Cheque Book Security...

[Ramius]

Here is my rant for today... :no:

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you! :bash:

[Jonty]

Here is my rant for today... :no:

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you! :bash:

Mate that sucks!! this really highlight the risk that cheques pose. Usually banks will not confirm signatures unless the amount is up around $2K. I would complain very loudly to the bank for honouring the cheque!

[Virago]

Here is my rant for today... :no:

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you! :bash:
Shit mate, what a bummer! Keep us posted on how you get on with the bank / police.

I think that most Eftpos systems have now been changed so that the complete credit card number is not printed out, so that's closed another loop-hole for scumbag store staff.

[bugjuice]

that suks big time..
hope you get it sorted

[XTC]

Mate that sucks!! this really highlight the risk that cheques pose. Usually banks will not confirm signatures unless the amount is up around $2K. I would complain very loudly to the bank for honouring the cheque!
My mrs used to work for the bank in cheque processing and only cheques for amounts over 10K had signatures verified. I have no idea where our cheque book is... I'm not allowed any of my money :(

[jazbug5]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

[MSTRS]

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...

Sorry to hear that & hope you get it resolved quickly. Low-life thieves should be sent to the arabs to deal with. No system is safe tho - not cash, cheque, eftpos, cr-card etc.
Just take all the care that is possible, and hope your money stays safe.

[Ramius]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

Something I really don't know, I will find out when I go to the bank shortly. Its not a situation I like to be in at all!

[sels1]

Sorry to hear that mate. But still come to the do tonite, we'll shout ya a beer if you're a bit short - you will need one by then I think...! :niceone:

[bear]

My mrs used to work for the bank in cheque processing and only cheques for amounts over 10K had signatures verified. I have no idea where our cheque book is... I'm not allowed any of my money :(

Depending on the Bank I think you'll find it is a fair bit higher than this.

[James Deuce]

You know, I'd go mental if it wasn't for the fact that I can always think of Sean when things are bad, and say to myself, "It could be worse."

I hope this stuff stops happening to you one day soon.

Jim

[bear]

...I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Dude, that sucks, hope it works out okay!

[XTC]

Depending on the Bank I think you'll find it is a fair bit higher than this.
Probably is now..... This was back when 10K was alot of money :)

[Jonty]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

The bank is not liable to the drawer if the collecting banker who recieves and collects a cheque on behalf of a customer in good faith and without negligence. The onus is on the banker to establish that they were not negligent, usually the courts will look at factros such as internal bank practice and policy to see if it was followed in the particular case (and consequently if not, this may give rise to neligence).

In this case, I would imagine that what will happen is that the bank will attempt to track where the money has gone and get it back for you (fingers crossed).


Good luck :niceone:

[bear]

...I would imagine that what will happen is that the bank will attempt to track where the money has gone and get it back for you (fingers crossed)...

Yeah, but if the cheque has been cashed then she's a gone-burger.

[Skunk]

Sorry to hear that mate. But still come to the do tonite, we'll shout ya a beer if you're a bit short - you will need one by then I think...! :niceone:
I second that...

[ManDownUnder]

Yeah, but if the cheque has been cashed then she's a gone-burger.

Hell no - not a gone burger.

If the bank says "nope - not our fault" ask them for a copy of the cheques concerned because you're taken them to the banking ombudsman.

Put the request in writing, have them confirm the name of the person cashing the check, and the type of ID provided as proof.

Escalate it to the branch manager - again... everythign in writing, and then onto the the ombudsman, and provide a copy to the Branch Manager, if needed.

Of course if the bank does the right thing and cancells/refunds/gets you off the hook, you need to tell us, and them, what a great job they did too (and how high you had to make them jump...)

Good luck!
MDU

[Ms Piggy]

Here is my rant for today... :no:

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you! :bash:
I heard about this from you last night but wanted to pass on my sympathies again.

I reckon I'd be going to businesses that accrpted a cheque for that amount without checking it should be hauled over the coals! When I worked in retail we had to 'Telecheck' anything over $100-.

I hope they sort it soon!

[marty]

[QUOTE=MSTRS]Sorry to hear that & hope you get it resolved quickly. Low-life thieves should be sent to the arabs to deal with. QUOTE]

yeah - just like drug dealers should be sent to indonesia

[What?]

My mrs used to work for the bank in cheque processing and only cheques for amounts over 10K had signatures verified. I have no idea where our cheque book is... I'm not allowed any of my money :(
The BNZ rung me a couple of weeks back to check on a cheque because the signature didn't look quite right. The amount was an awful lot less than 10 grand...
(yeah, it was my cheque - I just don't write enough of them these days to keep a regular looking sig)

[Ramius]

Thought I would update on what is happening...

Considering this happened on Friday, and yesterday was a holiday, there has been little action...However, the bank did rush through a credit card application...and declined it because my current account is now in OD, I mean HELLO!!!! Why is it like that...bunch of pillocks. :brick:
Anyway, the police are now following up with the store/s. No ETA as to when things are going to get sorted out, hope it is not in 45 days time! But, on the other hand, they were kind enough to open a temporary account for me so that my salary can go in next week...would have been better if they gave me an account with MONEY in it! I HATE BANKS!! I HATE MONEY!!! I THINK I WILL BECOME A MONK!!! :angry2:

[vifferman]

Thought I would update on what is happening...

Considering this happened on Friday, and yesterday was a holiday, there has been little action...However, the bank did rush through a credit card application...and declined it because my current account is now in OD, I mean HELLO!!!! Why is it like that...bunch of pillocks. :brick:
Yeah, they are. Same thing happened to us years ago, when the bank wouldn't give us a mortgage because our history was bad. And why was that? Because (a) they'd whacked some charges on that we didn't know about, then (b) we'd consequently written out some cheques, which (c) they'd dishonoured due to insufficient funds, and (d) not contacted us to let us know, then (e) charged us a dishonoured cheques fee of $20 on each cheque, etc. etc. (and on and on the spiral goes, so our bank balance was WAY in the red, when we thought it was in the black). At no point do they tell us this, so it's a surprise when we eventually get the statement. Then their mismanagement of our account (by not contacting us like their info said they are supposed to) becomes OUR fault. Sounds trivial and petty maybe, but we were on limited funds with a new baby and all, and we thought we were carefully managing our funds to keep just in the black (wife's an accountant after all!), whereas THEY knew what was really going on (further and further into the red) and didn't tell us. Plus we couldn't buy groceries at the supermarket for several months because one of the cheques we'd used there had bounced, so we were now criminals!

So we closed all our accounts and went elsewhere. Over the years, the potential interest they could've had if they treated us right would amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Dicks...

But we had some fun'n'games due to fraud. Wife had her handbag stolen, cancelled all our cards plus the cheques. I was in Australia at the time. Whoops - almost no money, no cards, had to borrow some $$ from a client. :o Then the bank dishonours the legitimate cheque numbers that we told them were from BEFORE the bag was stolen, and honoured the cheques from AFTER the event. Yeah, good going, bank dudes!! :weird:

[ManDownUnder]

Righto - my person fav (not excluding the prime examples of stupidity detailed in this thread) is the fee for putting through an electronic transaction... webbanking.

Let me see... I do the work putting the details in and setting up/confirming the transaction, their system invests around 0.0001 seconds and (lets be generous here) a load on their IO subsystems of 1k... and they CHARGE ME FOR IT????

"We have to invest in setting the systems up blah blah blah". No shit sherlock... I used to do tech support for systems like that. I know enough about them to run around yobs like you and yet here they are, holding the company line, and smiling as they rip us off at every opportunity.

Aaaa - I know why they're called bankers... it rhymes with the truth...

MDU

[ManDownUnder]

Thought I would update on what is happening...

Considering this happened on Friday, and yesterday was a holiday, there has been little action...However, the bank did rush through a credit card application...and declined it because my current account is now in OD, I mean HELLO!!!! Why is it like that...bunch of pillocks. :brick:

Here is the opportunity to have some fun with them...

Stop by here http://www.bankombudsman.org.nz/ and see what trouble you can raise. Don;t be scared to contact the CEO of the bank concerned - they're mucking around with your credit rating and availability of funds, I'm sure the CEO can afford 20 mins of his/her time to make sure the ride is as pleasurable as possible.

Have them apologise to you for the problems they've caused, and a refund of all fees incurred because they honored cheques they shouldn't have

Have them contact the retailers confirming the lack of funds/bouncing cheques was in no way your fault, and ask the retailers to ensure any credit rating agencies are informed that it's not your fault.

Have the bank write directly to the credit agencies with an outline of what happened, and list the shops affected (as the bank will not be able to ensure the retailers actually do anything - have the bank do it by proxy)

Reuqest a copy of all documentation requested above, and ask them to also copy the Banking Ombudsman's Office.

:whistle:

Go for gold dude - and I mean REAL gold... not just "success" as the saying implies.
MDU