| Credit Card Dispute - Wishing to Close Card Account |
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nemoryer
Full Member
Cash: $ 13.35
Posts: 57
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: wa
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| Credit Card Dispute - Wishing to Close Card Account |
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In June I was in a foreign country and was victimized by a ruthless merchant who "doctored" the bill, that when I saw my statement, I immediately called the bank to report it. First, I thought it was a fraudulent transaction but it was not because I met the merchant face to face, so then it got re-classified as a "Billing Dispute."
This matter is alledgedly "still under investigation" everytime I call the bank and so far they have not reversed the charges, although every time I call, some clerk at their Billing Disputes Dept. reassures me it will be reversed within 7 business days.
The amount is dispute is $40. The merchant doctored the bill to make it look like $408. I technically only owe $40. I have faxed copy of original bill to the bank and they have all the copies they need and even they all conceded that the bill had been clearly doctored and altered.
It's almost October and everyday I am "sickened" to my stomach of this and I just want to pay them the entire amount and close my account just to be rid of them for once in my life.
My question is: After I close this account and they for some miraculous reason decide that they owe me the money, what happens after an account has been closed? Is the bank liable to send the customer the excess amount paid, or are they entitled to keep it?
I could keep the account open for a year and I had not used the credit card since June. But there is a measure of peace of mind that I am so lacking right now, that I just want to get rid of them. Is my reasoning understandable?
Thank you.
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Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:48 pm |
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Wino
Senior Member
Cash: $ 113.80
Posts: 560
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
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If you have given the evidence, the bank must put a hold on the charge ASAP. If it is shown "in dispute," then the charge is on hold. There is nothing stopping the merchant from continuing to add the charge every month even after you get it off your card. I had Houston Cellular continue to add a bogus charge every month, and I would send the contract, also every month, for maybe six months. I finally closed the account as you are planning to do, but I did it because of the re-charge, not because of Amex.
My advice to you is to wait through the dispute process until it is resolved. Once resolved, just cut up the card or otherwise stop using it. Do not close the account. Part of your credit score is based on "credit utilized divided by credit available." By closing an account, you hurt this factor (even if only slightly).
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Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:30 am |
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