Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I is for Identify Theft - A-Z Writing Challenge

I is for  Identity Theft in the 2012 A-Z Writing Challenge.

I think Identify Theft deserves some more complaining, since I'm still angry about it.

Identity Theft Pictures, Images and Photos

Has it happened to you? Have you had your identity stolen and found that the low-life emptied out your bank account? It happened to me, recently, and it's not fun -- not fun, at all.  Oh, the timing was perfect. I had just made a big deposit and, within 24 hours, it was all gone.  Of course, I didn't know that until out shopping the next day and had my card declined. Declined! It was embarrassing. I had to put the cart aside, full of carefully chosen purchases.  But, they did say they would hold my cart until I returned.

Shot over to the bank, just a minute or two away, and, within minutes, found out that I had just bought some surfing equipment (well, it is almost summer!), $200+ worth of smoking paraphernalia (what could that be?), some hunting equipment, and clothes at Macy's.  All done online. Leaving me more than $1000 in the hole. Grrrrrrr.


Thankfully, the bank said because I reported everything so fast, they'll be able to fix my account so that the monies are returned and any NSF charges are reversed -- but, it wasn't funny. Hit my savings and headed back to the store.  This is all well and good, considering it was a debit card. But, the thing that bothers me the most is that my debit card can also be used as a credit card. Credit card holders are protected after the first $50 has been taken from their accounts. Apparently, that's not the case for debit card holders, even though they can also be used as credit cards.

I don't want a credit card. I don't like them. Why should I be penalized for paying everything at time of purchase? (I mean, I wasn't but it's only because I reported it, in time for them to cancel the purchases.) When I bought my house back in 1990, they said I was having a problem because I had a credit card and that was considered 'risky'! Well, after getting the house, I finally got rid of the credit card. Whoopee! Then, I was ready to buy the house I'm in, now, and I was told I was a risk because I DIDN'T have a credit card! What?!?!?!? Apparently, banks think people who owe large amounts of money are more reliable than people who pay their bills and don't carry revolving credit. It's a world gone mad -- but, no madder than I am, at the moment.

I've thought about dusting off my cauldron and whipping up a good curse recipe from the old days, and then decided that would bring even more bad karma into the world, so I just let the jerks get off with a verbal cursing of,  "May you end up living in your mother-in-law's house!"




For those of you who have just happened upon this page, I'm Entry #424 in a group of 1682 participants in this 2012 A-Z Writing Challenge! Do yourself a favor and check out a group of fantastic bloggers. You're bound to find someone you might like to follow. Don't forget to leave some loving comments and spread the word. It could even inspire you to think about joining next year's Challenge, yourself!

10 comments:

  1. That is a terrible thing you recently went through. No, thankfully, I have not had my identity stolen and I hope it never does hapen. An ex-girlfriend of my son's had her identity stollen by her mother; her mother used her name before she was even an adult to get credit cards and amassed a lot of debt in her name. What a mess it was to get it all sorted out and it did hurt her credit. I think that type of identity theft is the saddest.

    So sorry for all your problems, glad you will get it sorted out even though it is a pain to do so!

    betty

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    1. I wish there were some magic formula for really getting even with these guys, dagnabbit! Appreciate your sympathy and look forward to future posts.

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  2. Wow! What a pain for both you and commenter Betty's son's ex-girlfriend... Credit is and has been such a threat to the sanity of people and to their well-being. Sorry for all the trouble you have had. Best regards to you. Ruby

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Grammy! Hope to see you, soon.

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  3. How horrible. We had to get a specific credit card when we borrowed money for our home. It's weird how they operate.

    My daughter had her credit card (used for emergencies only) "compromised" a few years ago. She'd used the card at two places in a month so we know someone in one of those places took a copy for their own use. We knew there was a problem when the bank phoned to ask if she was in Italy spending money at jewellers and leather goods stores! They had already put a stop on the card as the purchases were so unusual for her. Whilst I don't like the feeling of being 'snooped' on, I was pleased the technology worked as it should.
    Sue: An A-Z of Climate Matters

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    1. I agree, Sue. Because of the current technology, they were able to save my money and get a location on these jerks. Now, if the merchants will only follow through. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. That is certainly frustrating...I'm so glad you got your money returned. Some days I wish we were on the old system...cash only! Thanks for stopping by my blog...enjoy the challenge.

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    1. I'm enjoying the Challenge, as well. I try to pay for everything, as I go, and have been pretty successful. But, I don't want as much as I used to. And so I can't fault those who choose credit. It just seems like such a big hassle. Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. It’s true how important it is for merchants to do a follow-up on the purchases made under their account once they have reported a case of identity theft. With their coordination, identify the scammers would be made much faster, wherever and whenever the crime has happened.

    Annie Valdez

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    1. I wonder if there's a report somewhere, where the results of merchants doing follow-up action, shows a true reduction of identity theft. With the monies in credit card companies, they should have some way of doing for all the fees the merchanges pay. Just my opinion. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoyed perusing your site. Lots of good information.

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