topic Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!! in General Credit Topics

$2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 19:32:39 GMT

Hello everyone!
I am in desperate need of advice. The other night I was checking all of my accounts and noticed that I only had $200 available credit on my Paypal Extras MC when it should have been $3000! That's when I noticed a pending charge of $2800!! I immediately called Synchrony to report the unauthorized charge. They closed my account and issued me a new card. Well my statement just cut and it is showing a balance of $2800!! Why did Synchrony allow the charge to go through when I reported it while it was pending? Every time I call they tell me it is under investigation. When this balance reports to the bureaus my credit will be destroyed!! It will look as though I have maxed out that card! Will my other accounts be shut down due to this? What are the chances they deny my claim and I am stuck paying for this? I always keep my utilization between 1-2%! I am literally freaking out, any advice would ve greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

gdale6 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 19:44:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello everyone!
I am in desperate need of advice. The other night I was checking all of my accounts and noticed that I only had $200 available credit on my Paypal Extras MC when it should have been $3000! That's when I noticed a pending charge of $2800!! I immediately called Synchrony to report the unauthorized charge. They closed my account and issued me a new card. Well my statement just cut and it is showing a balance of $2800!! Why did Synchrony allow the charge to go through when I reported it while it was pending? Every time I call they tell me it is under investigation. When this balance reports to the bureaus my credit will be destroyed!! It will look as though I have maxed out that card! Will my other accounts be shut down due to this? What are the chances they deny my claim and I am stuck paying for this? I always keep my utilization between 1-2%! I am literally freaking out, any advice would ve greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The bank cannot stop a duly authorized charge from posting if the merchant completes the transaction. Since they closed and issued you a new account I would not worry too much about it but I would back up the phone call with a written and mailed dispute to the bank on the charge it preserves your rights. If you state in it the charge is unauthorized then they have no choice but to end up reversing it back. I would not worry too much about utilization its only temporary if they even report it as some banks will remove the old account when reporting the new account info.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 19:51:07 GMT

Your credit isn't gonna be destroyed. It's 1 month, maybe 2 of high utilization. Even if Citi or Amex takes AA, they'll reverse it once you talk to them.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 19:59:12 GMT

The unauthorized charge is now on my new account. I received a statement on the new account today and the balance is $2800. I haven't even received my new card yet.😥

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:18:06 GMT

Sorry this happened . A hypothetical for you guys: if in a crazy scenario something like this wasn't resolved by the due date, should the minimum payment still be made to avoid negative marks even though there is no legitimate balance?

Creditjunky, I would love to hear how long it takes for Synch to take care of this, if you don't mind updating when you hear from them.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:18:47 GMT

I will definitely update! I absolutely cannot afford to get stuck with this bill. It is unbelievable to me that Synch even allowed the charge to begin with, as I would never max out my card! I have never used my cards for such a large purchase.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:22:23 GMT

If it isnt your charge i wouldnt worry. This is one reason to check your accounts more often. Suprising the $2800 charge didnt set off any bells.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:24:48 GMT

I can't believe the charge didn't set off any bells with Synch either! Luckily I caught it the same day the charge was made. I check my accounts almost everyday.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:28:36 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
If it isnt your charge i wouldnt worry. This is one reason to check your accounts more often. Suprising the $2800 charge didnt set off any bells.

Agreed, very surprised that such a large charge didn't trigger something! IME, most charges over a few hundred dollars (particularly for such a large % of your CL) trigger some form of fraud prevention. Granted I have a pretty low income

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

CreditInspired — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 21:06:32 GMT

Hi all

Since the amount is so large, I think OP should file a police report. What’s y’all take?

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 21:14:08 GMT

I did file a police report but the investigator said he isn't sure he can do anything. My ex assaulted me and put me in the hospital over the weekend. He was previously an authorized user on my account. I recently took away his card and removed him as authorized user on my Paypal Extras and my Citi card prior to this incident. While I was in the hospital, he went through all of my things and found the card and spent $2800 on an attorney!! So, although I removed him as an AU and took the card from him, the investigator said it will be difficult to prosecute him. 😭😞

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 21:17:55 GMT

Look at this way other creditors will see you pushing up against your CL and see it paid off or down to zero and possibly give you higher CL's in the future or CLI's for being responsible with using credit and "paying" it back quickly.. As echoed above FICO has no memory after a month depending when Sync reverses the false charge and gives you credit for it.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

coldfusion — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:10:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I did file a police report but the investigator said he isn't sure he can do anything. My ex assaulted me and put me in the hospital over the weekend. He was previously an authorized user on my account. I recently took away his card and removed him as authorized user on my Paypal Extras and my Citi card prior to this incident. While I was in the hospital, he went through all of my things and found the card and spent $2800 on an attorney!! So, although I removed him as an AU and took the card from him, the investigator said it will be difficult to prosecute him. 😭😞

Take some solace in the thought that your ex will be having a unpleasant conversation with a very unhappy attorney once the $2800 charge is reversed.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:07:24 GMT

Wow, sorry to hear, please stay safe, i think the bigger issue here will be hopefully your safety with your ex. Credit issues take a back seat to our safety and well being. Hoping everything turns out ok

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

kilroy8 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:29:53 GMT

Wow, this is a mess for you. Hope it all works out.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

CreditInspired — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 23:47:09 GMT

As AJC said, your safety is paramount.

I am confused though because the story is slightly different. So, I am really hoping that the CCC removed him as an AU before he made the 2800 charge because if they did not, unfortunately, you would still be responsible for any charges the AU made. Im keeping my fingers crossed that he was removed.

Take care and be safe.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 23:49:11 GMT

He was definitely removed as an AU before he made the $2800 charge.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

CreditInspired — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 23:50:23 GMT

Thank Gawd.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

HeavenOhio — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:17:53 GMT

@Anonymous, the bank can't refund a pending charge until it posts. Once it posts, Synchrony can refund it. At that point, the "investigation" will likely be open for a few weeks. But direct involvement between you and Synchrony should be done. You'll have activated your new card, and your balance will be back where it was.

It's too bad this had to happen at statement time, though. Once the charge is refunded, ask them to report your balance to the credit buruaus. Synchrony isn't known for reporting upon request. Just tell them that you don't think your credit should suffer for a month because of this. Can't hurt to try.

Re: $2800 fraudulent charge on Paypal Extras MC!! Please help!!!

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:31:08 GMT

Thank you for the great advice. I am just so distraught over this whole mess.