Thread: attempted fraud with a prepaid card?

Plain and simple, if I have a prepaid visa card in my name with a $0 and someone takes it then attempts to make a purchase, but fails, is that fraud?

For what it's worth, this is a Vision prepaid Visa. I don't remember ordering it, but found it laying on my desk and the sticker with the activation number was off of it. The card had my name on it but I don't remember ordering, activating or loading money on the card. I went to the website and created a login. What it showed was 3 declined signature transactions and each were charged a fee of $2.95. It was then charged an Activation fee of $9.95, a monthly fee of $6.95 and a conditional monthly fee of $4.95. The $4.95 was charged because no direct deposits were made to the card in the month. Can you say "Rip Off!"

Then it said I have a balance of -$30.70 and I needed to load money immediately. I called the customer service number and they said because someone attempted to use it before funds were added, it triggered the fees and they needed to be paid immediately.

They weren't able to make a purchase, but they did stick me with a $8.85 fee ($2.95 X 3) for 3 failed attempts to use it to make a purchase. I'm sure they thought either there was money on it or it was a credit card when they took it. Then they tried to put it back so I wouldn't miss it. The fees for this are just nonsense and when this is over I'm cutting it in half and sending it back. Can they really come after me for those fees since I never loaded money on the card?

I know it's a stupid question, but I've never been stiffed with a fee from a card I never loaded money on before. What if any laws are broken then when someone attepts to use your card without permission but the transaction is declined? Does it matter if it's a credit card, debit card or prepaid?

Man this is why I won't use prepaid cards too much shady stuff with them.

But the #1 reason to not get a prepaid card is that having one wont build credit. My bank tried to sell me one because I couldnt qualify for a credit card and I said what good will a prepaid card do.

I would notify customer service that the account was opened fraudulently and it must be closed with all accrued fees waived. If this is not done the prepaid card account may go to collections eventually and tarnish your credit record.

What happens if credit card points were redeemed for a prepaid a prepaid gift card that was lost or stolen in the mail. Who would be responsible for it, customer or creditor?

I've never heard about a prepaid card with negative balance.

What happen if you wait until expiration date?

Will be issued a new one with negative balance?

Will a monthly fee of $6.95 be added to your negative balance every month till the end of the world?

Probably, a balance of -$30.70 just means that you will get a balance of +$19.30 if you charge $50.00 (for instance).

I don't think that it is a real debt.

Yes, I now it's an old thread.

But OP, why not just tell customer service that you did not open the account. If it's true and someone did it without your knowledge then that is identity theft, a serious federal crime.

If you did open it, pay the fees, close the account, and deal only with reputable companies from now on.