As you know I have an ongoing fraud claim with Macy’s American Express. And when I say ongoing, I discovered fraudulent charges way back at the beginning of November. I called them to report it right away, as I am supposed to do.
Since then, I have multiple fraudulent charges on the same account even though they canceled that first card and sent me another. That I did not activate. Didn’t matter. The thief knew how it worked apparently and managed to use it anyway. They closed that one. I didn’t activate that one either. More charges. I received a $200 coat I did not order. I could go into further details but I think you know enough to understand my dismay and frustration with Macy’s and the thief they have allowed to continually victimize me.
In desperation, I stopped didn’t pay my statement in January and didn’t pay it on time in February, because I figured, maybe this would be the only thing that would stop the thief. If Macy’s actually told the fraudster, nope, sorry, but you are past due. I had asked for my account to be closed, mind you, but give everything I have gone through I knew not to trust them.
Since I had filed more fraud reports, I decided to finally send them a $200 check. But before they could even receive that, there’s more.
I am sitting at my desk at work on Tuesday morning and I get an alert from my bank, Chase, advising I am overdrawn almost $300. Needless to say my jaw dropped. I looked at my account. Macy’s took a $1000 payment from my account. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Which I did not have nor had I authorized, obviously.
Called Chase and disputed it. They filed a claim and would give me back the money while they investigated it. They recommended I close that checking account and open a new one at my earliest opportunity.
Called Macy’s from work. They wouldn’t talk to me from my mobile phone so Tuesday night I called from home and told them they had stolen from me. The customer rep, Cataleen, said she was marking it as a fraudulent payment and would send me an email confirmation. I never got that email, by the way. I cannot trust them. I am now forced to take a half day on Friday to call them again (their hours are all Eastern and their fraud department closes before I get home, conveniently) and make sure they give me back my $1000. We figure what happened is the thief tried to charge something yet again and was told the account was in arrears. They must have than authorized this $1000 payment over the telephone from my account (which Macy’s American Express had my account information).
As you can imagine I am beside myself over this. Distracted from writing? You bet.
Tuesday night I went into the bank, put a freeze on the old account (I am not able to close it yet) and opened a new one. Thankfully they did give me back the $1000 but that is a temporary credit until their investigation is done, so I am still left fighting with Macy’s. Cataleen had the nerve to ask me if I wanted a new card sent to me. I said no I want it CLOSED. CLOSED. She claims it is. But now I will confirm when I deal with all of this on Friday.
Filed a complaint with the FTC. Froze my credit. Reported a Fraud Alert on my credit.
If you have a Macy’s credit card of any time I would hasten to close it. They are thieves and have no clue how to prevent fraud. None. M thinks it’s an inside job at Macy’s. Could be.
So the saga continues. And continues. And continues.
February sucks again.
I regret now filling out the first check-in for the Bang because it’s well…distracting. I will try to get through it. Trying.
February 27, 2020 at 8:09 am
This is horrible. So horrible. I mean, it’s good you have resources to go to and options. But that you have to spend the time and the frustration and the stress and upset and everything?? I’m so sorry dear.
I wish there was a better way. But most of all, I wish this never happened to you. But that helps nothing, so all I will say is that I will hope for a speedy, and complete, resolution to this.
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February 27, 2020 at 8:19 am
It is horrible. Not gonna lie. I’m having a tough time with it emotionally as well as financially. I am thankful the money has been returned for now but the fight is not over and I can’t even believe this has been the result of months of fighting.
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February 27, 2020 at 9:20 am
Of all the ruins, and there are many, the financial ruin is the most cancerous. And I’ve HAD actual cancer AND fraudulent charges. It caused me much less pain and fewer problems than fraudulent charges have. Cancer, the enemy is right there, they find it, they attack it, they remove it, they keep checking to prevent more.
Fraudulent charges? Nobody believes you. They treat you like YOU are the criminal, not the victim, and the actual criminal is off in Russia or somewhere whooping it up with all their booty at all their victims’ expense. KNOWING they’re causing this kind of havoc.
The financial thing touches every part of your life. And haunts you 24/7. And even when/if they exonerate you, your credit. is a mess that takes forever to rise back. But God forbid you need your credit between the first fraudulent charge and when it rises back.
And there are other entities that won’t let you use your credit because you’ve been fraudulently attacked and now they don’t know whether to believe the actual you or not. Thus the reason I couldn’t use SS online. I had to go in person to prove I’m who I say I am and THEY set it up. And still, every single time I want to look at my online SS account, they send me a new code to verify my existence.
The thing is, it becomes this domino effect animal that crawls into every corner of your life and poops. And it’s only going to get worse for EVERYONE as apparently the criminal AI’s are smarter than the financial protection AIs.
To the point now it’s a wonder every single person out there isn’t going through what you’re going through though who knows how many thousands are at this moment. And think how many million$ and million$ of dollars have been lost by businesses/companies because they LOSE all the money when it’s returned after their investigations are done. And then those losses are passed on to 1. their investors and 2. ALL their customers.
They’re even attacking children who have a SSN, which they ALL have to have And their parents don’t even know it for years.
Even checking in for the bang, I’m sure you can pull out if you decide to later. I mean sheesh, how much is a person supposed to handle at once? Don’t even worry about the Bang. Now you have to take care of YOU. You have to get through this with some semblance of sanity and peace or all those criminals win. Your real life deserves peace and handled lovingly. ❤️❤️❤️
I believe that in the board game, “Life,” when you lose everything, you move off somewhere and become a philosopher or something. Would it were that easy!
My best of wishes and good thoughts and prayers for us all!
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February 27, 2020 at 9:30 am
Yes to all of this. You nailed it all perfectly. Macy’s had the nerve to send me a letter saying they were lowering my credit limit for not paying. On an account I begged them to close. The gall is without end. And yes, every person acts like you are making it up. Every. Single. One. They say the words, “Oh, I am sorry” but you can hear it, you can tell it. And these criminals are excellent at what they do. And the companies? Not at all excellent. So yes, my energy is dwindling at the moment but I am trying. Thank you and we all need the prayers for sure.
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February 27, 2020 at 9:52 am
BTW, from my experience in the past when I’ve closed an account so no more charges can be made on it, and didn’t open a 2nd account, so you keep making monthly charges until it’s paid off, your monthly minimum payment almost doubles. And they don’t give you any options.
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February 27, 2020 at 10:13 am
Oh I am sure Macy’s intends to screw me anyway they can so I expect something like that sigh
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February 27, 2020 at 9:23 am
I’m stunned. That’s absolutely incredible. I have no advice, but surely there is some option to fix this situation. A lawyer? The Better Business Bureau? It’s ridiculous after you reported it all. It does sound like an inside job. Idk! Good luck. My heart goes out to you.. ❤️💚🖖😢
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February 27, 2020 at 9:35 am
Thanks. As far as I know the Better Business Bureau is useless. I did report it to the FTC, per advice.
But yeah ❤
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February 27, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Fuck, that’s fucked up situation.
I’m so sorry. Just a never ending cycle 😦
Hopefully they get it straightened out soon and without more money being taken from you.
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February 27, 2020 at 1:53 pm
yeah me too!
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