My unemployment check was direct deposited onto the Green Dot card that morning. When I called to check the balance, there was a charge for my exact deposit of $110.00 that put a hold on the funds. I talked with a "customer service rep" and a "supervisor," who informed me that they had to let it clear even though I let them know it was not a valid charge. They said the company had all of the right info, so I must have done it. They told me I had to contact the merchant to stop it. The merchant was a fake company, LALAN CHICAGO, with no phone number, no address and no info. I could not even validate it as a business, all while on the phone with Green Dot. They still said it had to go through!
They were supposed to dispute it on my account as soon as it cleared. Weeks later, I found out they had not. I had some bills to pay online, so I stupidly loaded the same card on 10/20 and made a purchase online for $60.00. The next morning, sure enough, all $340.00 was held for another unknown, unvalidated fake company and charge. Once again I talked with supervisors and others, and was told they could not stop it and that I should dispute it. After all these arguments, I had the account put in dispute and closed. I was told I would get my money back if the merchants could not be proved valid. Nope. 30 days later I received a letter stating that these false companies had valid claims! We are back in the same fight! And they are doing all of this under the false guise of VISA. Green Dot is not even secured against any loss or theft. I am dealing with the police on this now. Beware of Green Dot.
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