Comments on: Bank insists $1,390 gas bill is correct — now what? http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carl Wolf http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-36956 Carl Wolf Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:17:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-36956 By her own admission, she did not check the original receipt...and she blames everyone else that may be involved. I'm glad she got her money back, and I'm also glad she had to work for it. By her own admission, she did not check the original receipt…and she blames everyone else that may be involved. I’m glad she got her money back, and I’m also glad she had to work for it.

]]> By: SirWired http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18640 SirWired Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:50:05 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18640 Even though the FCBA's "Credit Card Rule" does not apply for foreign transactions, that just means that there are none of its procedural requirements. As in, they do not have to credit you the amount in dispute during the dispute process, meet the strict response deadlines, etc. However, that does not eliminate your normal consumer protections that would be in place in any billing dispute with anybody. Even though the FCBA’s “Credit Card Rule” does not apply for foreign transactions, that just means that there are none of its procedural requirements. As in, they do not have to credit you the amount in dispute during the dispute process, meet the strict response deadlines, etc. However, that does not eliminate your normal consumer protections that would be in place in any billing dispute with anybody.

]]> By: deRuiter http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18633 deRuiter Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:12:57 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18633 Congratulations on the Small Claims victory. Suggest in future use of ATM card to withdraw money daily and pay cash, which would have headed this scam off at the pass. Also the obtaining money through an ATM machine is cheaper than using a credit card. Congratulations on the Small Claims victory. Suggest in future use of ATM card to withdraw money daily and pay cash, which would have headed this scam off at the pass. Also the obtaining money through an ATM machine is cheaper than using a credit card.

]]> By: Kevin M http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18614 Kevin M Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:27:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18614 Timen - In the U.S., credit unions (unlike banks) are "owned" by their members. As a result, they tend to be much more responsive to member complaints, and being typically much smaller as well, it's easy for word of bad treatment to spread among members. Accordingly, credit unions are often more likely to charge lower fees and to "go to bat" for their customers. It's true that in one sense, the traveler was legally obligated to pay the bill; on the other hand, anyone looking at the charge could tell it was probably fraudulent, and the PR cost of sticking her with the bill probably outweighed the cost of covering the charge. Timen – In the U.S., credit unions (unlike banks) are “owned” by their members. As a result, they tend to be much more responsive to member complaints, and being typically much smaller as well, it’s easy for word of bad treatment to spread among members. Accordingly, credit unions are often more likely to charge lower fees and to “go to bat” for their customers. It’s true that in one sense, the traveler was legally obligated to pay the bill; on the other hand, anyone looking at the charge could tell it was probably fraudulent, and the PR cost of sticking her with the bill probably outweighed the cost of covering the charge.

]]> By: Timen Swijtink http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18551 Timen Swijtink Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:47:06 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18551 I find often puzzling why people let themselves get in such situations. Checking the bill before signing it is normal, no question. But she even admits curiosity at the attendant's behavior and she still didn't check? That's not smart traveling. Moreover, keeping receipts until you receive, check, and pay your monthly credit card bill in full is also not complicated and should be normal. I'm surprised she received her money back. I'm baffled her bank took on such a cost for a mistake that she had the legal obligation to avoid. I find often puzzling why people let themselves get in such situations. Checking the bill before signing it is normal, no question. But she even admits curiosity at the attendant’s behavior and she still didn’t check? That’s not smart traveling. Moreover, keeping receipts until you receive, check, and pay your monthly credit card bill in full is also not complicated and should be normal.

I’m surprised she received her money back. I’m baffled her bank took on such a cost for a mistake that she had the legal obligation to avoid.

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18546 Bill Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:30:00 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18546 I'm glad she got her money back - but how much was written on the original receipt that she obtained at the gas station when she made the purchase? Was it the inflated amount, or not? This would be a key piece of information. I’m glad she got her money back – but how much was written on the original receipt that she obtained at the gas station when she made the purchase? Was it the inflated amount, or not? This would be a key piece of information.

]]> By: Lisa S http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18544 Lisa S Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:55:48 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18544 Congrats on winning that argument! I am still arguing with Chase over a charge for which I believe they owe me $340. In the meantime, I am moving all my banking business (checking, etc) from Chase. I found the dispute department totally useless and time consuming. Maybe I will try small claims court. Thanks, Chris, for letting us know it sometimes works. Congrats on winning that argument! I am still arguing with Chase over a charge for which I believe they owe me $340. In the meantime, I am moving all my banking business (checking, etc) from Chase. I found the dispute department totally useless and time consuming. Maybe I will try small claims court. Thanks, Chris, for letting us know it sometimes works.

]]> By: Carver http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18542 Carver Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:05:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18542 That's the real beauty of small claims court. It cuts through the BS and gets the attention of someone who can actually address the situation specifically instead of some low level person who just automatically says no on a form letter That’s the real beauty of small claims court. It cuts through the BS and gets the attention of someone who can actually address the situation specifically instead of some low level person who just automatically says no on a form letter

]]> By: RdKatym http://www.elliott.org/blog/bank-insists-1390-gas-bill-is-correct-now-what/comment-page-1/#comment-18541 RdKatym Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:59:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6187#comment-18541 Way to go in fighting for what's right, though I hope you are considering a new credit card issuer! Way to go in fighting for what’s right, though I hope you are considering a new credit card issuer!

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