Beau Peep Notice Board
Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Vulture on April 22, 2008, 06:58:03 AM
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I was checking my bank balance at 5 am this morning only to find some kind person had cleaned out my account and left me with -?87.00. They'd taken ?200 over three days, starting the day my pension went in. Was this good timing or insider information?
I've always considered myself immune from this kind of fraud as I never give my number out to anyone I don't know; I'm very careful keying in my password at the supermarkets and I don't let my card go out of my sight.
The main problem is - who can you contact at five o'clock in the morning? My friends and family are all asleep, the bank is only contactable from 8am to 8pm (unless I have a Gold Visa Card, then it's 24 hour!!). Even when the telephone lines open, it seems there is no dedicated lines for distressed (and broke!) pensioners. I'll probably be held in a queue - call number 93 of 200 other distraught accountholders who have just found out they have been cleaned out.
A slightly lesser problem - I've been with my bank since 1960; why on earth would I give permission for a company to take out three lots of ?200 over three days when I have a ?500 limit. The very fact that the money was taken that way should have made the bank suspicious - hang on, sorry, it's only in films that the bank manager contacts the girl and tells her of unusualy activity in her bank account.
Anyroad up - I've still got another 65 minutes before I can phone the bank and get put on hold.... I suppose I could do some ironing.
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No - I have another hour of waiting. They've given me the number of the fraud line. They get a lie-in. They open at 9 o'clock.
Time to make porridge, I think.
I'm BORED!!
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That must be a worry, Vulch. I'm sure the bank will rectify things once they see there's obviously been fraudulent activity. You could do without the worry, I'm sure.
There is a suspect that springs to mind, but we didn't blame him on Diane's weather thread, so I won't name him here either.
I suppose it's the wrong time to ask if you want to buy a Beau Peep Mug....
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Thanks, Peepmaster.
I looked up who the recipient of my cash was. It appears to be a gambling firm in Austria!
I don't think we can blame the usual suspect in this instance, although he's never posted anything to the detriment of betting.
Beau Peep Mug ....... not at the moment, thanks.
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That's awful, Vulch---I hope things get sorted out quickly.
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I'm sorry to hear of this too Vulch... I'm sure it will be sorted soon though!
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I also am sorry this has happened but I bet it is not sorted quickly and the bank will assume you are guilty until you prove otherwise.
sorry to be negative but I have had dealings with banks befor.
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Apalling! I wish them boils - large, painful ones. The low-down stoopers!
Keep us posted, Vult - if the bank don't help out, we'll send the boys round to persuade them.
So sorry!
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I also am sorry this has happened but I bet it is not sorted quickly and will assume you are guilty until you prove otherwise.
I know you're being a good father, Peter, but that's a bit much.
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Yep, the vermin who did this ought to be hung, drawn and quartered.
Keep us updated on what happens.
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What happens if I do fall victim to credit or debit card fraud?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3256799.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3256799.stm)
The law states that cardholders are not liable for fraudulent transactions as long as the original card is still in their possession.
Any bank or business turning down a refund request is on very shaky legal ground.
The problems arise when a card is stolen or lost and is then used fraudulently.
Under these circumstances according to the terms of the Consumer Credit Act and the Banking Code you are liable for damages up to a maximum of ?50.
However, an Apacs spokesperson said that banks often waive the ?50.
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Yep, the vermin who did this ought to be hung, drawn and quartered.
I agree, except I'd have used the correct word hanged.
I'm also not sure about capital punishment, cartooning, and dismemberment.
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Hdq.png)
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I'm also not sure about capital punishment, cartooning, and dismemberment.
Sounds like the perfect solution to me! Not to mention a new career opportunity.
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dismemberment? Is that where your membership is cancelled?
On a serious note, Vulch, my wife Mel has worked for a bank since the dawn of time and she says that your next move should be to go into your nearest branch and fill out a Disputed Transaction Form. Your bank can't act upon anything until they have written documentation to support your request.
Upon receiving this, your bank has ways and means of tracing and refunding your money.
Your bank has a fraud dept, who have extensive experience in this field.
Do you have internet banking with your financial institution? If so, you can contact them via the web. If not, go on your bank's website anyway, there will be a link for for lost or stolen cards, there should be a service 24/7, 365 days per year.
Mel reckons you will get your money back, but it's a pity that these hurdles have to take up so much time and effort.
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Apalling! I wish them boils - large, painful ones. The low-down stoopers!
Keep us posted, Vult - if the bank don't help out, we'll send the boys round to persuade them.
So sorry!
Actually, Peter and everyone, I know it'll be a lot of inconvenience before it's all over but: no-one died and no blood was spilt. I'm a great believer in what goes around comes around. The people/person who did this will get their/his comeuppance but I'm not going to bring myself down to their level doing it.
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The people/person who did this will get their/his comeuppance but I'm not going to bring myself down to their level doing it.
Yeah, but if you knew who is was, you'd slap 'em.
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dismemberment? Is that where your membership is cancelled?
On a serious note, Vulch, my wife Mel has worked for a bank since the dawn of time and she says that your next move should be to go into your nearest branch and fill out a Disputed Transaction Form. Your bank can't act upon anything until they have written documentation to support your request.
Upon receiving this, your bank has ways and means of tracing and refunding your money.
Your bank has a fraud dept, who have extensive experience in this field.
Do you have internet banking with your financial institution? If so, you can contact them via the web. If not, go on your bank's website anyway, there will be a link for for lost or stolen cards, there should be a service 24/7, 365 days per year.
Mel reckons you will get your money back, but it's a pity that these hurdles have to take up so much time and effort.
I phoned my internet bank this morning. The Fraud department took all the details then, at my request, blocked my card. The lady then tried to order a new card for me but couldn't, because she'd blocked my card. She said I would 'probably be refunded in the next 5 or 6 weeks' but whether the 'probably' refered to the refund or the '5 or 6 weeks' remains unclear. She then suggested I go to my nearest branch of Abbey, with proof of identity, and ask for a new card. At no time did she, or my local branch, ask me to fill in any form.
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The people/person who did this will get their/his comeuppance but I'm not going to bring myself down to their level doing it.
Yeah, but if you knew who is was, you'd slap 'em.
No, I wouldn't. I have a 19 stone body-builder for a son - he can do it!
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Hdq.png)
Mince SO doesn't like being WRONG! (http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/01/getting-hang-of-hung.html)
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I forgot to add the ::)
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Hdq.png)
Mince SO doesn't like being WRONG! (http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/01/getting-hang-of-hung.html)
"Hung, drawn and quartered" is accepted colloquial English in my regional "piss-off-you-annoying-git" dialect.
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Shouldn't there be a comma between 'piss off' and 'you annoying git'?
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Shouldn't there be a comma between 'piss off' and 'you annoying git'?
Quite right, Vulch. Just because you're old and vulnerable to scams, he thinks he can become slovenly when addressing you. ::)
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I also am sorry this has happened but I bet it is not sorted quickly and the bank will assume you are guilty until you prove otherwise.
sorry to be negative but I have had dealings with banks befor.
Sorry I reread this and realised I had missed two words out .it should read better now
My apologise Vulture I did not mean to have a go at you,
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I also am sorry this has happened but I bet it is not sorted quickly and the bank will assume you are guilty until you prove otherwise.
sorry to be negative but I have had dealings with banks befor.
Sorry I reread this and realised I had missed two words out .it should read better now
My apologise Vulture I did not mean to have a go at you,
Can we have a prize for guessing the two words?
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So sorry to hear this Vulture - I too think the bank won't hold you responsible but it is still a worry while they sort it all out.
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What is so annoying is they say it will take five or six weeks to sort it but what are you supposed to live off in the mean time.
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And if you dare to go over your overdraft limit, the daily ?30 letters start immediately.
Oooooh! Don't get me started....... >:(
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She then suggested I go to my nearest branch of Abbey, with proof of identity, and ask for a new card. At no time did she, or my local branch, ask me to fill in any form.
Vulch,
I've learned to my cost that in banking matters, Mel is never wrong. You've basically cancelled your card, that's all. You need to follow it up with something in writing, something with a reference number, a number you can quote when you send irate queries. Somewhere there is a form. Fill it in.
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Shouldn't there be a comma between 'piss off' and 'you annoying git'?
Quite right, Vulch. Just because you're old and vulnerable to scams, he thinks he can become slovenly when addressing you. ::)
Had it BEEN a scam, fair enough. But I'd done nothing to provoke this. I still have the card in my possession. I've never given my bank details to anyone.
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She then suggested I go to my nearest branch of Abbey, with proof of identity, and ask for a new card. At no time did she, or my local branch, ask me to fill in any form.
Vulch,
I've learned to my cost that in banking matters, Mel is never wrong. You've basically cancelled your card, that's all. You need to follow it up with something in writing, something with a reference number, a number you can quote when you send irate queries. Somewhere there is a form. Fill it in.
Thanks. I'll write down all your (Mel's) points and phone the Fraud department again tomorrow.
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Shouldn't there be a comma between 'piss off' and 'you annoying git'?
Quite right, Vulch. Just because you're old and vulnerable to scams, he thinks he can become slovenly when addressing you. ::)
Had it BEEN a scam, fair enough. But I'd done nothing to provoke this. I still have the card in my possession. I've never given my bank details to anyone.
That is scary, Vulch. Has someone maybe compromised your computer? There are highly sophisticated computer experts out there that can do all kinds of malicious things these days.
Maybe Mince will know. He's a highly sophisticated computer expert himself.
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Shouldn't there be a comma between 'piss off' and 'you annoying git'?
Quite right, Vulch. Just because you're old and vulnerable to scams, he thinks he can become slovenly when addressing you. ::)
Had it BEEN a scam, fair enough. But I'd done nothing to provoke this. I still have the card in my possession. I've never given my bank details to anyone.
That is scary, Vulch. Has someone maybe compromised your computer? There are highly sophisticated computer experts out there that can do all kinds of malicious things these days.
Maybe Mince will know. He's a highly sophisticated computer expert himself.
Yeah. But it still doesn't make him a nice person!
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So sorry to hear about this, Vulch. If it's anything like trying to get compensation out of British Airways for lost baggage, I wish you luck
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I still have mixed feelings about British Airways.
When we emigrated, with two babies in tow, the purser on the flight, a little bald man with an unfortunate attitude, made boarding the flight a living hell. He lost his temper, flailed his arms and complained that e had been allowed past check-in with too much baggage.
We tried explaining that with two babies we needed a little more in the way of nappies, bottles, etc than the normal passenger, but he made us unpack and re-pack stuff in front of other passengers.
I was seriously going to hit him, but Mel was muttering to me that I'd get arrested and we wouldn't be allowed on the flight (I was in two minds at that time whether I even wanted to go Oz anyway, but that's another story).
Other passengers were very sympathetic to us, but we were holding up the queue, and unlike other people with babies we had to board last. It was horrible.
On the flight, our older boy became sick and projectile vomited over another passenger (the only one who was forced to sit in our row.). He was also sick on his designated seat. It was swimming in the stuff. My boys can vomit, let me tell you.
The poor passenger, Joao, was a true gentleman, and luckily a professional diplomat. He was an attache to the Portuguese embassy in Canberra. He dismissed his soaked trouser lap as mere bagatelle and insisted that we think no more about it.
The cabin crew did not offer us any cleaning materials, nor any help whatsoever. We had to beg paper towels and as our nappies had been re-packed and sent to the baggage hold, we had no materials of our own. My son sat on the only towel we had been allowed to bring on board, and the smell was rank.
Some years later, when my dad was dying, I had to get back to Scotland p.d.q.
One of the dear friends we have made in Australia had a sister who was very high up in B.A
She arranged for me to get an immediate flight out (within a day) from Oz to the UK at a non-penalty rate and on the way back I found myself upgraded to Business Class. I was sitting next to Geoffrey Hughes (Onslow, Hyacinth Bucket's brother-in-law).
So at the moment, B.A. stand in credit, but think of all the other times we would have flown B.A. instead of KLM, Emirates, Singapore, Royal Brunei, Japan Airlines and others, and all the bad press we have given them over the years because of one little arsehole in 1995.
Vulch, you should send this post to your bank and it may help them refund your money quicker.
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Thanks, DL. As I've said before, when you put it into perspective, no-one died but the inconvenience I have to go through to get everything back the way it was ....... and all because some lazy s*d finds it easier to steal my hard-earned pension than to get a proper job!
I'm lucky. I have sons who are more than willing to give me money to tide me over; what about the really old pensioners that have no-one - how do they manage to cope with this kind of misery. There isn't even the consolation that the perpetrator will be caught and put in the stocks for a week!
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Vulch, you should send this post to your bank and it may help them refund your money quicker.
Malc, I've made a list of all the things I need to ask Abbey and, as soon as I get back from the gym and made myself a cup of coffee, I'll be on the phone! Apparently, if all my blandishments fail, I'm to throw in a comment about reporting this to the police (as it's a crime) and sit back and wait for them to offer to bring me my ?600 personally ....... seemingly, banks don't like the police being brought in because it has to be declared on their shareholders reports and it doesn't look good; I wonder if this is really true? ;D
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If it is (and it sounds quite plausible), then just cut to the chase and do it now. I would.
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I don't know if you read The Sunday Times, but in the Money Section, on the Problems Page, Abbey get lambasted for customer relations and failures pretty much every week.
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She then suggested I go to my nearest branch of Abbey, with proof of identity, and ask for a new card. At no time did she, or my local branch, ask me to fill in any form.
Vulch,
I've learned to my cost that in banking matters, Mel is never wrong. You've basically cancelled your card, that's all. You need to follow it up with something in writing, something with a reference number, a number you can quote when you send irate queries. Somewhere there is a form. Fill it in.
Many thanks, Mel and Malc. I got in touch with the bank. Apparently they have completed the form and they'll be sending it to me in the next day or so for me to sign and return AND they've given me a reference number. So everything you wrote above has been dealt with. I'll just give them a week or two before I start sending the irate letters. ;D ;D ;D
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I don't know if you read The Sunday Times, but in the Money Section, on the Problems Page, Abbey get lambasted for customer relations and failures pretty much every week.
No, I don't read any newspapers (unless I'm in some else's house and I'm bored) and certainly not The Sunday Times - their crossword is way too difficult for me. I'm more of a Sunday Express magazine crossword fillerouter.
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Doing the Times Crossy is more of a case of getting used to it rather than having innate intellectual genius. They compile it a certain way, that's all.
I knew one guy who was a Times Crossword afficionado but in all other walks of life was as thick as pig shit.
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Doing the Times Crossy is more of a case of getting used to it rather than having innate intellectual genius. They compile it a certain way, that's all.
I knew one guy who was a Times Crossword afficionado but in all other walks of life was as thick as pig shit.
Yes, I know. When I was first married my loving husband spent a month of Sundays explaining all this to me, but .........
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Money is withdrawn without the client's knowledge
A bank or building society may be reluctant to admit that money can be withdrawn without the client's permission. It may suggest one of the following three reasons, and allege that the client is responsible:-
? the client used the card but has forgotten
? somebody else used the card and PIN with the client's permission
? somebody else used the card without the client's permission and, due to the client's neglect, obtained the PIN.
If the client discovers that an unauthorised withdrawal has been made, s/he should tell the bank or building society immediately. If someone else uses the card before the client informs the bank or building society that it has been lost, stolen, or someone else knows the PIN, the most the client will have to pay is ?50, unless the bank or building society can show that the client has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, that is, s/he has been grossly negligent. If someone else uses the card details without the client's permission, and the card has not been lost or stolen, the client will not have to pay anything, unless the bank or building society can show that the client has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, that is, s/he has been grossly negligent.
Under the Banking Code, the burden of proving that the client has acted without reasonable care is on the bank or building society, although cooperation from the client is expected.
The Ombudsman has defined gross negligence as 'if not recklessness, something more than ordinary carelessness'. He has also stated that 'it cannot necessarily be inferred from the fact that a fraudster was able successfully to use the card at the first attempt, that the PIN must have been written down, and that the card holder was grossly negligent'.
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Personally, from the very first moment I chose machoman as my password, and 0077 as my pin number, I've resolved to be extremely careful on this issue.
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Money is withdrawn without the client's knowledge
A bank or building society may be reluctant to admit that money can be withdrawn without the client's permission. It may suggest one of the following three reasons, and allege that the client is responsible:-
? the client used the card but has forgotten
? somebody else used the card and PIN with the client's permission
? somebody else used the card without the client's permission and, due to the client's neglect, obtained the PIN.
If the client discovers that an unauthorised withdrawal has been made, s/he should tell the bank or building society immediately. If someone else uses the card before the client informs the bank or building society that it has been lost, stolen, or someone else knows the PIN, the most the client will have to pay is ?50, unless the bank or building society can show that the client has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, that is, s/he has been grossly negligent. If someone else uses the card details without the client's permission, and the card has not been lost or stolen, the client will not have to pay anything, unless the bank or building society can show that the client has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, that is, s/he has been grossly negligent.
Under the Banking Code, the burden of proving that the client has acted without reasonable care is on the bank or building society, although cooperation from the client is expected.
The Ombudsman has defined gross negligence as 'if not recklessness, something more than ordinary carelessness'. He has also stated that 'it cannot necessarily be inferred from the fact that a fraudster was able successfully to use the card at the first attempt, that the PIN must have been written down, and that the card holder was grossly negligent'.
Except....
The card is, and always has been, in my possession.
It was not a 'withdrawal' in the accepted sense of the word.
The number of the card was used to pay this company for goods unspecified (three times!):
CARD PAYMENT TO ADMIRAL SPORTWETTEN ON 2008-04-14
The PIN is only used if you're withdrawing money or paying for something in person.
I'm hoping the letter the bank is sending me will throw some light on how the thieves managed to get my number AND the 3-digit number on the back.
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Coincidentally, whilst attempting a withdrawal, my card was eaten by the cash point today....
I smell a conspiracy.
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Typical. I told 'em "Mince", not "Malc"!
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UPDATE:
Yesterday I received this months' bank statement - with ?100 in charges for letting my bank account get overdrawn!
That little notification arrived quicker than the 'form' they were sending me three weeks ago so I could apply for my money back; the money the bank allowed to be stolen from my account.
I phoned Customer Service and explained what had happened (you're right, Malc, there's going to be a lot of irate phone calls!) and while the guy was waffling about how it wasn't his department, I told him I didn't want him to do anything but tell me the address of the Ombudsman so I could get them to deal with this. With that, he said he would deal with it now, he'd take off the charges, make sure that if I got overdrawn anytime during the rest of the year, charges would be waived, and he'd chase up the missing form!
I'll take a little trip to the bank later today and see if this has been done!
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The Ombudsman DOES work, we have invoked the telecom Ombudsman here in Australia recently and received a grovelling reply from our telco supplier, the incompetent bastards.
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They most certainly do; just the threat of him/them got a jobsworth off his bum to actually do something!
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The Ombudsman DOES work, we have invoked the telecom Ombudsman here in Australia recently and received a grovelling reply from our telco supplier, the incompetent bastards.
I wish British service-companies had more accurate business-names like that. It would help when deciding who to use.
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:D :D :D
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I wish British service-companies had more accurate business-names like that. It would help when deciding who to use.
That made me chuckle as well. :D
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me three ;D
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Mind you, having a business name of the incompetent bastards with no capitals is rather stylish.
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The Ombudsman DOES work, we have invoked the telecom Ombudsman here in Australia recently and received a grovelling reply from our telco supplier, the incompetent bastards.
I wish British service-companies had more accurate business-names like that. It would help when deciding who to use.
;D I like it! :D
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Perhaps we should frame it or something.
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You could always present me with an award.
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Yes, a medal of some sort.
How about an exquisitely carved piece of dung, shaped to resemble a cow pat?
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Why would I want something that resembled you?
No, I'd rather have bottle of Scotch or something.
Must go and watch the second half of the Football now.
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UPDATE:
Yesterday I received this months' bank statement - with ?100 in charges for letting my bank account get overdrawn!
That little notification arrived quicker than the 'form' they were sending me three weeks ago so I could apply for my money back; the money the bank allowed to be stolen from my account.
I phoned Customer Service and explained what had happened (you're right, Malc, there's going to be a lot of irate phone calls!) and while the guy was waffling about how it wasn't his department, I told him I didn't want him to do anything but tell me the address of the Ombudsman so I could get them to deal with this. With that, he said he would deal with it now, he'd take off the charges, make sure that if I got overdrawn anytime during the rest of the year, charges would be waived, and he'd chase up the missing form!
I'll take a little trip to the bank later today and see if this has been done!
He lied; I'm now down by a further ?100 AND I still haven't had a form!
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Vulture, I just wanted to tell you that I hope things get straightened out soon. It's awful when something like this happens.
Recently a friend of mine learned that someone had made copies of her checks and driver's license. The police believe a camera phone was used to snap pictures of a check she wrote at a grocery store and then to get a quick picture of her driver's license as she handed it to the clerk. The other possibility is that it's an inside job at the store. The criminal duplicated her checks and had a fake license made with someone else's photo on it. Over $2000 worth of checks were written on her account. The FBI is now involved because her identity has been stolen and they believe it's a ring as the checks showed up in another state. She has had some lucky breaks in the case though. Unfortunately she still has to get a court-order signed by the judge in order to have her driver's license number changed.
I hope you will get some lucky breaks in your case.
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I'm sorry to hear this but I did say earlier what banks are like.
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Not the update we'd been hoping for, Vulch. Awful.
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I'm sorry to hear this but I did say earlier what banks are like.
Yes, why didn't you listen to Peter's advice once the horse had bolted?
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Sorry to hear about this, Vulture. Very frustrating and happening too frequently these days. Sounds like it's time to start writing letters, or is the bank like our telco company here in Oz (one of Malc's "incompetent bastards", no doubt the same one as it's the main one) who don't have a physical mailing address either on their website or in the phone book? I ended up getting one off the back of a bill, because I want to have something rather complicated done, and when I tried to explain to the Indian person on the telephone, she cut me off. Email no good either - one of those form filling things, so have decided to write to them, so it's clear which line I want shut down and which I want to keep, basically. Know if I do it over the phone (once past voice recognition thingy which doesn't understand my accent) they'll cut the wrong one off and we'll be without internet access - horrors!
We've had a couple of incidences of credit card fraud, both with Amex who dealt with it and refunded pretty quickly (so they should the amount they charge). First was when other half was in Melbourne on business and took a taxi to the airport. A month or so later, a charge appeared on the amex card for a taxi in Melbourne when he hadn't been near the place. We had two or three more before they finally stopped. Don't know whether they actually caught him/her or they thought that was enough. Then had two charges for adult websites and when they traced it, it was coming out of somewhere in the US. Not sure about that one, as a while later, also discovered a charge for a subscription to an adult website charged to my Visa card (bank not so quick to refund in those days without a thorough investigations and have to pay charges if found not to be fraud, so thought I'd better investigate). Turned out to be 13 year old son - temptation too much and had "borrowed" my card details to sign up. :-[
I hope it all gets sorted soon, Vulture. They ought to refund the money immediately - not as if they couldn't afford it. I've discovered too that loyalty to banks means very little these days. Time was you walked into your branch, saw the manager and he sorted out your loan/account, whatever. Now things have to be sent to Melbourne, Sydney, wherever, where they proceed to lose them and blame each other. Still, it was probably a bit too personal in the "old" days - like the time the bank manager stopped my father in the street (of a small country town) and said in a loud voice, "Your daughter has overdrawn her account by 9 pounds!" I was 20 at the time.
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Update:
Today I received the form. And it only took one email and four phone calls. There's a slight problem; the letter insists that I send the form back within seven days - the letter is dated 23rd May and it was received today, 29th -the reply is not going to make the deadline!
Oh, and the letter is addressed to Mr Vulch, NOT the name on my bank card, bank statements or cheques: have we reverted to the times when only the Master of the House had a bank account? ???
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Vulture, you are not alone.
I would like to tell everyone that this same thing happened to me and in England. I discovered this only yesterday when checking my bank balance against the bank's automated service. My bank statement was through August 12 and I checked the automated service on August 27. There was a huge discrepancy. I could account for only about $850 outstanding during that two week period.
While I was in England visiting Mince, I made three withdrawals from ATMs, each in a different city. The withdrawals were made from a well-known British bank that my bank in America told me to use so that I would not get any additional ATM fees. I was in England from July 29-August 15. My last withdrawal was in London on August 14.
When I phoned the automated service to hear account activity during August 13- August 27, I was horrified to hear numerous ATM withdrawals on August 16 and August 18. I called the bank's customer service yesterday and learned that all these withdrawals were done in England, specifically London. According to my bank's fraud department, the machine may have been "compromised." $1100 was put back in my account during the investigation which will take at least 45 days. I am now waiting for paperwork to arrive. Unfortunately, I think there is more that is missing from my account than that and I will have to continue with this process.
At least I have proof that I left England on August 15. I have my boarding pass stub and my baggage claim stub.
Thank you, England.
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How horrible! I hope your bank is a little bit quicker off the mark than mine!
Were you advised to change your bank card so the robbers can't keep taking more?
I like the idea that they have in Canadian banks. Their ATMs are in the lobby, which is under camera surveillance and presumably the ATMs are not compromised, where you can take money out in peace. When the bank is closed, you use your card to get into the locked front door and into the lobby.
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That's bad news, Calypso. I'm sure your bank will refund everything, but it's a hassle you could do without. I'm racking my brains, having donned my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker, to think who could perpetrate such a wicked deed on so may occasions.
Was there anyone else nearby that you can remember other than, er.. Mince?
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That's awful, Calypso, I hope it's all sorted out soon.
Joan - off to check my account immediately!
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Think hard, Calypso. On your travels with Mince, did you ever have someone a bit odd standing next to you?
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Thanks everyone. It was indeed a shock coming on the heels of a nice trip and then learning when I got home that I had lost my job due to budget cuts. My mood has not been good for several days.
Vulture: Were you advised to change your bank card so the robbers can't keep taking more?
I like the idea that they have in Canadian banks. Their ATMs are in the lobby, which is under camera surveillance and presumably the ATMs are not compromised, where you can take money out in peace. When the bank is closed, you use your card to get into the locked front door and into the lobby.
Some of my bank's branch locations have ATMs inside their lobbies. Most, though, are branch location drive-thrus, but they still have security cameras there. Some others are located in shopping centers. I try not to use those unless there is a fabulous pair of shoes I can't live without.
The bank terminated my card and then re-issued me a new one with a new account number.
Oddly, before my trip I remembered reading this thread about your experience. I mentioned it to Mince but we thought it was very unlikely to happen to me as it was just one of those unfortunate things that happen sometimes.
Peepmaster: Was there anyone else nearby that you can remember other than, er.. Mince?
Mince was the only one around then, and he graciously looked away when I put in my PIN number. He did have to help me use the machine though. It's a little different from those in America. Should I be suspicious?
Peepmaster: Think hard, Calypso. On your travels with Mince, did you ever have someone a bit odd standing next to you?
Only Mince. Wait! He is a computer wiz and a math genius. Other than arguing a little, we aren't speaking much now. Hmmmmm.....I wonder.
Joan: Joan - off to check my account immediately!
Yes, check your accounts if you have been using ATMs. My bank told me that European ATMS are not as secure as the ones in America. I don't know about the ones in Australia. (I think you live in Australia.)
By the way, I've enjoyed seeing the pictures of your trip. Keep posting them.
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We have had problems in Australia, but I don't know anyone who's been scammed. I usually have a good look at the ATM before I use it, but not always. I try to use the ones in shopping centres - less chance of anyone installing anything. Mind you, the one in our local centre was missing for a while - some people drove a van into the centre and took the whole ATM, which was right in the middle of the centre as well.
I've not taken any interesting pictures recently, been mostly of friends and relatives. If the weather clears up tomorrow (who knows?) I'll take some of the centre of Edinburgh and the Castle. I'm going down to Gloucester in England this week, so will probably take a few down there. There will be lots of my nephew's son (I refuse to say what relation he is to me), so will pick a few of those as well.
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Oddly, before my trip I remembered reading this thread about your experience. I mentioned it to Mince...
Peepmaster: Was there anyone else nearby that you can remember other than, er.. Mince?
Mince was the only one around then, and he graciously looked away when I put in my PIN number. He did have to help me use the machine though. It's a little different from those in America. Should I be suspicious?
Peepmaster: Think hard, Calypso. On your travels with Mince, did you ever have someone a bit odd standing next to you?
Only Mince. Wait! He is a computer wiz and a math genius. Other than arguing a little, we aren't speaking much now. Hmmmmm.....I wonder.
I'm on the case, Calypso. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but there is a picture forming... ..0
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I never use the hole in the wall - however the thieves got my bank details, it was not through that. It must have been through my internet shopping or one of the many supermarkets where I flash my card willy-nilly!
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I never use the hole in the wall - however the thieves got my bank details, it was not through that. It must have been through my internet shopping or one of the many supermarkets where I flash my card willy-nilly!
I never flash anything in the supermarket, especially willy-nilly.
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I never use the hole in the wall - however the thieves got my bank details, it was not through that. It must have been through my internet shopping or one of the many supermarkets where I flash my card willy-nilly!
Someone's clearly been buying dodgy goods from dodgy people over the internet!
Speaking of which, how many Beau Peep mugs are left nowadays?
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I never use the hole in the wall - however the thieves got my bank details, it was not through that. It must have been through my internet shopping or one of the many supermarkets where I flash my card willy-nilly!
I never flash anything in the supermarket, especially willy-nilly.
You haven't lived!!
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I never use the hole in the wall - however the thieves got my bank details, it was not through that. It must have been through my internet shopping or one of the many supermarkets where I flash my card willy-nilly!
Someone's clearly been buying dodgy goods from dodgy people over the internet!
Speaking of which, how many Beau Peep mugs are left nowadays?
We're down to the last few now, Jack!
Once these have gone, there won't be a re-order as the manufacturer, in Stoke, went bump. Mince still hasn't bought one by the way. ..0
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I admit that I had to show her how to use the ATM but I did look away when she put in the pin.
As you still have your card on you, and the money was withdrawn in England after you left, you should have no problem sorting this out.
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It's possible that it was a glitch in the British bank's system which caused it to keep deducting the last transaction from my account. I think this because the conversion rate for the 14th, 16th and 18th was exactly the same. $93.10 and sometimes, it was $186. 20. The conversion rate is generally not that consistent from day-to-day.
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I would not put it past the British banks.
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Frankly, I wish I had not even gotten money that day. As it turned out, I didn't even need it because what I was getting it for ended up being cancelled. I was sort of "stuck" with British money the day I left. Buying back dollars for it meant a loss for me so I ended up shopping at Heathrow duty-free Harrods to get rid of some of it. I was still stuck with about 8 pounds in coinage and 20 pounds paper.
I have searched for the receipt and of course I no longer have it. If I remember correctly, all three of the bank's receipts were mostly so light that they were illegible anyway. Naturally, their name was not.
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if you want to get rid of your english money i know of a good home for it.
me
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Take it up with Mince, Peter. I sent the money to him.
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Mince isn't a gigolo, is he? :o
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Mince isn't a gigolo, is he? :o
No, he's a maths and English tutor, isn't he?
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So he says, but I seem to remember him saying he was teaching once and it was a Saturday! My suspicions were aroused then...
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Peepmaster:
Mince isn't a gigolo, is he?
So he says, but I seem to remember him saying he was teaching once and it was a Saturday! My suspicions were aroused then...
Thank you for stating that it was your suspicions that were aroused by this. :D