Just received a letter this week from a debt collection agency based in Europe — chasing a debt that arose from fraudulent use of my credit card!
How it got this far is beyond me, but seems that the company — Intertops Gaming & Entertainment obviously did not listen to their bank when the transaction was reversed by AGC due to fraud!
First started when AGC rang me to alert me that the “Falcon” had picked up that my credit card had been used to purchase some Euro’s on the Intertops Betting site. It was obviously not me as I did not buy the credit on the website, nor do I gamble as such! So, in liaison with AGC we agreed that the credit card had been compromised and used in a fraud overseas. The credit card was cancelled immediately and the transaction reversed. That was the last of it or so I thought.
A few weeks later I received a letter from Intertops demanding the 50 Euro’s that were bought in my name. Using the email address supplied I replied that the transaction was not legal and not myself and that I had no intention of paying it. I included the details of the AGC reversal telling them that they needed to check their bank for details. The reply a few days later from one of the Intertops customer service reps was accusatory and demanded the reimbursement of funds or they would persue legal avenues. This was after I had indicated that it was fraud!
My last email to them was reiterate that I would not pay the fees and asked them to check with their bank as the transactions was fraud! Perhaps a fraud investigation was in order?
So, this week a letter arrives from Intrum Justitia, a debt collection agency from Austria demanding the debt plus fees! The letter states,
KEEP YOUR CREDIT WORTHINESS WITH A PAYMENT
Dear Madam/Dear Sir,
according to International Gaming & Entertainment Limited you have not payed an invoice of EUR 89.82. We have therefore been requested to recover the money.
Intrum Justitia is represented in 191 countries worldwide. With 23 sister agencies we are practically strong in Europe. We might deliver today, details of your credit standing to some of your contractors.
Keep your credit worthiness with a payment to us in the next 10 days.
(Cheques cannot be accepted)
Spelling and bold all theirs. Note the dramatic increase in fees.
So, I have asked AGC for a letter stating what occurred and why the transaction was reversed and the card cancelled. I did try and contact Intrum Justitia via their website but it’s in German.
But this is what is “funny” and should be causing questions to be asked by Intertops. The details of the latest letter list my address with the Beverly Hills postcode of 90210 and with the phone number of a high-school in Western Australia. I am hoping that by sending the letter from AGC to these guys this will end the dispute. Annoying that someone else can steal your credit card and stuff your life up — but I am thankful that it is just EUR 50 and not thousands!
Anyone else have an experience like this or have some ideas?
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