Nothing to do with genealogy but...

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:16 am

My debit card got skimmed 7 weeks ago. I went to the ATM to get some money out two days after pay day ...... Insufficient Funds. I got a print out showing £253 pounds overdrawn. There should have been close on £4000 including Christmas savings.

I took the print out around the corner to my bank literally 50 yards away. I showed the teller my print out, she asked for my card and I keyed in my pin number. In the two minutes from print out to arriving at my bank the overdraft was £986!!!!

My account was frozen and I was struggling for over three weeks, I had to open a post office account to divert my next pay.

Upshot is that on Tuesday I found out that the bank AREN'T going to reimburse the money AND I'm now liable for non-payment charges of direct debits etc.

I am not alone, a workmate's father is in the exact same situation and another friend whose wife works in a bank reckons there are over 3000 cases EVERY MONTH.

The thing I can't understand is how they managed to clock up the overdraft, I have a maximum daily withdrawal and manageable arranged overdraft if required. The other thing I can't understand is WHY the bank are not liable for my losses ..... the ombudsman has been contacted.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:36 am

Hi Andy
What a nightmare. Really sorry to hear that the bank are not being supportive either. I wish you all the best with following it up - I do hope the ombudsman can help sort it out to your satisfaction.

Best wishes
Lesley

wini · Post by **wini** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:56 am

Andy,

Once this is sorted out I hope you change your bank..

It pays to shop around nowadays.
no more sticking with the same bank for ever.

What a time of year to have this happen.

wini

Post by **emanday** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:14 pm

Oh Andy, what a dreadful thing to happen just before Christmas!

The amount they got out in a short space of time is usually down to them withdrawing the daily max from ATM's and using the card to buy readily saleable items, like iPods, Digital cameras and the like.

Nasty individuals.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:45 pm

LesleyB wrote:Dinnae worry Mary - all my PINs and passwords are different
...but that is half the problem!!
If I don't use one for while it tends to be forgotten. The best example is when at work the system prompts for a new password just before a holiday. It is set up so that you can't use one you have used before, so no opportunity to recycle the same wee group of well worn ones. Off you go on your hols...and come back unable to log on to your own PC!!! (since I don't write any them down anywhere, (of course )...but that is also part of the problem if/when that bump on the head happens!!!!)

Best wishes
Lesley (who would like a crash helmet for "everyday wear" for Christmas!! )

There's an easy solution to that which I was taught some years ago, -keep the same core password, e.g. "abcdefghi" and just add a digit or pair of digits, so that you start off with "abcdefghi10", then, when a "new" password is required, change it to "abcdefghi11" and so on, and on ..........

If you forget exactly where you were, the chances are that you'll remember roughly where, soit shouldn't take that many attempts to establish what the numeric combination is......

David

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:50 pm

Andy wrote:My debit card got skimmed 7 weeks ago. I went to the ATM to get some money out two days after pay day ...... Insufficient Funds. I got a print out showing £253 pounds overdrawn. There should have been close on £4000 including Christmas savings.

....snipped................

The thing I can't understand is how they managed to clock up the overdraft, I have a maximum daily withdrawal and manageable arranged overdraft if required. The other thing I can't understand is WHY the bank are not liable for my losses ..... the ombudsman has been contacted.

Very sorry to hear this.

I and many others will be most interested to hear what now happens, as my distinct impresssion was that unless the bank could prove negligence on your part, and as long as the situation was reported to them asap, then your loss was limited to an amount such as £50, with even that not always enforced.........

David

Post by **emanday** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:59 pm

Also, Andy, check with your household insurance. You might not be covered, but it wouldn't do any harm to ask.

Also, find out from the police if there were a few cards skimmed at that ATM over a couple of days. I understand it is possible for the bank/ATM owner to be penalised if they have not made sufficient checks of their ATM's.

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:25 pm

Hi Andy

Very sorry to hear about your misfortune - just stinks really. Unless things have changed recently though, like DavidWW I thought your liability was about £50. Banks are usually good at highlighting unusual activity on accounts and cards. Have a look here (Motley Fool - usually a reasonable authority on such things):

http://www.fool.co.uk/current-accounts/ ... fraud.aspx

Hope you get your money back - don't let the bank away with it without a fight.

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

annpa · Post by **annpa** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:24 pm

Sorry, posted this as a new topic, so will go and get rid of the original!!

Just 2 weeks ago, while sitting in a supermarket car park late at night, and my husband was putting the messages (isn't that a great word for it?) in the boot, I watched a small white van speed up to the ATMs near the entrace to the supermarket. the passenger got out, ran to the ATM, touched the slot, ran back to the van which then speedily reversed and with a real squeal of tyres, raced out of the car park.
This all happended so quickly that I didn't get the number of the van, but when I phoned the police (after deliberation as to whether I would be wasting their time or not) I, and my husband, could describe the van, as it was an unusual one.
the policeman (or whoever) at the other end was very friendly and took all the details. Apparently that supermarket's ATMs have become a target for skimmers. He assured me I hadn't wasted their time at all, and that the information would be very helpful in their investigations.
Fortunately I haven't used those outside ATMs as I get any cash as a cashback at the counter like some others have mentioned.
I'm glad I did phone the police, perhaps it helps get these rats.
I'm so sorry Andy for your problems, but the bank sound a right shower. I don't think they have a leg to stand on about making you repsonsible for the thefts from your account. Let us know how it turns out.
Cheers
Annpa

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:49 pm

Hi Andy
I just found this on the BBC site:
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.

and also at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/support/cardfraud.shtml

If your card is used fraudulently but you still have the card in your possession you will not be liable to pay for any part of the losses. You would probably still have your card in your possession if you are a victim of counterfeit skimming or card-not-present fraud.

Best wishes
Lesley

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