Alltel Wireless Alltel keeps taking money out of my bank account. . . Nationwide
In April, my little sister asked me to help replenish minutes on her prepaid Alltel phone. Over the phone, I used my debit card to buy minutes. I continued to this for two months and finally stopped in June, after she got her own banking account. Beginning early this month (three months later), I was beginning to see charges to an Alltel account appearing on my bank statements.
At first I began to suspect my sister, but I called Alltel and customer service rep told me that no charges from my card had been credited to her Alltel account in almost three months. I told her that someone else must be using my card number and she replied that she couldn't do anything about it until I give her the phone number of the person using my card.
I'm seriously trying to understand how this woman expected me to know the number of the person that's stealing from me. I asked if she could pull my card number and see if there are anymore alltel accounts making charges off of my card and she told me no. I find it hard to believe that my credit card number is in their system and they cant find out who's using it. Its already been one month and this person has already stolen more than $50. I have no job and I'm first year college student. Please someone help me.
Qharp
Orangeburg, South Carolina
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Nameless
Braddock,Arizona,
U.S.A.
FCC and proper channels
#3Consumer Suggestion
Fri, November 07, 2008
even if Alltel HAD a way to look up your card number (which I'm sure they're accounting or revenue assurance group does somehow if they picked up the phone to VISA) first of all, it's not their job to call your bank to dispute charges on your card. It's not as simple as calling the vendor and having a charge reversed. You have to go through the proper channels. For instance, if someone used your card to replenish a phone, fill up their gas tank, and buy themselves a meal on the way out of town, and you catch just the first charge, what would happen is that you would need to call your bank. If Alltel reverses that charge, it affects financial statements, stocks, and all sorts of stuff due to reporting. When you dispute it with your bank, it gets reported as it should - on the Bad Debt account. Second, even if they could pull up to see who was using the card, the FCC protects information such as names, account numbers, addresses and such so that the only information Alltel would be able to provide you is the last 4 digits of your card number, the date the payment was processed and the amount. All of which I'm sure you have already. I'm so glad that we all had an educated lesson on the proper ways to do things. Next time if you have an issue, take it up with the FCC. I'm sure they'll be glad to hear the complaint about why Alltel couldn't give you information about YOUR card.
Seriously, who isn't responsible enough to track their own finances?
Bikebryan
Alexandria,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Ignorance of they system.....
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, September 28, 2008
If you have unauthorized charges on your Credit Card, you should NOT be calling the company that the charges are being paid to. You should always call you CC company FIRST. ANY disputes you have will be handled by them.
Alltel was not lying. By law, they are not allowed to reveal any information on any account not in your name or where that acct holder has designated you as an authorized user. Period.
So your problem is not with Alltel. It's with somebody fraudulently using your CC. This is a CIVIL matter.