Beware QC Supply on-line

[busted knuckle]

I normally don't do this, but I purchased my Hot Dawg through QC Supply On-Line and failed to check if it was secured. I check my account for my card weekly since it is a debit on my checking account. I only use it for the bank ATM!!!!!! This is for my weekly cash. I watched my account to see when they had charged me. Five days after placing my order my account was charged and that day the heater arrived. The tracking number they supplied never showed it was shipped. The following day my account had two ATM withdrawels for a total of $510.00 then 2 days later 3 ATM withdrawels for another total of $500.00. Wiped out my account and no money for the house payment today. THEY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED ON THE NET. My bank has cancelled my card and notified MC of the fraud. It was done in England. I now have to get into my savings to pay the mortgage, pay fees for the bounced checks since the wife went to the grocery and who knows what else. DON"T BUY FROM QC SUPPLY!!! I have contacted them trough e-mail and have not had any luck speaking with a human being. MY2 CENTS since thats all I have.

 

[gesoffen]

Thanks for the warning and sorry to hear about your troubles.

These are the type of stories that have steered me away from Debit and check cards for most transactions. The proponents of those cards always mention the banks pay you back in the cases of fraud but most people have to spend a considerable amount of time (hours can be considerable if your bank account is $0 and a mortgage payment is looming) to convince banks that fraud has occurred. Thats why the credit card will always be king in my household - treat it like your debit/check card and you'll have no problems with over extending and you get the protection of vendors/frauds not having direct access to your bank accounts.

The only benefit to debit/check cards is the resurgence of the 2-3% discounts for not using credit cards (places like gas stations). If that is worth the risk, I'd suggest setting up a separate debit/check card account that is used for those purchases only and fill it with the minimum amount of money to cover the use of the card. This should be a pretty simple weekly account maintenance chore with online banking.

 

[Northstar9126]

So are you out the money? What did the bank tell you?

 

[BearFan]

Always use CC.Neighbor sent a M.O. to a furniture place in florida once and never received anything.Lawyers said it would cost more than furniture to fight.

BTW ,I used QC last year with no problem and they even followed up on some slight damage.Good Luck!

 

[PAToyota]

There is quite a bit of information on the net about not using debit cards for precisely these reasons. Yes, you can get your money back in most cases. But until then you are out your money to pay your other bills. With the credit card you still have your money while you dispute the charges.

I just had my CC compromised for the third time in a little over a year. Thankfully, the CC company has recognized questionable activity each time and shut it down without problems. But still a pain to wait for the new card and all.

And I am careful with my CC. Typically only use it at stores where I can swipe it myself (another place never to use a debit card - where you hand it to the waiter and they disappear with it) and on online merchants that I have some level of faith in. Always shred financial information before throwing it out. Each time I've gone back through the last month or two of purchases and nothing really catches my eye as being out of the ordinary. Hard to say whether a merchant got hacked, someone didn't shred things and something was pulled from the trash somewhere, a disgruntled employee took information, or what happened.

 

[busted knuckle]

I have gone through the steps of reporting the fraud to MC and my bank. The bank has given me credit for the missing funds until it is resolved through MC. This is the only transaction I have made with my debit card other than cash withdrawels at the bank ATM for my personal use. I review my statement on-line weekly and monthly when I receive it and then shred it. It'll be a while for resolution. Lesson learned.

 

[mmhouse]

Sorry for your problems.

Suggestion for future online credit card purchases......

Check with your CC issuer to see if they offer a temporary CC# service. BofA calls it 'ShopSafe'. This service allows you to quickly and easily obtain a one-time use CC# tied to your regular card. You can set both time and dollar limits on the temporary number. This service takes most of the risk out of using your credit card online and keeps you in control with unknown vendors.

 

[busted knuckle]

Never heard of such a thing. I will look into it. I have changed my ways as far as purchases in the future which will be only my CC and not my debit. There will not be any access to my direct banking account. I received a reply from QC Supply with what I will call the standard reply of their system is fully protected and employees are trustworthy. My bank informed me that the only way they could have used my card is with the card number, experation date and three digit code on the back. which I supplied for my purchase. I ONLY USE MY CARD AT MY BANK ATM FOR PERSONAL CASH. With this the only exception of purchasing from QC Supply. I initially tried to purchase this heater over the phone, but would not receive it for the on-line price. Anyway, forward I go.