I have a problem with a host - they decided to "automatically deduct" my next year's charges 2 months before my time ran out. Unfortunately, I was considering switching plans since they'd updated their offering lately, but given the recent treatment of customer no-service, I'm thinking about picking up my toys and playing elsewhere.

Problem is, I've called and emailed several times and gotten no response from the host. Unfortunately, it was a debit account so there's none of the usual CC recourses. I'm rather disappointed because I thought the host was honorable and I'd been happy with the service up 'til now, but this is a crucial matter - especially since this unexpected (they still haven't told me they've charged me - I had to check my statement) charge has caused my rent check to bounce and has basically nuked my budget.

I'm holding out to release the name of the host, because I know they once frequented this forum - it's how I found out about them, and why I recommended them to a few of my friends. Perhaps they still lurk and might read this and finally get back to me. If not, I will publicize it to protect others.

UPDATE: WAS CONTACTED BY MY HOST. PROBLEM RESOLVED. Feel free to continue the Credit Card discussion...

Ooops, im an aweful skimreader.. Excuse my post.

You may not be correct about the "No recourse" statement. A local gas station recently charged my debit card $277 instead of $27 for a fill-up. They then dragged their feet about giving me a refund of the overcharge. I called the debit card company (happened to be PayPal) and they said that if they didn't resolve it ASAP, I could most certainly do a chargeback.

Check with the bank that you got your debit card from. I'm almost certain you can do a chargeback.

--Tina

I had a company decide to disappear on me after I returned the product to them without getting my money back. Told my bank about the problem and a couple days later after no returned contact from the place a chargeback was done. Call up or go to your bank and talk to them about the problem.

I do agree that it is worth checking into but this all depends on the bank or financial institution. I once had a problem with a hosting company that wouldn't refund me even though I was not given the service I paid for. I used a debit card and my bank wouldn't do anything about it. There policy was that if you use your debit card, it is the same as writing a check. And with a check, you hand it to the person and therefore can't say that you want that back. Of course, this was the occurrence I had with my bank and I hope that yours is more willing to work with you on it. As already mentioned, it is definitely worth checking into.

Well, it's one thing to write a check. It's another thing to have someone print up checks and write it out themselves. I never authorized the charge and I was never informed of any automatic renewal setup.

I'll give the bank a call in the AM (love Saturday hours...)

Mage, you should have got a receipt and/ or invoice for the debit transaction. At least you have something on paper to show the bank should they need it.

I thought this was a well known fact. However, I'll say it anyway... Although it's possible to get a charge back, you should never use a Debit Card online, if you can help it. The reason, of course, is that there's not as much protection as there is in Credit Cards. All credit cards (I think all) have protection against (and specifically for) online purchases. Also, that money isn't just all withdrawn from your account at once and you'll get billed for it in increments. If you use a debit card, someone can just take out all your money and even if you can get a charge back, what can you possibly do in the meantime before it's resolved? Nothing. That again, is not even brining up the fact that many banks don't offer _any_ protection for debit cards. So, be careful, don't use a debit card online, if you can help it and you should use a credit card instead, for the reasons above... otherwise, you're risking it.

I'm trying to get a credit card at the moment, however getting my first one is like finding a shredded piece of card in a pile of paper. Not have a credit history doesn't help. Doing 80% of my shopping online (yep, mole person here gets out of the house for 20% of that shopping) with a debit card isn't safe, but until one of these freakishly paranoid (for good reasons) companies issues me a card, it's all I have to work with.

Originally posted by Mage
I'm holding out to release the name of the host, because I know they once frequented this forum - it's how I found out about them, and why I recommended them to a few of my friends. Perhaps they still lurk and might read this and finally get back to me. If not, I will publicize it to protect others.

Daniel, (if it is who I think it is), they are still around...
Last Post: 2001-09-30
Last Visit: 2001-10-05

Originally posted by JustinK
I'm trying to get a credit card at the moment, however getting my first one is like finding a shredded piece of card in a pile of paper. Not have a credit history doesn't help.If you only use it to make online purchases, and pay the balance right away, remember that the interest rate doesn't matter. Then it's hard to believe you couldn't get one with no credit history (as opposed to with a bad credit history).

But don't apply at banks and institutions that offer really good rates -- those are more selective.

I've gotten four or five pre-approved card offers just as a result of subscribing to a couple of business magazines from a new office address. I know that's where they came from, because the way my name and address is formatted is different from what I normally use. Of course, I've tossed them all in the trash because they offer something along the lines of 27% interest, but the point is they are preapproved, and they are offered to be even though there's no way they've checked any kind of credit history -- there's nothing connecting my name to this address or my name at this address to my social security number. And, of course, they are nothing near the quality of the offers I get at my home address.

'Preapproved' means that you signed up on a mailing list for a product or service that they bulk mail to. Nothing more.

If you are having a hard time getting a credit card, look for a bank that offers 'secure' cards. You have to open a bank account with them and that is your line of credit. $300 in account, your credit line will be $300. It is a way to start out when you don't have other options.

I agree with Chicken that a 'secure card' may be the best way to go. Also, If you are in the US, you may want to go to Sears or Lowes or most department stores. It was a long time ago, but I got my start with Sears, then bought some small things that I paid off right away. Wasn't long before I had enough of a credit rating to get a Visa card.

Good Luck.

Originally posted by Chicken
'Preapproved' means that you signed up on a mailing list for a product or service that they bulk mail to. Nothing more. Either "pre-approved" or "pre-qualified" offers might be made to members of a specific list. I did list management consulting for non-profit groups for years, so I've seen both types of offers go out for affinity programs.

"Pre-qualified" is often used to describe an offer that's targetted to a specific purchased list of names. It's little more than an invitiation to apply. "Pre-approved" means just that -- it's the replacement for the now-illegal practice of simply mailing out an unrequested credit card.

If you read the terms of a "pre-approved" offer, you'll see that there are specific conditions stated that will void the offer -- a recent bankruptcy, for example -- but otherwise if you respond within the given period you will recieve an account. Of course, the card provider has some protection in that they haven't told you how much of credit line you'll have; if after you respond to the offer they run a credit check and find substandard results, you'll probably end up with $300 or so... and your terms for all of these cards typically include a provision that will increase your interest greatly if you pay late a couple of times.

It's hard for me to believe that anyone in the US that's at least 18 years old, can't get a credit card. Of course, some of these people might not be in the US. I think between my wife and I, we must get at least 3 credit card forms a week (SPAM mail). We just decided to finally get one, but not from the SPAMMERs, just to build credit. We don't like credit cards and don't have a need, but it's good to have for credit history when you buy a house or a new car on a payment plan. Other than that, I don't like borrowed money anyway, even if I can pay it back before there's any interest. Still, it's hard to believe there's people that are denied a card, since I see all sorts of people that have filed for bankruptcy, have no job and bad credit, get approved for $2,500 - $10,000 credit lines all the time. :-)

I'm cool with the topic straying, and in fact have something to add (that I learned from listening to Clark Howard on AM radio.)

If you're tired of getting tons of CC offers in the mail, you can call 1-888-5OPT-OUT (567-8688) and the 4 major Credit Bureaus won't be able to sell your info, from which a majority of the CC offers come, for 2 years. I did it 6 months ago and have received 1 CC offer since, and that was from my bank so it doesn't count. :)

Here's a link to Clark Howard's site with a few details...
http://clarkhoward.com/topics/888_opt_out.html

-----------------

Chicken - Yeah, I'm pretty sure you know who it is. I know he's still working on the service because he just switched providers, upgraded the commercial site, and moved us to the new provider (which has different paths and pretty much fried 99% of my Volkswagen pages. Oh, without warning, but we won't get into that again...)

I understand that he's busy with all the changes, but I've emailed and called 3 times each, and each time mentioned that it was way early and that I need the money back because he caused some important stuff to bounce.

A bit frustrated with the experience. Nuts - and I just remembered that Monday's a holiday, so the bank'll be closed. Well, hopefully it'll be resolved Tuesday then.

Originally posted by JayC
...Then it's hard to believe you couldn't get one with no credit history (as opposed to with a bad credit history)...

Actually, having bad credit is better than having no credit. I'm not saying that everyone should go out and trash their credit but at least with bad credit you have shown your willingness to make payments hopefully some of them on time. With no credit, they have absolutely no history of you. This has been confirmed and most major CC companies won't even think of you if you have no credit. With bad credit they just jack up the rates and finance charges and you have to live with it until you can establish yourself.

My first CC was from NextCard and they are an online CC company. It was pretty easy to get a card from them even though the interest rate was something like 19.9%. I would try them out first and then if not there, look for secured cards. They are at http://www.nextcard.com

Good luck...

I'm going for a nextcard next. :) Right now I'm going through a few mastercards. I don't know why, but I just have the urge to get mastercard instead of visa.

I finally got a response from my host promising that my account will be credited. I'm guessing I won't see it until Tuesday, but I'm pretty sure the problem's been resolved. Feel free to continue discussing Credit Cards. :)

Good to here. :) Did you end up getting your bank involved or did the host credit you on their own?

Visa debit cards offer the same protection as Visa credit cards; I think thats the only debit card that has that sort of protection though.

Originally posted by jw
Visa debit cards offer the same protection as Visa credit cards; I think thats the only debit card that has that sort of protection though.

Not entirely true. At the time I had the problem I had with an online company and used my debit card, it was a Visa debit card. And still, my bank wouldn't do a thing. I really believe the difference is in the banks, not the type of card you have. The same bank switched to MasterCard debit cards later and still had the same policy.

Well, I guess you can call it contacting me on their own. I didn't get the bank involved, but I think getting the forum involved was a stimulus. I hated having to leverage that threat, but I tried to keep it between us first.

BTW, it's a weekend - not much hope of getting the bank involved until Tuesday anyhow. :)

I'm 14 and im getting a cobaltcard next week. I buy so much stuff online, I need it. Im turning 15 in November. Once I'm 16, Im getting a credit card with my mom with perfect credit as a co-signer. I can learn how to build my credit so I can get a nice 100,000 dollar credit line and follow my parents, with good credit, and always never paying interest, etc. :) Just wanted to tell everyone that. :) Don't know why though.

-Kyle

CC Company loves everyone that has bad credit. They'll offer you high credit limit with insanely high interest rate too. The reason is simple, there is more of a chance you'll charge up a storm and wont be able to pay at once. This way, they hit u with interest and they laugh all the way to the bank :)

I got my credit started with my dad, he co-signed me on one of his CC. Not too long, did i find out that CC's were evil. I was late on a 50dollar payment and was hit with a 25dollar surcharge :(
CC's are evil, but if you can manage your spending and pay on time, its essential for online purchasing.

Another recommendation. Get a CC from one of the major companies, not from a smaller company. I found out the smaller companies have subpar support than the major company i have used.

To all the younger kids in my family that complain that they want a CC, i tell them CC's are EVIL! :)

my 2c :)

Well, I just got back from my bank today. Let us recap the story thus far, adding some new details since I last posted on this thread.

09-17-01 - My former host, DynastyHost to be exact, posted an unauthorized charge to my DEBIT card of roughly $180 for another year's service. This charge was made over a month before my service was slated to end, and there was no automatic-renewal agreement of any sort.

Early October - I discover that the charge was made WHEN MY RENT CHECK BOUNCES! I attempt to contact DynastyHost via email and telephone (answering machine).

Mid October - Having received no reply, I post on this forum with no company name. The next day I get an email promising that all will be made right.

Late October - Still receiving no refund, I set up shop on another server (Hostrocket.com - I've watched them for a while and my church has their site hosted there. I highly recommend them.) and contact DynastyHost via phone (answering machine) and email asking what's up. I get a big sob story about how busy things are and this and that and promises that all will be made right.

Early November - (Still having recieved no reply) I'm going through my statement online to get the amount of my auto-deposited paycheck and I see ANOTHER CHARGE of $19.95 from Dynastyhost! I have NO CLUE where this came from since I've already (unwillingly) paid for service through Oct 2002. I call (answering machine) and email wondering what THIS one is.

Today, November 19 - I print out a bunch of emails from my sent folder, as well as the few replies, grab my list of phone attempts, my Sept statement, and a printout of my November transaction history and head to the bank. I report my card as lost so the numbers are no longer valid (preventing further THEFT.) I put the 2 ill charges into a dispute with photocopies of the paper trail and 2 pages worth of explaination of what's going on.

So, DYNASTYHOST f... er, screwed me over. Just wanted everyone to know.

Sorry, but you had EVERY oportunity to make right on this. I'm still (counting charges for the checks that bounced before I knew about the first charge) at a $300 loss though I expect $200 to be returned from the charge-back.

Oh, and I now have a shiny new CREDIT card for online transactions.

Learn from my story, people.

Offically, Nextcard discontiunes secured card services

Now they only offer unsecured cards for good credit only!!