Topic: Credit Cards

[Hyena]

If you use a credit card, and who doesn't - read on:

SCENE 1 A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker.
Hmmmmm."
He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay -- all cards were in place. A few weeks later his credit card bill came -- a whooping bill of $14.000! He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. "No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep -- you guessed it -- a switch had been made. An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards. Verdict: The credit card issuer
said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000!
Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!

SCENE 2 A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just
take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.
She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man. All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the
counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words -- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology.
Verdict:
Make sure the credit cards in your wallet at yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, thinking that it has to be theirs. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME
IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

SCENE 3 Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account. The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it flat on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure. While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a
picture. He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. It
then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card. Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I
probably would never have known what happened. Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.
All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use
your card. Be aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days. When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off. Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there. I have already been a victim of credit card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that
they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.
FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF. LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!

I did not write this.  I took it from another board to let people know what is going on.

[BigMike]

Wow that's pretty crazy..

[Willy Mammoth]

Big Mike, as I sit here reading this I see on the invoice for my gears, there is my credit card number and exp date. It would be wise to only show the last 4 and not the exp date just in case the package gets in the wrong hands. 

[UNBREAKABLE]

I'd went back inside and asked to speak to a manager. Told him what happened, and then swiped the kids cell phone to see how many people he had scammed 

[BigMike]

Big Mike, as I sit here reading this I see on the invoice for my gears, there is my credit card number and exp date. It would be wise to only show the last 4 and not the exp date just in case the package gets in the wrong hands.

We should do that for all of the orders that are printed out, but we at least need to keep a copy of the cards on file locally. But yes, I agree it would be best to protect the numbers on the packages that go out, but I don't know if our invoicing program has that built in feature or not..

[BLACKDOG]

It should, most of them allow you to show as much of the card number as you need, and you should be able to take the expiration date off alll together.  I agree, something should be done about it, because we had an issue at one of my jobs with something similar

[UNBREAKABLE]

All-Pro sent all my info to a guy in another part of the state! He called me and told me what he had and asked me if I wanted him to send it to me or to destroy it. I told him if he didn't mind to just destroy it. He was very cool about it(military guy). I really did appereciate it. I called all-pro and I can't remember who I talked but whoever it was never really appologized for it. He was saying,"Oh um this place is just a wreck and it got stuck to someone elses order"  You can't be making mistakes like that. Your billing dept. should not be in that bad of shape to the point of where you are putting credit card info into the wrong hands.

Me All-pro

[Willy Mammoth]

I'd went back inside and asked to speak to a manager. Told him what happened, and then swiped the kids cell phone to see how many people he had scammed

I hope they FIRED the punk and had the PD pick him up.

[kneedownnate]

I'm fairly anal about the use and handling of my cards, but this could undoubtedly still happen to me too.  Guess it's time to start paying even more attention.

[raybie]

I had fraud on one of mine.  never lost the card and never had it switch out.  just used it for gas and the occational resturant.  somehow they cloned it and drained my bank account.  The bank was a PITA to deal with and it took 6+ months to get it cleared up.  bounced a ton of checks.  the bank investigator said that it is common for people to scan you card when they take it to run it and then later make a false duplicate copy.  got to love the low lifes that mess it up for the rest of us.

[UNBREAKABLE]

As if you didn't know...don't ever sign the back of your card(debit or credit) If you sign it anyone can use it. Instead write "Ask for ID"

[BigMike]

Writing in 'Ask for ID' is a great idea. I've just left mine blank, but now that I think about it, they could just sign it in there own handwriting.

I'm going to write that on mine tonight, thanks-

[guywithuglyyota]

I had an issue with america online UK when I was stationed in England. They refused to cancel my subscription since I could not remember my screename! I had all my other account information bills, etc... took two years for my credit card comapny to finally file a claim against AOL UK  (seperate company from AOL US)  I had to call this company in the middle of the night (time zone) really really long distance and be placed on hold severeal times only to resolve nothing! Ended up telling visa that the charges are not authorized and had to go through some legal stuff, got all my money back (over 300 UK pounds, about $450 US). 

Moral of the story, KEEP all receipts for any recuring purchase on file! Being in the Military I move around a lot so I lose things at times but this company simply would not cancel because of a forgotten  screen name!