New Member
Unauthorized charge before service
I called in to Directv looking to get service. I told her I wanted a basic package with local channels and NFL Sunday ticket. She went through her whole spiel about what it entailed. Everything sounded good until she mentioned that it was a 24 month contract while asking to authorize a charge to my card. I verbally told her no and that I didn’t need a 24 month contract as I’m only in my place for 12 months. She began trying to tell me I could freeze my service or transfer it to another place not knowing that I may not even be in a place where they offer service in 12 months. She starts arguing with me that there are no other television options in my area. She said she was “doing her research” as we talked. I told her that I wouldn’t be utilizing Directv and 3 minutes after the phone call, I got an email that my order has been processed.
I gave my debit card information but did not give her permission to run it for the 21.30 activation fee.
She did anyways.
I could be wrong, but that’s criminal, yes?
Now I’m getting emails back and forth from them about my account being setup and enrolled in autopay.
I called back with minutes and told them to cancel it.
Can I press charges against this company for taking my debit card information and using it fraudulently?
sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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2K Messages
4 years ago
How can you say they stole your debit card info when you also admit providing it? No, you can’t press charges unless you are a prosecutor. There may be other legal steps you can take but legal discussions aren’t allowed here. My suggestion would be file an FCC or BBB complaint and dispute the charge with your bank.
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
I didn’t say they stole it. I didn’t give them authorization to run it… yet they did. They read you a disclaimer and then ask if they have permission to run it. I said no and she did anyways. I hadn’t entered any agreement. Yet she charged me without my consent…
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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2K Messages
4 years ago
Yeah, I get that, they charged you without authorization. Sorry but I could have sworn I saw the word “stealing” in your post, otherwise I would not have mentioned that. Come on, admit it, you originally posted “Can I press charges against this company for stealing my debit card information and using it fraudulently?” but edited it.
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Constructive
Employee
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34K Messages
4 years ago
I saw the word stolen before the post was edited.
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
I didn’t mean to write stolen. But it shouldn’t change the fact that I didn’t give them permission to run my debit card. They have a legal disclaimer they have to read before they do it and I never gave her permission. If I was working for a company with a company credit card and I bought something I wasn’t supposed to with the card, they could easily press charges against me for that cause I violated the terms of the card. Same sense here. I never opened an account with them and they did it without my permission so yes, stolen can be use synonymously in this case…
Get over the verbiage and look at the legal stance of this argument.
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Constructive
Employee
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34K Messages
4 years ago
Was it actually charged or a placeholder? Until an installer actually comes out and installs the dish and activates the account you aren’t on the hook for anything. Every time I fill up with gas the station puts a 100 dollar placeholder on my card for 24-48 hours.
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
Nah. It’s not longer pending. It’s a legit charge. And I’m missing the money from my account. When I tried to cancel the account, they only cancelled the installation. My account is still active and I’ve also been enrolled in autopay. Which I never even got to the point in the conversation to do that either.
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nabukl
ACE - Professor
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2.3K Messages
4 years ago
Call them back and cancel the actual order itself and anything "charged" will be refunded, nothing will be refunded otherwise
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
That’s the thing. I did and instead they canceled the installation and not the actual order. They’re doing everything they can to keep me on the hook for their service. Autopay was also setup without my consent and I had to cancel that as well or they could’ve charged me in 30 days even without someone coming out to install.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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2K Messages
4 years ago
No they wouldn’t. You won’t be charged for any service until installation is complete.
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nabukl
ACE - Professor
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2.3K Messages
4 years ago
Gift card requirements almost always require auto pay to be set up, the order needs canceled regardless
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
Sandblaster…why do I have a charge on my account for $21.30. It’s not pending. It went through. My bank said I have to dispute it if I want it back cause it’s been processed.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23K Messages
4 years ago
The amount of $21.30 sounds like delivery ($19.95) plus tax for the order. If the appointment/install was canceled, but not the order itself, then that would be the remaining problem. Call DirecTV and verify the order is canceled. As long as that is done then the charge is returned to the card (usually within 48 hours).
Unfortunately some front line agents, especially if new or outsourced, don't understand that cancelling the appointment is not canceling the order itself. The schedule system doesn't tell the order system to cancel as well.
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mabarnhouse
New Member
4 years ago
Nope. The invoice definitely says it’s an activation fee. And the lady who was supposed to cancel it was in customer care and not a front line agent. Sounds like Directv is all messed up and needs a reason to clean up the way they handle business. Maybe I’m going to be that reason…
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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2K Messages
4 years ago
Whatever the $21.30 was for, it wasn’t for service. My point was you won’t be charged for service until you actually receive service which can’t happen until installation is complete.
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