Blog Topic

How to Detect Unauthorized Charges
Posted by: Micah Adkins
August 29, 2008

Unauthorized credit or debit card charges often go undetected by consumers.  The charges are often relatively small and have a generic description on your credit/bank statement.  For example:

DATE   AMOUNT   DESCRIPTION      

9-1-08   $ 9.99     SHOPPING ESSENT

While the monthly charge may be nominal, the charges add up quickly over a period of time.  I have heard consumer complaints about monthly charges for $ 9.99 that have taken place for over three years!  Imagine the dollar amount of unauthorized charges if this practice is done to thousand of consumers!  Others complain of an annual fee for over $100.00.

It is important to detect unauthorized charges on you credit or bank statements.  Afterall, if you do not find the unauthorized charges - how can you dispute the charges?  Review each and every transaction on your monthly statements.  If you do not know what the charge was for, then discuss the questionable charges with other authorized users of the card.  Did your spouse make the purchase? Did your son or daughter make an on-line purchase you did not know about?  OR - is a company charging your account without your permission?

At a time when every penny counts, it is important to detect unauthorized charges on a monthly basis, rather than three years later!  Gather your statements and sit down with your family and double check each charge on your accounts.  If you find unauthorized charges, then you will need to contact your credit card company/bank and the merchant to dispute the charges.    

Micah Adkins is dedicated to helping clients that have been a victim of unauthorized credit or debit card charges.  If you have discovered unauthorized charges on your credit or debit card, disputed the charge and have not been reimbursed, then you may be entitled to money damages.

Contact Micah Adkins at Massey, Stotser & Nichols for a free consultation.

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Unauthorized Credit Card Charge Class Action Settled
Posted by: Micah Adkins
July 21, 2008

Trilegiant (a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation) settled a nationwide class action this past week.  At issue, over 1 million consumers complained of Trilegiant's bogus member fees to various membership programs!  The $25 million dollar settlement agreement was approved by the trial court and requires Trilegiant to offer consumers an easy cancellation method, affirmative relief regarding its business practices, a charitable contribution and to pay the class members attorney fees.

Our firm is investigating a similar deceptive trade practice by Shopping Essentials.  Consumers complain of making an on-line purchase with an internet retailer (Vita-Cost, Restaurants.com, etc...) and are later charged a membership fee to Shopping Essentials.  I have received dozens of calls from consumers complaining of this scheme.  If you believe you may have been a victim of this or a similar deceptive trade practice please contact an attorney at our firm.

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MSN Attorneys File Class Action Lawsuit Against Restaurants
Posted by: Micah Adkins
July 16, 2008

Lawsuit Targets Businesses Not Complying with F.A.C.T.A
By VAL WALTON
The Birmingham News
Published: December 18, 2007

Lawsuits filed in Birmingham's federal court in recent months claim that popular restaurants, a movie theater chain and a ticket ordering service have violated a law that limits the amount of credit card information companies can print on customers' receipts.

The lawsuits are part of a flurry that have been filed nationwide. Lawyers filing the lawsuits say they are targeting businesses that put individuals at risk for identity theft by willfully not complying with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.

The lawsuits say retailers may not print more than the last five digits of a person's account number, or the card's expiration date, on a receipt. The law was passed in 2003, but most businesses, depending on the equipment used to generate receipts, had until at least December 2006 to comply, according to the lawsuits.  Jay Aughtman, a plaintiff's lawyer, said most consumers are not aware of the statute which was passed as part of the Bush Administration's war on terror.

"We have seen a number of businesses, retailers, for whatever reason, violate the statute on a regular basis," said Aughtman with the law firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles in Montgomery.

The lawsuits have been filed between this past summer and October, and were filed against Rave Motion Pictures, Boston Ventures, LP; Surin West restaurants and Ticketmaster.

The lawsuit filed against Surin West Inc. claims that Bijan Iradji on one or more occasions bought food and drink items there using his credit or debit card. The lawsuit said the restaurant printed more than the last five digits of the card and the expiration date of his credit card on the receipt.

C. Lee Reeves of the Birmingham law firm Sirote & Permutt is representing Surin West. He said the restaurant does not believe it is liable, and has done no wrong, Reeves said.

Efforts to reach attorneys for Rave and Ticketmaster were unsuccessful.

Lawyer Micah S. Adkins, who is handling the Surin lawsuit with Rick Bearden, said people affected by the alleged violation could number in the thousands. The plaintiffs' attorneys also include lawyers with the Lamb Firm.

Aughtman, who is among the lawyers handling lawsuits against Rave and Ticketmaster, said the businesses have passed the deadline for coming into compliance. Aughtman said the cut-off date was December 2006. In a lawsuit against Ticketmaster, plaintiff Irma Jackson claims Ticketmaster printed the expiration date of her credit card on the receipt on Jan. 5.

"These lawsuits are not being filed prematurely," Aughtman said. "We're almost at December 2007."

Attorneys are seeking class-action status, damages and fees. The act provides from $100 to $1,000 for each violation.

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Unauthorized Credit or Debit Card Charges
Posted by: Micah Adkins
May 28, 2008

Often I am contacted by consumers asking what they can do about unauthorized credit card charges. The answer is - it depends. Was the charge the result of a lost or stolen card / card number? Or, was the charge the result of an internet scam where the cardholder unknowingly "authorized" a charge without knowing it.

If the charge is a result of theft or loss of the credit card, then the credit card company may reverse the charge after an investigation.

If the charge is made by a retailer that had access to your credit or debit card number without your permission - you may have a legal remedy. My firm is currently investigating consumer complaints involving several companies (Shopping Essentials, Restaurants.com, Vita-Cost and other online retailers) that seem to be participating in an online credit card scheme. The scheme works like this:

• Consumer makes online purchase with Restaurants.com, Vita-Cost or other online retailer;
• Consumer is automatically enrolled into a "membership program;"
• Thereafter, consumer receives an unauthorized charge on the credit or debit card from a company called Shopping Essentials;
• Consumer calls Shopping Essentials, Vita-Cost, Restaurants.com, bank or other online retailer to dispute charge(s);
• Consumer complains of unauthorized credit or debit card charges for membership;
• Consumer may or may not ever receive reimbursement for unauthorized charges.

Sound familiar? Do you believe you were scammed by Shopping Essentials, Restaurants.com, Vita-Cost or another online retailer? We are investigating complaints across the United States. If you wish to discuss this matter with us, or have any questions concerning your rights and interests with regard to this matter, please contact the following attorney:

Micah S. Adkins
Massey, Stotser and Nichols, P.C.
1780 Gadsden Highway
Birmingham, Alabama 35235
Phone number: (205) 838-9099
Email: madkins@msnattorneys.com
Website: http://www.msnattorneys.com

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