• errors

    Blizzard "Can't" Refund My Money For Downloads That Didn't Work

    Reader Zach is having some trouble with Blizzard and is wondering what he should do. He tried to download a copy of Diablo II from their digital store, but the download didn't work. Blizzard's customer service then tried to download it again — which also didn't work. Finally, they told him to buy it at an actual store — which he did. Now he's bought the game three times and would like some money back. More »

    12:31 PM on Mon Oct 13 2008
    By Meg Marco
    29,566 views, 61 comments

    Most discussed Ajh: Wait wait so lemme get this straight... He bought the game. Transaction goes through... He got the serial key and download more »

  • wamu

    WaMu: You're Lying About Someone Breaking Into Your iTunes Account

    WaMu's crack fraud department is at it again, according to reader Kristin. Someone broke into her iTunes account and bought a couple hundred dollars worth of iTunes gift cards with her debit card information. She disputed the charge and WaMu told her not to worry — they'd take care of it. Two months later, while on a trip to Chicago, WaMu reversed the credits, causing Kristin to become severely overdrawn. No amount of protesting will convince WaMu that she wasn't lying about the iTunes break-in. Why? Because she never responded to some mail they sent to her old address.
    More »

    2:42 PM on Mon Aug 25 2008
    By Meg Marco
    12,416 views, 63 comments

    Latest by BrendaNerq: @ jennej: They might not have required the affidavit because they had no chargeback rights. If an internet site is more »

  • gas prices

    Sign Of The Times: $100 "Pay At The Pump" Limit

    Reader Paul sends in this photo of a sign he saw at a gas station in Texas. First people were upset that gas stations were putting "outrageously high" holds of $100 on their cards when they paid at the pump. Now $100 is just the most you can buy at the pump without going inside and having them swipe your card. Sad. More »

    9:59 AM on Mon Aug 11 2008
    By Meg Marco
    6,645 views, 62 comments

    Latest by DjDynasty: I'm one of those selfish bastards who has done chargebacks on pay at the pump purchases. A Speedway by my more »

  • rejection

    Apple Escorts You From The Store For Trying To Purchase An iPhone With Cash

    As loyal readers already know, Apple doesn't accept cash for the iPhone — a policy they say is designed to discourage resellers from getting their grubby little hands on the precious cellphone. This policy does have a tendency to backfire every now and then when a legitimate customer wants to purchase an iPhone with cash. Meet Alex Palen— he was refused an iPhone because he doesn't have a credit or debit card and was escorted from the store when he asked another customer to accept cash in exchange for charging the phone to their card. More »

    11:30 AM on Mon May 12 2008
    By Meg Marco
    19,729 views, 138 comments

    Latest by NotMe: It drives me crazy when I read these 'I can't buy an iPhone with cash' stories. Surprise! The rest of more »

  • bad behavior

    ProFlowers Freezes Over $100 By "Verifying" Customer's Card

    Anne tried to send some flowers to her stepmom last week, but changed her mind after she saw the final price, which at $64 was too much for her budget (the tulips she picked out were listed at $29.99, but all the additional fees doubled the price). ProFlowers sent her an email offering her a discount if she'd complete her order, so she went back but discovered the tulips were sold out, and she abandoned the shopping cart a second time. Now her bank account has over $100 in "pending charges" because ProFlowers pre-authorized the full amount of each transaction and they can't seem to reverse the authorizations. It's been a week and she still doesn't have her money.
    More »

    9:26 AM on Wed Feb 20 2008
    By Chris Walters
    4,794 views, 47 comments

    Latest by fearlessRich: I am a Web site software programmer and have worked with the various credit card processing modules of our purchase more »

  • fast food

    $2,243 Burger King Bill Leaves Customer Overdrawn, Pissed Off

    A $22.43 sack of burgers turned into a huge pain in the ass when Burger King accidentally debited $2,243 from Bryan Sampson's bank account, leaving him overdrawn and unable to use his debit card lest the overdraft charges keep piling up. Burger King said the manager wasn't available to correct the mistake because it was a holiday weekend... but the local media was happy to answer the phone. More »

    8:38 AM on Tue Feb 19 2008
    By Meg Marco
    19,755 views, 109 comments

    Latest by sventurata: @Fry: Sorry 'bout that. Too much multitasking! As far as I understand; yes, the dual-use cards can be run as credit more »

  • id theft

    A Stranger Is Using The Bank Of America Debit Card That Is Sitting In My Desk Drawer

    The other day reader Dave wrote us because he'd noticed a bunch of strange debits from Sprint on his bank account. Since he uses Sprint, he thought it was a billing error, albeit a serious one, because Sprint had debited $1,717.49 in the past two weeks. Dave hadn't been able to find anyone at Sprint to help him reverse the charges and wrote to us for advice. Yikes! More »

    3:21 PM on Mon Jan 14 2008
    By Meg Marco
    9,581 views, 68 comments

    Latest by freedom69: As an FYI this is a purchase made with a stolen card number meaning it does not need the pin more »

  • rules and regulations

    Fraud Protection: What's The Difference Between Credit And Debit?

    Everyone knows that credit cards offer better protection against fraud than debit cards, but why? Blueprint for Financial Prosperity sheds some light:
    Federal Reserve Board Regulation E is the federal regulation that governs Electronic Fund Transfers and includes provisions that makes debit-card transactions instantaneous. Instantaneous means that the money is technically spent from the account the moment the card is used, which is important because your debit card draws from a bank account as opposed to a line of credit.
    More »

    12:07 PM on Wed Sep 26 2007
    By Meg Marco
    2,702 views, 13 comments

    Latest by anatak: @FLConsumer: Once again, dead wrong... or just too lazy to look it up. And we wonder where myths come more »

  • fraud

    Target Tightens Return Policy: No Returns Over $20 Without A Receipt

    Target is tightening up their return policy according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Currently Target doesn't allow any cash/check returns without a receipt for items over $40, but in August that limit will drop to $20. Customers who bought their items with credit or debit cards will still be able to return items without a receipt. More »

    3:53 PM on Mon May 7 2007
    By Meg Marco
    7,762 views, 52 comments

    Latest by madmomma: I have been a shopper at Target, until now. I am furious with their policy regarding Wedding and Shower gifts. more »

  • prepaid

    IDT's Sigo Pre-Paid Mastercard Is A Huge Scam

    Pre-paid Mastercards are not a very consumer friendly item to begin with, but IDT's "Sigo" pre-paid Mastercard takes the cake. Some of the fees involved:
    Monthly Fee $2.95
    Overdraft Fee $25.00
    PIN Based Purchase $0.50
    Each Optional Monthly Paper Statement $5.00
    Card Closure Fee $10.00
    ATM Cash Withdrawal - Domestic $1.50
    If that wasn't enough, their "Confidentiality" clause functions like a screen door on a submarine, letting a flood of IDT affiliated marketing into your home. More »

    10:49 AM on Fri Feb 9 2007
    By Meg Marco
    488 views, 3 comments

    Latest by souhaite: If they are construing that sentence to mean sharing with partners for their partner's purposes, that language won't get them more »