The Fraud Chick
Ethics,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 30, 2002
Marcelina, Your credit card company is your employee--you pay them fees to provide you with a service. Sounds to me like you need to fire them. But before you do, call the 800 number on the back of your card and select the dispute option or the billing questions option. When the service representative answers "tell" them that someone is fraudulently charging your card. "Instruct" them to mail you a fraud complaint form immediately. The company will follow your instructions. The biggest mistake consumers make is allowing the their credit card company an option. Credit card companies will always try to place the onus on you so they dont have to absorb the fraud. Your conversation should be proactive, for example: Wrong "I'm calling to ask why I was charged by this company I know nothing about." The credit company will quickly instruct you to call the business and ask them to credit your account. A scam company won't do that, they will continue to charge. Right "I'm calling to complain about some fraudulent charges to my account, please send a fraud complaint form to me immediately." They will send you a fraud complaint form. I suggest you dump your credit card after you get your money back. Their customer service sounds weak and their direction to you is shameless. Good Luck,