Bad News

Myrna wrote: David's credit card was just compromised in the South in a Walgreens. He was concerned that all of you may have problems with your cards if they have hacked into the Trauntvein name. He has an early-warning program so that if anything over a certain amount is charged, Bree is warned on her cell. He doesn't know how much it will be nor how much he will lose because it hasn't come through Chase Bank yet.


David wrote: Well it was actually a debit card. I was worried because when I called the store manager last night he informed me that several cards were used by the same people for multiple gift cards that were purchased. I thought these people couldn't have done this unless the names were the same (or an idiot cashier). He couldn't tell me the names on the cards, just that they were credit cards a Discover, American Express, and I don't remember the others.

Just thought I would warn you if that was the case. Also they somehow manufactured a duplicate card because I have mine and the bank has not issued any other cards on my account.

From Brandon (who, like Todd, makes his living in the world of credit card transactions),

He should be able to charge it back as unauthorized transactions. The merchants involved will need to produce a signed receipt showing that David authorized the purchase, or the merchant will be required to eat the charges as fraud. He shouldn’t be on the hook for any of the unauthorized charges.

His credit card issuer should close his account immediately and issue him a new card with a different number – if David contacted them already, they probably already did this.

He needs to dispute the charges within 60 days of when they hit his statement. He should still try to dispute them even if it has been longer.


Chances are, no one hacked in looking for Trauntveins.  It is much more likely that David’s number was stolen as he was using his card (by a store clerk or restaurant server), or by some employee of a merchant who has access to that information.  Or it is possible that a store’s information was hacked into.

Melanie wrote: Both of my credit cards in the last month have been hacked.

Todd wrote; Professional lingo. Like he got skimmed. Not hacked.

David wrote: Also, the bank said that I have to wait up to five business days for the transaction to post before they can take any action. Walgreens can't reverse the transaction because the card is cancelled and they have to have it in hand.

Melanie wrote: This is exactly what my credit card company told me. They closed both cards and reissued new ones with new PINs. I also got free credit report accounting from Chase.

Also, the disputing is easy to take care of. Every debit/credit agency now has a fraud department. David only has to fill out the forms and within days he will be credited his money back.

Mine was probably compromised in the airport when I traveled to Utah. I use cash for travel purchases now.

Kirsten wrote: That happened to us last year, but it ended up not being a big deal since we didn't authorize any of the transactions and Chase is a very big bank, used to these type of situations.  I talked to them over the phone about which charges weren't mine, then signed some additional paperwork regarding the unauthorized charges, and it was done within 30 days... Had new cards within a week.