Anyone ever have your credit card stolen and used?

[Mizmoon]

At the end of March Sears called to ask us if we had charged $900 the previous day. We hadn't. Long story short someone stole our Sears card and charged almost $2,000 on it.

Since Sears called us first about the fraud, and we signed and sent the affidavit they required, we assumed that was the end of it. Nope. Sears sent a letter demanding a police report and asking us who "Jane Doe" is. Well, I assume "Jane Doe" is the fake name the criminal used, because I don't know anyone by that name.

The local police looked at us like we were crazy people when we asked for a report - the cop said "it's Sear's problem. They're the victim here, not you." Long story short - we're not going to be able to get this police report they want. We don't even know when the damn card was stolen.

I'm not sure what to do next. Anyone have any experience in this area? Any suggestions?

[Book Lover]

1. I don't understand why the cops refused you

In order for you to get your card canceled, etc, you have to file a police report. I haven't been in this circumstance myself, but that's what I have heard coworkers who *have* has this happen say.

[Mizmoon]

7. the card has been cancelled

since we first found the fraud. From the cop's perspective, we can't tell them anything. We don't know when it was stolen, where, how, no suspects, no date, no place, - what are they going to write exactly? How do they know we're not making it all up because we're scamming the card company?

Plus, if the card company isn't going to bother to take the slightest protection, why should the cops bother? The thief signed a name different than the one on the card. The purchase went through anyway. What's wrong with these people.

Just playing devil's advocate, mind you. I wish he did just give me the damn thing and be done with it - but I see his position.

[candy]

2. Did you keep a copy of the affadavit? If you did sent Sears a certified

letter with a copy of the affadavit and your experience with the police department and forget about it.

I assume you cancelled your card.

[Mizmoon]

4. yeah, the card was cancelled when they called us initially

I was thinking of doing what you suggest, I just hope that puts an end to it.

[candy]

6. Make sure you check your credit reports on a regular basis.

I had a problem once and did everything I could do and finally told to take me to court,just try it.(this was a collection agent.)

I never heard from them again.

Document everything--name,date,and time of day any time you get in a mess like this.

[Midnight Rambler]

3. Someone got ahold of my debit card number once

And whoever it was is an idiot cause all they charged was a pizza, believe it or not. The damn thing is, it caused me to be overdrawn on my bank account, and it took me weeks to get the whole thing straightened out.

[Mizmoon]

12. The Great Pizza Heist

Good Grief ... I guess you can think of it as feeding the hungry or something.

[oregonjen]

5. Did they steal the card itself or just the number?

We had our number stolen before we even had activated the card or even taken it out of the envelope. I'm assuming it was someone who has access to the numbers because we had never even used it before.

Make sure you call the major credit report agencies to report the number stolen. Save every piece of info regarding this for the rest of your life.

[Mizmoon]

9. it was the whole card

it could have been a cleaning lady we hired off of craigslist, but we have no proof so I'm not going to make accusations. I don't know how else it could have happened, though.

[miss_kitty]

8. Call your state attorney general's office & ask for the state law on this

In WA state, the person whose card/id was stolen is now legally considered the victim too. Also don't take the word of one cop that that's how the situation is usually handled. He just may not feel like taking a report. Keep a log of everyone with whom you speak. If you cannot get a cop to take the report, get the name of the person who tells you this and refer Sears to HIM/HER.

Fuck I hate that attitude.

[Mizmoon]

10. I know

Where is Officer Friendly when I need him/her?

[miss_kitty]

11. Either waiting for YOU to exceed the speed limit

or light up a spliff:evilgrin: