Disputing unauthorized charges on debit card?

[MainStMandy]

Has anyone had experience with this...apparently I haven't had enough bad luck lately but I just checked my bank account to learn that my landlord charged my debit card rent a whole week early. Not only did they bounce my account but now there is $200 in overdraft fees!!

I contacted the bank to dispute the charge as my landlords office is closed on Sunday. The bank told me to contact my landlord first and they are responsible for reimbursing me the overdraft fees!!! I can't believe it. It's practically the same thing as if a card was stolen. I am reporting unauthorized charges and the bank won't do ONE thing!

How does your bank handle unauthorized charges??

 

[corndog]

Has anyone had experience with this...apparently I haven't had enough bad luck lately but I just checked my bank account to learn that my landlord charged my debit card rent a whole week early. Not only did they bounce my account but now there is $200 in overdraft fees!!

I contacted the bank to dispute the charge as my landlords office is closed on Sunday. The bank told me to contact my landlord first and they are responsible for reimbursing me the overdraft fees!!! I can't believe it. It's practically the same thing as if a card was stolen. I am reporting unauthorized charges and the bank won't do ONE thing!

How does your bank handle unauthorized charges??

They should give you a form to dispute the unauthorized charge from your landlord.

Has the charged actually cleared (did they pay it), or is it still pending?

This happened to us recently with our Disney Visa Card. They took the payment twice and it wiped out our checking. I called and they said they would send me a form to dispute. I then went into my branch first thing Monday morning and they were able to reverse the charge (because it hadn't cleared), and the bank refunded all the fees because it wasn't our fault.

 

[MainStMandy]

They should give you a form to dispute the unauthorized charge from your landlord.

Has the charged actually cleared (did they pay it), or is it still pending?

This happened to us recently with our Disney Visa Card. They took the payment twice and it wiped out our checking. I called and they said they would send me a form to dispute. I then went into my branch first thing Monday morning and they were able to reverse the charge (because it hadn't cleared), and the bank refunded all the fees because it wasn't our fault.

It actually cleared. I don't check my account every day because I have rarely been using it...so I thought I knew how much was in the account. They made the charge on the 23rd. I am just surprised they wouldn't do ANYTHING. I have been thinking of changing banks anyway and this is the last straw.

 

[Imzadi]

What the heck bank are you with? I have had to call twice for my debit check card, which with most banks do NOT have the usual protections that credit cards do, and twice they reversed the charges completely and reissued a new card number. Whew!

If you called on a Sunday, I'm thinking you reached <ahem> an "overseas customer service rep." I suggest you call your local bank tomorrow, and ask to speak to a supervisor. Don't say the landlord charged you early, say it is an unauthorised charge and you want to dispute it. Just because someone had your card number before does NOT mean they can simply charge to it again.

If this is going to be a problem with your landlord in the future, I suggest using a debit check card number with him where if the funds simply aren't in your account, he can't charge you. Make sure it has no overdraft protection - or, like now, they will charge your account & you will be charged the bank fees. OR, use citibank. They give virtual one time use credit card numbers, in which you can list the amount to be charged & prevent the number from being charged again.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

Our bank has instantly credited us the disputed amount based on a phone call and requires us to file a dispute in writing within a certain period of time. While the dispute is working its way through the process, we have use of the money. When the dispute settled, they sent us a letter saying the credit was permanent and apologized for the inconvenience.

You should get a new bank. Our bank is USAA which is limited to members with ties to the military. I love this bank.

 

[LindaG4458]

This is one of the reasons that I don't let anyone directly debit my account.

My credit union offers free bill paying services. I authorize them to either directly transfer a payment of, or issue a check for, items I want to pay.

If the vendor cannot receive direct transfers a check is actually issued several days before the "payment date" that you indicate. The money is not debited until that date. I have several payments that are due monthly and pay them automatically.

It's a great system and I have had no problems at all with it. Maybe your new bank would offer a similar service.

 

[C.Ann]

Why does your landlord have the ability to charge anything to your debit card at all? I'm not understanding this..

 

[MainStMandy]

What the heck bank are you with? I have HSBC and had to call twice for my debit check card, which with most banks do NOT have the usual protections that credit cards do, and twice they reversed the charges completely and reissued a new card number. Whew!

If you called on a Sunday, I'm thinking you reached <ahem> an "overseas customer service rep." I suggest you call your local bank tomorrow, and ask to speak to a supervisor. Don't say the landlord charged you early, say it is an unauthorised charge and you want to dispute it. Just because someone had your card number before does NOT mean they can simply charge to it again.

If this is going to be a problem with your landlord in the future, I suggest using a debit check card number with him where if the funds simply aren't in your account, he can't charge you. Make sure it has no overdraft protection - or, like now, they will charge your account & you will be charged the bank fees. OR, use citibank. They give virtual one time use credit card numbers, in which you can list the amount to be charged & prevent the number from being charged again.

The thing is, I never told them they could charge my rent with the card. I used it last month to pay rent and that's it. Even if they used it without my consent, at least if it was on the 1st when rent was due I wouldn't have bounced the account.

Luckily the landlord has released me from my lease and I am moving out in November. I am just frustrated that I have to deal with this and the bank isn't doing a darn thing.

BTW, I have Bank of America.

Our bank has instantly credited us the disputed amount based on a phone call and requires us to file a dispute in writing within a certain period of time. While the dispute is working its way through the process, we have use of the money. When the dispute settled, they sent us a letter saying the credit was permanent and apologized for the inconvenience.

You should get a new bank. Our bank is USAA which is limited to members with ties to the military. I love this bank.

That's how i thought the processs went. I am leaving for a work trip this week (10 days) and when I get back I am finding a new bank.

 

[MainStMandy]

Why does your landlord have the ability to charge anything to your debit card at all? I'm not understanding this..

I used it last month. I was so busy at work and I realized it was the 5th and I hadn't mailed a check. BUT, I never told them or asked them to use it again. I explained that I wanted to use it because I forgot to mail a check.

 

[Imzadi]

The thing is, I never told them they could charge my rent with the card. I used it last month to pay rent and that's it. Even if they used it without my consent, at least if it was on the 1st when rent was due I wouldn't have bounced the account.

That IS what I said above. Just because someone had your card number before does NOT mean they can simply charge to it again.

According to my bank, when they do an investigatioon for unauthorized charges, the burden of proof is on the one charging. They have to supply some written evidence, like a signed agreement that you are authorizing the charge (or on web sites, a web site shopping cart picture that shows you actually made a purchase.) They can't simply use an excuse of, "Oh, she told me over the phone, or used it last month, so I charged again." Otherwise they could say you authorized them to charge a Ferrari.

 

[MainStMandy]

That IS what I said above. Just because someone had your card number before does NOT mean they can simply charge to it again.

According to my bank, when they do an investigatioon for unauthorized charges, the burden of proof is on the one charging. They have to supply some written evidence, like a signed agreement that you are authorizing the charge (or on web sites, a web site shopping cart picture that shows you actually made a purchase.) They can't simply use an excuse of, "Oh, she told me over the phone, or used it last month, so I charged again." Otherwise they could say you authorized them to charge a Ferrari.

That's exactly what I thought. When I asked the bank rep "You won't help me?" She said "Oh no, we will help you. But you need to contact your landlord first and then we will see if they reverse the charge." When I asked about the overdraft fees caused by the charge she informed me I would need to ask the landlord to reimburse me for that. I hate Bank of America.

 

[C.Ann]

I would be furious if my landlord did that!! As soon as that office opened, I would be right in his face - and considering you never authorized this second transaction, I would be contacting the police to see if he had broken the law..

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thye probably did it on purpose since you are moving out

 

[lovesmurfs]

That's exactly what I thought. When I asked the bank rep "You won't help me?" She said "Oh no, we will help you. But you need to contact your landlord first and then we will see if they reverse the charge." When I asked about the overdraft fees caused by the charge she informed me I would need to ask the landlord to reimburse me for that. I hate Bank of America.

I've not heard one good think about BofA. When I worked in hotel front office management, I often had to charge "no-shows". The burden of proof was on us. If someone disputed the charge, the credit card company would reverse the charges automatically (called a chargeback) and then, when I proved the charge was valid, they would post the payment back to my account.

I think you got a lazy rep -- a disputed charge, whether or not you've done business with the one who debited your account -- is still a disputed charge. Have you tried calling back and talking to another rep?

 

[MainStMandy]

I would be furious if my landlord did that!! As soon as that office opened, I would be right in his face - and considering you never authorized this second transaction, I would be contacting the police to see if he had broken the law..

I called the office but got some after hours line...I felt bad cause I was so upset and the guy had NO idea what I was talking about. I already emailed her but will be on the phone the second they open in the morning. I can't imagine it isn't agains the law to do something like this

thye probably did it on purpose since you are moving out

Part of the agreement with them regarding breaking the lease was to pay back July's rent which I got for free signing a 13 month lease. BUT regardless I only authorized one charge and that was last month. So no matter their reasoning it is WRONG.


I just tried calling BoA again but the call center is closed. This is just infuriating...to me it's the same as if someone stole my card and used it. NOT AUTHORIZED.

 

[Imzadi]

That's exactly what I thought. When I asked the bank rep "You won't help me?" She said "Oh no, we will help you. But you need to contact your landlord first and then we will see if they reverse the charge." When I asked about the overdraft fees caused by the charge she informed me I would need to ask the landlord to reimburse me for that. I hate Bank of America.

This sounds like another fancy way for the banks to have their cake & eat it too. After what we've seen with the banks the last few weeks, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the banks are out for themselves.

If you do what this person suggested and go to your landlord first and they reverse the charges, in essence this would be the same as you going to Target, buying something, later returning it, and Target reversing the charge. Yes, YOU'D be responsible for the bank fees this way because you have no dispute logged or evidence saying it was an unauthorized charge.

March into the BANK tomorrow and make sure you push to file a charge dispute. It should be up to the bank to reverse the charge, NOT your landlord. If they say again you should speak to him first, imply he's violent, and you can't speak to him. AND that it's the BANK'S job to do the investigating. Since the BANK determines that the charge is fraudulent, then you'd have a leg to stand on that the bank fees should be reversed. You're being charged for a charge that never should have been made.

And, yes, I'd also change banks after this, whichever way it goes.

 

[Ilovemylife]

Since it's your DEBIT card and not your credit card (as the thread title states), I doubt you'll have much recourse. Credit cards have much better protection when it comes to recouping your money. Debit cards don't have hardly any.

And the landlord is probably charging you for the month's rent you owe them.

 

[MainStMandy]

Since it's your DEBIT card and not your credit card (as the thread title states), I doubt you'll have much recourse. Credit cards have much better protection when it comes to recouping your money. Debit cards don't have hardly any.

And the landlord is probably charging you for the month's rent you owe them.

That is true, it's my debit card.

But regardless, I didn't authorize any charges. They don't have to the right to do so just beause they happen to have my debit card numbers.

 

[Ilovemylife]

That is true, it's my debit card.

But regardless, I didn't authorize any charges. They don't have to the right to do so just beause they happen to have my debit card numbers.

If you owe them money, I think they do.

 

[wall*e2008]

I remember reading your lease breaking thread. On there you stated that you had to pay the free month that you got with the lease. I suspect this is the free month's rent and that you will owe rent again next week.