell them even ur SS# to verify u - they cant take it because they didnt ask u for it!?!