[dlugatch]

Watch out for erroneous credit card charges. Last month I noticed a charge of $62.09 on my Visa card. My Visa card is not on file with DTV. I called and they said they would clear it up. DTV never called me back. DTV does not validate credit cards with your name and address or security code. So if someone enters an incorrect card number and the expiration dates matches they will charge the wrong card.

This week I found another charge for $391.60 on my Visa. Called again and spent 1.5 hours on the phone. They wanted me to FAX my credit card statement to them. I refused to send my card number through on a fax machine.

My bank is going to handle the problem for me by disputing the charges.

Watch out for Direct TV's lax credit card processing methods. I would be afraid to give them any financial information. I've been paying my DTV bill with my banks electronic bill pay system.


Norm

 

[Drew2k]

DIRECTV has had my credit card info since 2003 and I've never had a problem with them, but everyone can have a bad experience now and then - and it looks like you've run into just such a bad experience.

You may want to get copies of your credit reports to ensure there are no new accounts/cards in your name - I'd be concerned with identity theft.

 

[beavis]

DTV does not validate credit cards with your name and address or security code.

Yes they do. Any credit/debit card used for payment of services or ordering equipment must have the security code entered in before the order/payment is processed.

Is your Visa card tied to the checking account you use to pay your D* bill? I'd hate to think that's how they were able to get the info...

 

[dlugatch]

Is your Visa card tied to the checking account you use to pay your D* bill? I'd hate to think that's how they were able to get the info...[/QUOTE]

To clarify my problem, I did not have a credit card on file with D*. D* told me that this problem has happened to others. I have always paid my bill using my banks electronic bill pay system. I understand that they now require the security code as of the end of June.. It's a bit scary to get charges on your card from a company that doesn't have the info. My concern is the poor credit card system they had up until June 25 and the ridiculous request from their financial processing department to ask someone to FAX a credit card statement to them. Especially after fraudulent charges appear on it. Who knows how many hands that FAX passes through?

Norm

 

[EricJRW]

Yes they do. Any credit/debit card used for payment of services or ordering equipment must have the security code entered in before the order/payment is processed.

I concure... My recent upgrades required me to also read the CVC number off the back of my card.... However I do not recall the details when I set up autopay.

So how did D* get your credit card number?

 

[dlugatch]

So how did D* get your credit card number?[/QUOTE]\

Before June 25th if someone made an error entering their CC # and the expiration date was a match they would charge someone else's card. D* did not check name or address or security #. They have since changed their system.

Norm

 

[EricJRW]

I understand what you are saying, and I suppose as the number of cards increases the odd of this happening get lower, but still... I was told one of the reasons a credit card is 16 digits long is so there are 10-quadrillion unique numbers, just to keep things spread out....

[correction]I guess the first 4 digits are not random, so that means just a trillion unique numbers.

Hope I remember my numbers...

 

[mikep554]

A buddy of mine at work has done quite a bit of traveling internationally, so he has had his card numbers stolen a couple of times. In both cases, charges were made to the cards through eastern European card processing companies that push the charges through with names that look like legitimate businesses, but it is all a fraud. I would not be surprised to find out that this is actually coming from someplace other than D*, but disguised to look like it is related to D*.

 

[EricJRW]

Maybe that's why D* wanted to see the statement, since they probably did not have, nor could they find, the charge information in their records.

 

[dlugatch]

Maybe that's why D* wanted to see the statement, since they probably did not have, nor could they find, the charge information in their records.

While it's true they could locate it with my statement, i did a 3 way call with my bank and they said they would only give them my CC# if they could have a persons name and phone at D* who would handle the problem personally

In reference to the another responder re: the zillion numbers involved, one would only have to accidentally type my CC# and luck out with an expiration date that matched. Rare but much more likely then one in a zillion chances. This is why D* added the security code check as 6/25.

No other incorrect charges have occurred on this or any of my accounts. Most CC frauds would instantly run up huge charges as quickly as they could before dumping the card.

I posted this thread because I've never seen a CC# entered that didn't require a name and matching address before. Seemed kind of lax to me. I can't get the smallest product shipped to an address other then my billing address.

Norm

Norm

 

[paulman182]

Yes they do. Any credit/debit card used for payment of services or ordering equipment must have the security code entered in before the order/payment is processed.

I'm sorry, this is simply not always true. I made reservations for my vacation last week and I was surprised that the person taking the reservation did not ask for the code.

I looked at my credit card on the web and saw that the full amount had already been charged, almost three weeks before I take the trip!

So in some cases, the security code is not necessary.

 

[msmith]

To clarify my problem, I did not have a credit card on file with D*. D* told me that this problem has happened to others. I have always paid my bill using my banks electronic bill pay system. I understand that they now require the security code as of the end of June.. It's a bit scary to get charges on your card from a company that doesn't have the info. My concern is the poor credit card system they had up until June 25 and the ridiculous request from their financial processing department to ask someone to FAX a credit card statement to them. Especially after fraudulent charges appear on it. Who knows how many hands that FAX passes through?

Norm

This is standard operating procedure at my company. We need SOMETHING that shows that a transaction was placed with the wrong card before we can research it. Too many people call in looking for a free "refund" check for their card "being used" by us.

Your CC statement does not have your expiration date on it. Nobody can use your card without it.

Having said all of that, I'm an IT person and I occasionally get a request to find a record in our system where a particular card was used. It's a lot harder than it used to be - we are now required to encrypt the card number and that makes it difficult to find a match against a random record.

 

[EricJRW]

I should think that the D* account number, the exact date and the exact amount would make finding the charge in question quite easy... Does D* really need an CC account number to see that they charged a credit card a specific amount on a specific date? As an "SQL guy", I find that hard to believe (of course I don't know what fields are on the CSRs query screen).

 

[say-what]

They probably need the card number to verify the complete transaction trail, find the source of the problem and correct everything for all involved, even to the point of determining if there is some sort of credit fraud taking place.

About 4 years ago I had a strange entry show up on my bank statement where a withdrawal was posted from my debit card. Not recognizing the company listed in the transaction history, I called the contact number provided with the transaction entry and was able to verify that the debit came from someone in Texas to purchase a phone card (can't recall if they gave me the name associated with the transaction). Needless to say, I called my bank, reported the transaction and had them cancel the card and issue a replacement. I have an idea how my debit card number got pilfered, as I never use it for purchases, but accidently pulled it out to get some gift cards at a local restaurant and there had been some credit fraud issues in the area with local waiters double swiping cards - once on the proper terminal and then on an illegal card reader.

It could be that someone got hold of his account info and is perpetrating credit fraud to get DirecTV services and this is not DirecTV's fault. In fact, I'd suspect credit fraud since there have been 2 transactions - the 1st one worked and service was not discontinued so they upped the ante and ordered something more expensive.

If I were the OP, I'd cancel the card and get a new one, otherwise he's likely to find more surprises.

 

[xrobmn]

I concure... My recent upgrades required me to also read the CVC number off the back of my card.... However I do not recall the details when I set up autopay.

So how did D* get your credit card number?

Just my two cents.. *D took my CC number with expiration when I signed up for them Oct 2007.. and when I go online, it's still listed as on file, even though it's billed via Qwest as a bundled service. Same with my friend when he signed up in Feb.. They wanted a valid CC# and exp/CVC number to place his order.

When you signed up, they have to bill some credit card for hardware and first months billing (at least 99.9999% of the time I'd think).. So, they have some CC# on file..

I'm guessing that's how they always get our CC #..

 

[msmith]

I should think that the D* account number, the exact date and the exact amount would make finding the charge in question quite easy... Does D* really need an CC account number to see that they charged a credit card a specific amount on a specific date? As an "SQL guy", I find that hard to believe (of course I don't know what fields are on the CSRs query screen).

The problem is that the account number is unknown - they used card X on an account other than X.

It can happen even with a non-customer. There are a few ways to transpose digits in a card number and get a valid card number. Rare, but possible.

 

[EricJRW]

The problem is that the account number is unknown - they used card X on an account other than X.

It can happen even with a non-customer. There are a few ways to transpose digits in a card number and get a valid card number. Rare, but possible.

But I get the impression that your are a customer, so you know your D* account number? If not, would not a telephone number suffice?

Oops, now I get it...

Just because I see a D* charge on my CC statement, does not mean it was charged against my D* account... And I suspect most of D*'s charges are for the same amounts (packages and options are finite). And that's why D* needs something else to search on...

:up: