Debit/Credit Card Warning

**Mrs. Piggy Bank** · 04-22-2010, 10:49 PM

Just wanted to share what happened to me recently. I helped a friend pay her satellite bill with my credit/debit card back in November. I am not on the contract with her and she is not on my banking account. I don't know why, but she began disputing the bills they were sending her. So she had them shut the satellite off. They hit my credit/debit card for $600!!!!! According to this company, they said if I gave authorization one time for a payment, that allowed them into my account for any future bills! I have called my bank and forwarded the necessary paperwork & my bank is fighting this for me, thank goodness. But I just wanted to give everyone here a heads up.

**Palooka** · 04-22-2010, 11:30 PM

OMG! What company was this? That doesn't sound legal to me.

**frugalfranny** · 04-23-2010, 12:44 AM

Thank you for the heads up.

This is terrible that you have to mess with this..........please keep us posted on the outcome........very interesting and like Palooka, I would be curious to know if this can be done legally. YEOW!!

Good luck......but at least you have your bank working for you.

**frugal is fun** · 04-23-2010, 08:20 AM

I tried to help out a friend anonomously about a year ago and the utility company wouldn't even talk to me. They said I needed permission from the account holder to make a payment. Honestly I was shocked, I thought they would have taken the money any way they could get it.

**Darlene** · 04-23-2010, 08:44 AM

Ouch! Glad you have your bank going to battle for you & hope it gets resolved asap. Thanks for letting us know!

I'm feeling more and more that the less info I give out to just about anyone is a good thing. Not being paranoid, just being more alert & cautious.

**Liane** · 04-23-2010, 09:43 AM

Wow. That is messed up. I hope it all works out for you.

**Josephhgoins** · 04-23-2010, 10:54 AM

Several years ago, my mother ran out of checks. So I deposited the cash into my account and then wrote a check for the mortgage. A few weeks later I got NSF notices, several of them.

I went to the local branch and they had messed up and when they sent my mom her new payment book had left out a payment. To make up for it they ran my check through my account TWICE!

I was livid, and it did no good at all. Luckily I live in a small town so I would see the person who made the error and the branch manager out and would use every opportunity to show my hostility. I was finally able to get them to waive the NSF fees.

Mom started checking her account and guess what. Although they ran the check through my account twice they only credited her account ONCE!!

My sister works at another branch and was able to get it resolved. It took her and her boss several months to do it though.

When people ask now, I offer to help them get a money order or prepaid visa from Wal-mart.

**Mrs. Piggy Bank** · 04-23-2010, 11:03 AM

I had deposited the amount for the bill in my account when I made the payment for her. But that was a one time deal back in November. This month, I had no idea until I saw the transaction. And the company is Direct TV. The fraud department where I bank say they are one of the worst companies for this. I agree with helping with a prepaid walmart card now! LOL Live and learn I guess.

**StaceyS** · 04-23-2010, 11:09 AM

My boyfriend doesn't have a bank account, and I have offered to help him this way and he always refuses because he's worried something like this would happen. Thanks for the heads up!

**Vanilla** · 04-23-2010, 05:10 PM

Wow, is that legal? Without your written authorization, what they did was almost like 'robbing', I seriously doubt they could stand a day in the court.
So glad your bank is on your side. Hope this will resolve quickly.
Thank you for the heads up.

**nodmicks** · 04-23-2010, 07:13 PM

Wow that is awful! I had no idea they could do that.

**jas** · 04-23-2010, 08:12 PM

Seriously thanks for the heads up on this practice! I would have never thought something like that could happen. If I ever help someone I won't write a check or pay with my debit card for sure.

**mek42** · 04-24-2010, 03:57 PM

If they're in the wrong, would it be worth the small fee to take them to small claims court? Use the amount they stole from you as the basic judgment amount and then go right up to the limit for punitive damages.

In NY the max claim is $5,000, so ask for $600 damages plus any interest or fees this theft caused, then also seek $4,400 in punitive damages. If they don't bother to send a representative to court, I think the judge has to rule in your favor.

I'm not a lawyer, this isn't legal advice.

**NikoSan999** · 04-24-2010, 05:51 PM

Wow...I'll have to remember this. I never liked Direct anyway but they will probably all do this if they can get away with it. Don't think it's legal tho...think I would persue it like someone else said just for being a pain in the butt.

**Thevail** · 04-25-2010, 11:29 PM

The legality of it depends on fairly obscure wording..

Technically... a person who pays a portion of an overdue debt is "acknowledging the debt". That's one of the favorite tricks of bill collection agencies is to say they'll "settle" for pennies on the dollar and get you to send them any money, even $5.. then you've "acknowledged the debt".. etc.

Usually this only refers to the person in whose name the debt was incurred, but depending on how the contract was originally worded..