Final Straw With Disney Trip!

[satman1962]

OP, did you ask your credit card company WHY and when they issued a card with a different name on it and the address that card was mailed to? This person somehow got that from your credit card company so they must have had some personal information to convice the company that he/she was your mother. Ask the CC company what info they provided. It seems to me that your credit card company is also at fault for giving out that card and they should be able to trace how it happened.

Actually the CC company rarely has anything to do with it. Many thiefs have blank copies of cards and make them up themselves in seconds. Others use cards that have the magnetic strips wiped and replaced with the stolen info. Merchants are advised to check the scanned receipt against the number imprinted on the cards, many times they wont match but it is often not noticed by a busy clerk.

Identity theft is rampant everywhere.. to the OP, we should all be diligent, not only at WDW!

 

[crzy4mickey]

a friend of mine had things stolen right out of her room at PC. The kids brought their video games, dvd player and movies for the ride down. They left the dvd player and PSP's in the safe always but left the videos and the games out. On the first day they were missing a game, a couple days later they were missing a movie. They went to the front desk to complain and they basically didn't want to know anything. They were treated like they were the criminals saying her kids missplaced these items. I know kids do at times buy they left all the kids games etc in the nightstand drawer. So they went back to the room to search again. They looked under beds, in the covers all the drawers etc. nothing. The next day another couple was complaining at the front desk about something missing. They exchanged stories and both parties decided to call the police. I agree things can happen anywhere but I've been hearing more and more about things being stolen out of rooms. It's almost impossible to carry everything with you or lock it up in the safe. They really need to screen their employees better. I hope you find the person responsible.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

NEVER leave your valuable stuff out in a hotel room. Any hotel room. Even a Disney hotel room. People steal stuff. If it's not in the safe and it disappears, the hotel has no liability unless you can prove it was taken by a hotel employee. It is NOT impossible to carry it with you or lock it up, or at least store your stuff out of sight when you leave the room (a lot of hotel room thefts occur when thieves appropriate something that is visible and easy to grab). Most resorts have a safe at the front desk as well as the room safe.

And the OP should call the police and report the credit card theft. They can no doubt find out who was working that desk at that resort on that particular day. Of course there are many ways for thieves to appropriate credit card numbers.

Do you just want to be ignorant to things and not know they're happening? I sure as heck don't! If I had known there was this kind of criminal activity going on at SSR, I would have NEVER stayed there.

Nothing you have posted constitutes proof that SSR is criminally liable for anything that happened.

 

[Carrieannew]

I dont mean to jump on the flame train But come on. Why would your mother allow you or your sister to charge with her card. And then give her id to you to show the CM. First of all if they are checking ID. How the heck is a little girl bringing a license over acceptable form of ID. She is still not your mother .. signing the receipt. Come on.

 

[tinkwdw47]

Warning for Disney go-ers! I posted last week about our car being broken into and over $4000 worth of stuff stolen, many of you lashed out that this was our fault and Disney was not at fault and this had nothing to do with them, their employees, etc.

Well let me share the latest development with you. On our last day there just before we left, we went to the gift shop in SSR to purchase stamps and a Mickey for my sister. My mom gave me her credit card to use while she was speaking with the manager over being robbed, etc. and while she was checking out. The employee at the gift shop threw a fit for my mom’s ID and my sister went to retrieve that and the employee kept the card the entire time until my sister came back with sufficient ID, that’s fine, I understand. I explained to the girl we were very frustrated because we had been robbed, etc. and she mouthed off that she didn’t make the rules, etc.

To make this frustrating story short- My mom’s card company called her last night, saying her account had been broken into. This card was used ONCE in Florida, that morning. My mom, to make sure it was actually her credit company calling, called them back on the number on the back of her card, and verified.

Her card number was stolen and a new card made with a new name on it, and they charged gas, a meal, and $2400 at Best Buy---- one right down from Disney.

THIS I do consider Disney’s responsibility. This was an employee there, and I am officially disgusted and disappointed in Disney. This is the final straw. When you hire someone, you are putting your trust in them which tells your customers they can trust these people as well.

in 2005 we got robbed in the parking lot of animal kingdom ......we were one of the first ones in the park that morning meaning it was right where employees park.....i still say it was an employee from disney that broke in our van that day...took alot of items and credit cards hidden in my van.....NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING IN VEHICLE...Lesson we learned......so sorry you experienced this and disney did not help at all and cops that came said it happens 100 times a day there.....it's a horrible experience we experienced that day...more like shocked that even in disneyworld there is evil people like that.....they ended up charging gas, perfume....it's a crazy world.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I haven't read about the car theft, but for the cc theft, while it's awful and I feel bad for you, I don't really think you can blame Disney. As others have said, it could happen in any retail establishment. I would expect Disney to cooperate with the police investigation and take action against any employee found to be involved, and maybe review and change policies if that would help, but I don't think it's their fault.

 

[crzy4mickey]

NEVER leave your valuable stuff out in a hotel room. Any hotel room. Even a Disney hotel room. People steal stuff. If it's not in the safe and it disappears, the hotel has no liability unless you can prove it was taken by a hotel employee. It is NOT impossible to carry it with you or lock it up, or at least store your stuff out of sight when you leave the room (a lot of hotel room thefts occur when thieves appropriate something that is visible and easy to grab). Most resorts have a safe at the front desk as well as the room safe.

My friends items were in a drawer in the hotel room...so you can't put stuff in there either. What she had stolen wasn't of great value it's just the point. The expensive stuff was locked in the safe in the room. I've hear of people (on this board) complaining that their phone chargers were stolen from their room at Disney. There has to be some eliment of trust here! Sad to say there isn't!

Some of you may remember a Diser posting a while back how she was engaged at Disney and not being used to having a ring to put back on after her morning ritual she left it by the sink in her room. Got to the park and nearly had a heart attack, ran back to the room and it was GONE! The front desk basically said Oh well but they were so upset they said they were going to call the police if the ring wasn't returned to the room immediatley. Well guess what...the ring was returned and put on the bed, not where she left it and the string she had wrapped around it to keep it tight on her finger was missing. Can't say that wasn't an employee! After hearing about all the stuff that's gone missing I may ask not to have my room cleaned the next time I stay in any hotel room.

 

[Anjelica]

I'm really saddened at some of the responses this user is getting in terms of questioning her motives/integrity. While the employee may or may not have stolen the information I do believe folks on the boards need to be more respectful with their responses.

Some of the items that people have questioned about just seem downright rude (i.e. the magic wand statement or the memorizing of digits, etc. and the three digit code on the back **btw - most transactions purchased in person do NOT require the three digit code on the back).

To give folks some history here I work in the technology field and security. I personally architect these environments, etc. for users. And I was a victim of credit card fraud myself. NUMBER 1 most incorrect statement I hear from folks is that when purchasing items over the internet they are at their MOST vulnerable - this is NOT true. SSN, CC numbers and varying other personal information is, most of the time, stolen from the very databases that companies keep on file. This means if you NEVER use a credit card for online purchases but use it at your local store then you are just as much at risk then say the person who uses theirs online because these companies keep your information.

Now in this OP's particular incident and if you take it at face value. The person/group who got her Mother's CC information did NOT need to have the 3 digit code nor the maiden name, etc. as 1) they weren't ordering online and 2) the fraud took place in person.

I hope that everything gets resolved soon for the OP. I, myself, have not had this type of experience at Disney places nor would I want to as I can understand it would damper my opinion of the trip associated with Disney.

 

[Anjelica]

Actually the CC company rarely has anything to do with it. Many thiefs have blank copies of cards and make them up themselves in seconds. Others use cards that have the magnetic strips wiped and replaced with the stolen info. Merchants are advised to check the scanned receipt against the number imprinted on the cards, many times they wont match but it is often not noticed by a busy clerk.

Identity theft is rampant everywhere.. to the OP, we should all be diligent, not only at WDW!

100% Correct. Credit Companies are rarely involved with type of scheme (i.e. sending out a "new" credit card to a criminal, etc. without knowing).

This is why I am VERY much against atm/debit card combinations that have the visa or mastercard logo. As you know you can use those type of cards as a regular visa or mastercard but in those instances where those are stolen someone actually has direct access to your money dispersements - I have found it to be easier to "clean up fraud" with a non-debit credit card as many times the dispersements are not allocated yet and the credit card company has a full time group working on these types of issues.

 

[libinatorsmom]

I am sorry you had such a horrible Disney expereince... hopfully you have good insurance to cover your losses... break-ins can happen anywhere... I have had family members have thier vehicals broken into in thier own driveways in "safe" communities... it happens... it sucks... With that said... (I think I am understanding your story correctly) I am sorry but to be honest if a 13 year old brought me a credit card to make a purchase (especially at a place like Disney World) I too would want to have the adult card holder come and make the purchase not just the ID --- there seems to me no proof this employee stole the card... and you mother recieved the card in return correct.... there are other ways to steel cc numbers... and if you are saying they made a new card well that takes a lot of effort and this is obviously not a one time thing and there is something very very wrong going on... no doubt you and your family is upset... but you need to relax and deal with it... and not put the blame on anyone... things happen - identiy theft is huge right now and have had this happen to friends and family members... heck my moms purse was stolen out of her office at her job... which is in a state office building and the theives wrote out checks to buy stuff and other things...

 

[ShellyShell]

This is why I don't want the maids coming in to clean the room when I stay in Hotels. I'll make the bed myself. I don't need clean sheets everyday because I don't get clean sheets at home everyday. If I need extra towels or whatever I'll just ask for those when I see the cleaning lady on my floor. I would seriously have to hurt someone if some things went missing out of my room.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I dont mean to jump on the flame train But come on. Why would your mother allow you or your sister to charge with her card. And then give her id to you to show the CM. First of all if they are checking ID. How the heck is a little girl bringing a license over acceptable form of ID. She is still not your mother .. signing the receipt. Come on.

!
Why is it 'acceptable' for a thirteen-year-old, and a person the age of the OP, to use a credit card that was OBVIOUSLY not issued to either of them?

 

[kaytieeldr]

in 2005 we got robbed in the parking lot of animal kingdom ......we were one of the first ones in the park that morning meaning it was right where employees park.....

Are you sure? I'm relatively certain that Cast Members don't get to park anywhere near the parks - either there are further-out lots, or they're bused in from a lot in an entirely different location.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Thanks, Heth!

I, for one, am glad to be reminded to be even more careful! I also
agree with ShellyShell; I really prefer to not have a cleaning service.
We always make up our beds ourselves too.

I would love good ideas to help prevent any type of theft. I'm open
to any good tips, and I'm VERY happy to learn from others' misfortune
without having to learn things personally.

 

[Jaklackus]

Boys and girls as others have told you this type of thing happens all of the time....everywhere. When I worked at a bank it would happen to people traveling abroad and to students on spring break, heck it even happened to me somewhere along the way during my very boring not particularly enjoyable day to day errands. I woke up one morning to see $700 in charges in Italy(the country..not Epcot) on my debit card....was it the pizza place? McDonalds? Wal Mart? the grocery store? the gas station? Perhaps someone still had my bank card information from a trip I took to Disney months before orthe long weekend in the Berkshires, how many times did I let that card walk away with a waitress?.....the problem with this type of theft is that I will never ever know what happened....I can only appreciate the fact that my bank was able to stop it and reverse the charges so I would not suffer the loss.

As far as transferring information to another card? Happens all of the time.... I caught one working at the bank. Card did not look right(they are probably much better today) and this man did not have an account with the bank and wanted a rather large cash advance, I called the credit card company to verify ...the credit card company wanted me to process...I pressed the issue during this time the man requested his card back and left....then the credit card company called the actual card holder and put a block on the number that was floating around out there. The man with the stolen card was hitting one branch after another..I didn't stop him but I was able to warn the other branches and the next one at least kept the card while he ran off.

The important thing to keep in mind is that while Disney is a magical place ...it attracts people ...lots of people...and there is A LOT of money flying around as people relax and stop paying attention....Disney guests(central FL tourists) are prime pickins' for scam artists and thieves..yes they break into cars, they break into rooms, the steal wallets, purses, strollers, camera bags, etc etc etc.

Cameras, camcorders, cell phones, ipods, hand held game systems and laptops are almost guaranteed to be traveling with any typical American family along with cash, several credit and debit cards...that's a pretty good haul without a lot of effort.

 

[Linzybrooke]

Employers don't always know exactly what their Employees do. They cannot be monitored 24/7, and even if they were things would happen. It is not Disney's fault that their Employee stole from you. All they can do is counsel and/or terminate that employee, they are not liable to you for your loss. That is the way of the world, not the way of the Disney World.

Disney does what they can to recruit the right people for the job, just like any other employer. You can recruit, interview, reference check and hire someone you think is going to be fabulous, and the next thing you know you catch them taking money from the till. It happens. It is unfortunate, but it happens. Every single time you hand your credit card to a waiter you are putting yourself at risk, as the card is going out of your sight. It doesn't mean the waiter is going to copy the card, but they have the means to do so. The only way this could have been prevented would have been for you to have her cancel the transaction and hand the card back until the id was retrieved, then have it rung up again.

I'm sorry that this happened to you, but it is not the fault of Disney, it is the fault of the employee who was dishonest.

 

[TripTime]

Wow!!! What a hot thread this is. First let me say that I am sorry about all the problems you have had.There is many different opinions here and many I agree with. Even though it wasn't the smartest thing to leave valuables in the car, it still hurts to have something stolen.I agree with others about this not being Disney's fault. It could have happened anywhere.As for the cc, you would assume it is a Disney employee, but to make an accusation without proof is wrong. Rather than lash out at you or Disney I think I will use this thread for my upcoming trip to Disney. I will keep valuables locked up and out of sight. I will keep my eyes on my credit card at all times. This is stuff we should be doing anyways but at a place like Disney it is real easy to become distracted.

 

[barb_a]

i agree ... this *is* a hot thread!

One question that I have is .. it seems odd that they'd let y'all use the credit card, and go get your mom's drivers license. I mean if someone stole the whole wallet, they would likely have stolen the drivers license too, and without your mom and the right "face" on th elicense, who was to proove that
no one had stolen the card and license

Bottom line is .. if you don't have a good time during your vacation at Disney ... you probably shouldn't go there again soon. We work WAY to hard in our lives to have rotten vacation .. they are meant to rest our bodies and rejuevenate our souls!

However ... bad things can happen *anywhere*. I've BEEN on trips, that i truly felt uncomfortable, and have told my husband we're never going back to that place again. (i.e., a driving trip down to Florida and we stopped at Statesville NC - and a young man pulled a knife on his GF in the booth behind us. It was pretty scary! (I think Statesville is also the place i saw on CNN recently where the KFC manager was wrestling with the burglar who tried to shoot him in the head!) Now .. i'm certain that this isn't an overall picture of Statesville ... however the experience we had was enough to get us to CHOOSE to stop elsewhere when we are driving.

If (insert your choice of bad things here) at the Grocery store, perhaps I shouldn't ever grocery shop again? Or go to Sea World?

Your experience is a good reminder to us all to be wary consumers and safety conscious ... WHEREVER we are (and that includes WDW and US)

 

[Brit17]

I'm sorry for all the problems you experienced on your trip ... how terrible ... but through your post, thank you for reminding us to always keep our guard up against identity theft no matter where we may be ... I myself admit that I was a little naive before reading this thread that there are actually hand-held scanners that can steal a cc's barcode info so fast and inconspicuously ... very scary indeed

I wonder, when at WDW, would it be safer to just use your room key to charge all your purchases instead of using your actual cc everytime you make a purchase, pay for dinner, etc.? .... I know the resort's front desk will still have your original cc info on file, but this way your actual cc was only handled by one person instead of many different people ... just wondering ...

 

[parker1877]

I am Detective with a city police department and have worked fraud cases, so I know a "little" about this subject. It is very possible someone from within Disney stole her number and made a fake card. I love disney, but lets be real. They have how many employees? Some are going to be bad apples, thats just the harsh truth. Tourists are a great target for theives. I am very sorry to the poster for all that happened. Did your bank give your money back? Usually when this happend the bank pay back the victim, and thus the bank becomes the victim. Banks do not prosecute unless it is ALOT of money stolen. This way, the crooks get away and continue to get away wth it.