Near Intersection of I-35 & I-90 Southern Mn. | I pride myself on checking my bank account online quite often with the idea being that this acts as a double check that I enter actual transactions correctly in my personal software and to catch any potential doubtful charges early on.
In November, I noticed a Debit charge for $8.99 on my bank account from a name I didn't recognize. I was busy during harvest and assumed it was something I had ordered online and let it pass. Later I noticed another charge for $5.99 from the same outfit. December 1, I noticed yet another charge of $8.99 to my Debit card from the same place.
The entry in my online account from my bank had a telephone number with it. I called the number and got a message about Push "1" to check the status of your order, Push "2" for a refund, Push "3" to talk to a live operator. I pushed "3" and got a message indicating that all operators were busy and I should try email.
I talked to my bank and although the amounts were not huge I wanted to stop them. They suggested cancelling my current Debit card and they would issue me new. In the mean time I called the place back and chose "2" a recording asked for my zip code and last four digits of the my Debit Card.
Yesterday, I went to the Bank to pick up my new debit card. One of the gals said she had worked with a similar situation the week before dealing with this same outfit. She filled out a form with the entries of $ 8.99, $ 5.99 and $ 8.99 on it. The Bank credited my account with these amounts.
Today I happened to check online to confirm the situation and noticed my Bank balance was $8.99 more than what I was showing in my personal program. In looking at the Bank account online, I noticed the refunds the Bank had made back to my account yesterday plus another $ 8.99 from the merchant. In other words, I received an extra $ 8.99 on the whole matter.
I called the Bank and they are going to reverse one of their $ 8.99 refunds.
This whole thing is very puzzling. The name of the company was Pictography. I did a search on them and found what I believe is a legitimate business. There was another entry for a Pictography.co. This is what I believe to be a fraudulent business purposely using a modification of the real business name. Apparently this is the outfit that created the charges to my Debit Card. I'm thinking that they are making these rather small charges to accounts under the assumption that people will not check them and they will pass through without question. If one complains, they refund your money to avoid prosecution. I believe the matter is settled with a good outcome.
I've seen here several times the suggestion to use a Credit Card and not a Debit Card for purchases since with a Credit Card, you have a chance to dispute the charge where with a Debit Card the money is already gone. It is true that the money is already gone with a Debit Card but my Bank assured me that they have the same responsibility as a Credit Card Company would have. When I picked up my new Debit Card yesterday, the gal started filling out the form for my refund from them without me even asking about it.
I thanked the gal for her efforts. She said that even though this is a small town bank, they have situations of this nature almost daily.
So if you notice any questionable charges on your account even if small amounts, check them out
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Beware of charges from Pictography
