On Oct 14, my Netspend pre-paid debit card was declined. Knowing I had several hundered dollars on the card, I immediately pulled up my account on line. Due to a hold on the card from a hotel (legitimate), I had roughly $250.00 available. Searching my account, I found a charge for close to 220.00 to a company called Blitz Sport. When I search Blitz Sport, I found they are a company based in the United Kingdom.
I immediately called Netspend to file a dispute and find out if other charges were attempted. Sure enough another 400.00 in charges was attempted on my card, all to sporting good companies in the UK.netspend sent me a dispute form which I filled out and e-mailed back to them immediately.
Not the trouble begins, I contacted Netspend on Oct 21, for an update on the dispute only to be told they didn't even open my dispute claim until Oct 18. I was then told it could take up to 10 business days to resolve the dispute but Netspend would be sending me updates, and I should call back again around Oct 24.
Today Oct 25, I contacted Netspend only to have the employee read off her que cards why I couldn't speak with the dispute department and she has no authority to contact them for an update. When I questioned by Netspend didn't credit the money back to my card as would a reputable bank, she told me "that's not how we do things". I questioned if they were insured by the FDIC as their website states, why am I being held accountable for some theif stealing my card number and charging items oversees. Mind you I live in Nevada USA.
She proceeded to advise me Netspend isn't covered by FDIC, and they haven't received a response from the company associated with the charges. I explained to her I contacted the company regarding the charges and recieved a phone call within 24hours. I asked her why there isn't a disclaimer on the website stating "deposit money at your own risk". I further went onto explain they track my spending in a nice pie chart when I log in and no where on the pie chart does it show on-line purchases. I inquired about a fraud department that monitors customers accounts for multiple purchase in a manner the card holder doesn't normally purchase. Again no such department.
While 220.00 isn't a lot of money, for a single parent of 4 trying to get ahead and make ends meet, 220.00 would have gone a long way. Since I have to now wait until Nov 1, before Netspend will provide me with any answers (I assume I will not see a dime of the money) it will be three weeks since my money was used fraudulently.
Does anyone know what laws govern pre-paid debit cards and theft resolution.
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