Re: OT? - TDBanknorth + merchant's CC auth

["Micheal Espinola Jr" <michealespinola () gmail com>]

Its a part of the original transaction that you authorized, so TD has to let
Sear do whatever they want.

It sounds fucked up, but once you authorize a company to make a credit-based
transaction, they can in-turn do whatever the hell they want without
interference from your bank or credit provider.  You have to deal with them
directly if there is a dispute, unless you claim fraudulent activity in
which case your bank or credit provider may choose to interfere with the
transaction on your behalf.



On 4/20/07, Troy <tcregger () kennedyinfo com> wrote:
> Last month I had an interesting experience with sears and tdbanknorth.
> Here's the story:
>
> I purchased appliances at sears... the experience was a nightmare in and
> of itself as they screwed up the shipping date several times. Sears
> ended up having to throw in almost USD 200 in accessories and credits
> just so I wouldn't walk away from the sale, OK... nothing odd so far and
> I got some free stuff, all good right?
>
> Well, somehow, sears mistakenly refunded me ~ USD 120. I later confirmed
> that this did happen and was a mistake, but I hadn't noticed the credit
> to my account at the time since there was heavy activity on the account
> that month.
>
> A full 5 weeks later, I'm checking my balance and paying some bills when
> I notice that there's this charge for USD 120 (and change) from sears!
>
> What the fuck? I asked myself... I then decided to ask TD and sears the
> same question. So, I'm on the phone to TD and sears, trying to figure
> this out.
>
> After a bunch of calls and basically getting snubbed by TD I learn that
> even though I was not present to authorize the transaction, didn't sign
> anything, and never entered a PIN, sears was still able to charge my
> account.
>
> That didn't sit well with me so I sent a message to TD explaining that
> the transaction was not authorized and that I wanted the funds returned.
>
> Here's what TD said...
>
> >
> > "If you were credited with funds in error then Sears has the right to
> debit the account to make a correction."
>
>
> And "if you dispute the charge, talk to sears" e.g. "the hand"
> apparently...
>
> So... basically as I understand this, if you're a merchant, or otherwise
> have access to transaction records CC#'s, names, etc., then there's
> literally nothing stopping you from charging someones card for whatever
> and whenever you want?
>
> Or am I reading this situation incorrectly?
>
> If that's true, then what's the deterrent? repercussions from the bank?
> honor? how much do you trust the guy behind the counter?
>
> Apparently if you're banking with TD nobody there is going to lift a
> finger and it's between you and the merchant...
>
> ...or evil anonymous hacker who happened to score access to a CC
> authorization account and some card numbers.
>
> I closed my TD account, but I find this rather disturbing all the same.
> I also don't expect much better from other banks or CC companies, and as
> always the burden of security lies mostly with the individual. In this
> case it was an honest error, sears did credit my account in error, and I
> would have been happy to return the funds, but being a security minded
> person I would have hoped that I'd have to authorize the transaction
> regardless... but no, I didn't even have to be notified.
>
> I learned something, so it's a good day...
>
> ~.:always use cash:.~
>
> --
> '''
> 0-0-
> ~
> `
>
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