Rhoobarb
Well-Known Member
Okay, I have to rant/vent!
Last Wednesday night I found out that my checking account was practically wiped out by someone who, somehow was able to get my debit card number. They used it to book flights thru a travel agency in the UK!
I had to go to my bank yesterday morning to get it all sorted out. They were as helpful as they could be, but the process is a pain - much more so than with a credit card. I had to cancel my debit card and file a claim with MasterCard, the debit card issuer, against the unauthorized charges. I'll get 'provisional' money placed into my checking account in the amount they stole while the claim is investigated, but that won't be for another 5-7 business days.
In the meantime, I have to leave my current checking account open until the investigation proceeds, which will be 30-45 days. Yesterday morning I had to open a new checking account, which all deposits, payments, etc., will now come from.
My guess is someone got it through some sort of online ordering or old receipts from a retail store. On the surface, you'd think it was the online ordering, but I only do business with a handful of online businesses that I trust - Southwest Airlines, Waste Management (for my garbage pick up), ComEd (electric utility), Nicor (gas ultility), Freshops (hops for my beer) and, rarely, Paypal for Ebay purchases - that's about it! All of these online vendors I've used for at least two years.
It sucks.
Last Wednesday night I found out that my checking account was practically wiped out by someone who, somehow was able to get my debit card number. They used it to book flights thru a travel agency in the UK!
I had to go to my bank yesterday morning to get it all sorted out. They were as helpful as they could be, but the process is a pain - much more so than with a credit card. I had to cancel my debit card and file a claim with MasterCard, the debit card issuer, against the unauthorized charges. I'll get 'provisional' money placed into my checking account in the amount they stole while the claim is investigated, but that won't be for another 5-7 business days.
In the meantime, I have to leave my current checking account open until the investigation proceeds, which will be 30-45 days. Yesterday morning I had to open a new checking account, which all deposits, payments, etc., will now come from.
My guess is someone got it through some sort of online ordering or old receipts from a retail store. On the surface, you'd think it was the online ordering, but I only do business with a handful of online businesses that I trust - Southwest Airlines, Waste Management (for my garbage pick up), ComEd (electric utility), Nicor (gas ultility), Freshops (hops for my beer) and, rarely, Paypal for Ebay purchases - that's about it! All of these online vendors I've used for at least two years.
It sucks.