Yeah, ya gotta watch these guys you do business with.
You have to watch your credit accounts on an almost daily basis, because if you don't, something just might get past you.
Case in point. I'm going to mention the company name because they have twice done what they shouldn't have done.
Do you remember AOL? Yeah, they're still around, and they have been sued a couple of times for credit card theft. AOL policy was to ignore cancellations of internet service. This meant that the card holder was charged for service even though the service had been cancelled. A lot of people didn't take a look at their accounts, so they paid the charge without blinking an eye.
When I worked with some people on their computers, they mentioned that they wanted to quit AOL. Knowing what I knew about AOL and its credit card issues, I told my clients to also cancel the card by getting a replacement. That seemed to be the only way to stop the practice of continuing to charge the account.
I now have that problem with Stomper Net. They produce some expensive software for the purpose of increasing one's presence on the internet. They also print a booklet on a monthly basis that is supposed to provide updates and additional hints.
I thought the booklet was way overpriced and cancelled the subscription. I even got a verification of the cancellation. Woe and behold, I got charged for the next edition. Eh, not so fast!
I replied to the Stomper Net info address and said the subscription had been cancelled and that I wanted the charge reversed. About a week later, I received a reply that the account was cancelled and that the charge would be reversed. Eventually it was.
Ho Ho Ho, there they are this month with another charge for this booklet. I sent another email to Stomper Net asking why they are doing it again. I also notified the credit card company.
I now have to change three other accounts that are on auto billing and then get a replacement card. That seems to be the only way to stop Stomper Net.
Another reason for checking your accounts is that there are crooks out there that will use your account and hope you don't catch it. I caught one for a Quiznos charge for $65 in Arizona. Well, it's been some time since I was in Arizona and other charges on the account seemed to bear that out. But the question remains, why would I go there just to buy lunch? And for $65, that's a lot of bread and lunch meat. The card company said the card was scanned, which isn't possible because it was in my pocket three states elsewhere.
So, bottom line. Always check your accounts as frequently as possible. Don't get suckered into buying someone else's lunch.
