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Comcast took more than $1,000 out of a West Fargo, N.D., resident’s checking account, despite the fact she isn’t a customer and Comcast doesn’t offer cable service in North Dakota.
Becky Phelps is stuck in limbo after the cable giant took the money and is now dragging its feet refunding it, according to a report by Valley News Live. Customer service has proven itself unhelpful because Phelps cannot produce a Comcast account number she never had.
“They kept asking for an account number and I was like, ‘I don’t have an account with you guys. Why am I being charged?’,” said Phelps. The customer service agent quickly disconnects the call after that, leaving Phelps frustrated and out a lot of money. “That money was set for other bills. It’s made it really tough for us because we’ve had to dig into what savings we have, just to cover those differences.”
Her bank has run into a similar brick wall with Comcast reversing the charge, despite the fact the cable company now willingly admits her debit card information was probably stolen.
Comcast claims it has referred the matter to its fraud team, but little has happened since.
Banks strongly recommend if you see unauthorized purchases on your account, call the bank immediately and initiate a chargeback. Because Phelps’ debit card number was compromised, funds were immediately removed from her checking account. If the purchases appeared on a credit card, a customer service representative could start a chargeback and advise you not to pay the disputed amount. But it gets more complicated with debit cards because Comcast already has Phelps’ money.
Valley News Live reports Comcast stole $1,000 out of her checking account for cable service she does not have in a state Comcast does not serve. (2:44)
Your title is misleading. This is just a case of debit card fraud. Cardholder calls card issuer and starts chargeback end of story. Pure clickbait. Comcast sucks but this is not their fault.
I would say “takes” is a better word.. It may be fraud, but not matter how you look at it, isn’t receiving stolen goods a criminal offense?? and they received stolen money, that they are well aware was stolen. So, on their end, they should have immediately refunded the money, found the account that it was put on, and then contacted the police with the name and address of the account that it was billed, or maybe I should say paid the bill off of.. After all, it is not like it is a cell phone that can be moved… Read more »
This is a great article about the dangers of debit cards. I can’t believe the banks push these and that people fall for it. Has nothing to do with the evil of Comcast, which is there in abundance, just not in this case. The eagerness of the snarky press to make this seem a Comcast issue only discredits the author.
Not just debit cards, but credit cards too.. I try to use cash when I can, just because of this.. If you remember right, a little over a year ago, target had information stolen on them from all of their customers that bought stuff through them. So it definitely is not just a single company that this has happened to. I remember once, I used my CC to buy gas at a gas station. It was the only place I used that CC in months. Then after I did, I started seeing charges for things like, gaming sites, and stuff.… Read more »
CC fraud is an issue to be sure, but it doesn’t leave someone as exposed as they are with a debit card.
They both have their downfalls. Just as with a CC, a debit card can be charged on, and if it was compromised, both can be changed, and gotten your money back. The big difference is, one is money you are borrowing, and one is money you already have. With the CC, if you have money in the bank, then you have something to rely on.. But, with a debit card, if they take all the money, then you have nothing, if you do not have a CC.. That is where you are the worst off. In the end, there is… Read more »