# Help, my check card was stolen and my account was cleaned out! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2000, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274 "2000-10-09T15:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/21 "2000-10-09T22:34:13Z")
Well, in my understanding when someone is caught trying to use a card reported as stolen, they don’t try to stop the person, they just keep the card. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/22 "2000-10-09T23:01:51Z")
“Well, in my understanding when someone is caught trying to use a card reported as stolen, they don’t try to stop the person, they just keep the card.” Yes, I think the bank gives them $500.00 So, why not A: Call the bank 24 hour number on your check statement or B: Visit your bank web site or next time get a free online acct. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/23 "2000-10-09T23:12:24Z")
The clerk who gets a “Stolen Card” reply when he enters a card always keeps the card. If he’s lucky, he can stall the person who gave it to him and have time to call the police. Even if he can’t keep him there long enough for the police to get there, he memorizes the look of the person and reports it to the police. You’re being unnecessarily harsh to the store where the card is used, the bank that issued the card, and the police. What exactly did you expect, that the clerk would tackle the person and do a citizen’s arrest right there? The store, the bank, and the police very much want to catch credit and debit card thieves, and most of the time they succeed if it’s a multiple offender. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/24 "2000-10-09T23:14:31Z")
Excuse me if I have lost some faith in store cashiers the day that I found out someone made $800 worth of purchases with a card with MY PICTURE ON IT. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/25 "2000-10-09T23:43:03Z")
60 Minutes did a story on this last year… they took a staffer with classic Southern California beach looks - blond haired, tall, and tan… and gave him a credit card of another staffer, whose name and picture were Oriental. The sufer-looking guy bought over $2,000 worth of stuff in ten different stores - only once was he questioned about the discrepancy. Then 60 Minutes brought the camera back to ask the cashiers why they sold the merchandise to this guy, given the picture and the name looked nothing like him… and there was the typical embarrassed throat-clearing… - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/26 "2000-10-10T00:27:11Z")
A stores Merchant Agreement requires all Merchants to check and verify signatures on the back of CCs. If they don’t the Merchant will forfeit his liability. If the clerk takes a CC with a C-ID or something like that and a problem arises if VISA or MC can prove the CC wasn’t signed. Then the STORE takes the hit not the CC company. Clerks now a days are horrible at this.My boss gave me his AMEX and I used it signed his name NO ONE questioned it. KMART doesn’t even make an effort to look. I am thinking twice about keeping my Visa Debit Card. I’ve just heard too many horror stories like these ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/27 "2000-10-10T00:28:19Z")
[quote] IIRC if you report a card stolen you are not responsible for charges made with that card…even if said charges were made BEFORE you reported the card stolen. There are limits but you have something like 24-48 hours to report the card missing. [\quote] That is only for credit cards - not debit cards, debit cards (even w/ a CC logo) do NOT have the same consumer protection and you are at the mercy of the bank. \*\* I hate those cards [\b] They are the only cards I put ‘ask for photo ID’ on and rarely carry them. I have also asked the bank if I can get a non CC logo card. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/28 "2000-10-10T18:40:05Z")
That is just not true. I suggest you visit the websites I provided links to or read my above posts. I did not make the information up. Federal guidelines HAVE been passed and the information is in my posts. So Batz, how did you make out? Any info? Zette ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/29 "2000-10-10T18:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > **Federal guidelines HAVE been passed and the information is in my posts.** Any idea when those guidelines were adopted? Can’t have been too long ago… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/30 "2000-10-10T21:01:27Z")
Zette: I read your post above about the $50 max in 2 days and $500 if over that - I believe CC protection to be greater. I often listen to consumer avocate Tom Martino who deals with consumer related problems and many calls are about those debit cards - Tom goes on to explain that the protection you thought you had because it had a CC logo doesn’t apply to debit cards. Many people get stuck w/ such charges. The greatest protection in a CC transaction is you can challenge any charge BEFORE they get your money - the charge is removed from your bill and the merchant doesn’t get the money until he can prove you bought it. with debit cards the money is out of your account and into theirs - and much harder to get back. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/31 "2000-10-10T21:08:07Z")
It must vary. I forgot to sign my new card, and every time I went to use it, the clerk would turn it over, see the sig was gone, and ask to see ID. I did sign it, eventually. If I were to not sign it? I’d do the “check id” thing as someone else suggested. Otherwise, as has been repeated countless times here, the thief can sign the card and anjoy a spot-on handwriting match anytime anyone decides to scrutinize the two. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/32 "2000-10-10T21:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > \*\*The greatest protection in a CC transaction is you can challenge any charge BEFORE they get your money - the charge is removed from your bill and the merchant doesn’t get the money until he can prove you bought it. with debit cards the money is out of your account and into theirs - and much harder to get back. \*\* Yes, and this is the real reason why debit cards are bad. Even if you have identical fraud protection, with a credit card you are not out any money; at worst you’re out part of your line of credit (which you shouldn’t be relying on anyway). A debit card takes away your actual money, and if you end up not having enough to pay bills until the charges are reversed (assuming they ever are), you may have to take out a loan, liquidate long-term investments, or default on your own obligations. It routinely takes a month and can take up to three months to “investigate” fraudulent charges. Do you want to be missing $1000 or more of your money for three months? Capital One will give virtually anyone a credit card; their interest rates are absurdly high but they offer a grace period so if you pay the balance every month you won’t run up interest charges anyway. And you get the security of a true credit card. So there’s really no reason to have a debit card. Of course, before accepting any credit card offer, read the fine print closely. I received an offer recently that had a clause that, if you requested an increase in your credit line and it was granted, you would be billed a fee equal to up to one half of the amount of the increase in your credit line. Cute trick, neh? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/33 "2000-10-11T16:32:25Z")
First, K2Dave. You said: > [@](#): > > That is only for credit cards - not debit cards, debit cards (even w/ a CC logo) do NOT have the same consumer protection and you are at the mercy of the bank. That is the statement I was refering to. You are NOT at the mercy of the bank. With a debit card you have some limited federally regulated rights. > [@](#): > > Zette: I read your post above about the $50 max in 2 days and $500 if over that - I believe CC protection to be greater. You are saying CC protection is better. There is no “believing” involved. Based on the links I posted, CCs **clearly** provide better protection. I was simply stating what protection is CURRENTLY available to people like Batz who run into trouble. This is not a great debate, and I don’t care if use Debit cards, Credit Cards, or Wooden Nickles. I’m saying that a statement saying debit cards are completely unregulated is false. KellyM, The federal regulation is called “Regulation E” [http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx\_99/12cfr205\_99.html](http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/12cfr205_99.html) and has the following info associated with it: [Code of Federal Regulations][Title 12, Volume 2, Parts 200 to 219] [Revised as of January 1, 1999] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access[CITE: 12CFR205.6] Zette [note: coding cleaned up at the poster’s request. -manhattan] [Edited by manhattan on 10-14-2000 at 02:47 PM] ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/34 "2000-10-11T17:01:55Z")
For the record, the current regulations were adopted May 2, 1996. The previous regulations mandated the same limits of liability, but only for transactions for which a PIN was required to validate authorization. Transactions for which no PIN was required were not covered. The May 2, 1996 revision apparently redefined the terms so that the debit card itself is considered an “access device”. At least, that’s what appears to have been the case, based on the Secretary’s comments accompanying the rulemaking actions. See 61 FR 19669. ---
**Author:** ![Usurer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2acd7d/32.png) [@Usurer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Usurer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/35 "2000-10-11T19:14:38Z")
All of my credit cards say, “Ask to see I.D.” on the back, and I tip the clerk a dollar when he/she actually asks. Guess how many dollars I’ve given out in four years? Three. I’ve seen clerks stare right at the phrase on the signature line, then hand my card back to me without a word. I generally don’t have debit cards for any of my accounts; I used to work customer service for a bank and saw how their use promotes overdrafts (and the accompanying fees). I just stick with credit cards and checkbooks. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/36 "2000-10-12T01:04:57Z")
thank you for the clarification ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/37 "2000-10-12T01:42:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by redtail23 \* > The debit card was actually the easiest part of my ordeal because I only had to deal with the bank. That was all handled within a few days. Because I stopped payment on all the checks that were stolen, I’m still dealing with the merchants one at a time to clear those up. ☹ How did you do that? My understanding is that to stop payment, you have to give the exact money amount, and you have to do so before t6he check is cashed. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/38 "2000-10-12T14:48:00Z")
Three of them were at gas stations, one at Wal-Mart (the biggest one, $410.03), two were at Albertsons, and two were at Tom Thumb. The bank says it will take up to 10 business days to get my account credited. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274/39 "2000-10-12T19:58:32Z")
The problem is, that at some stores, like Kmart, they have the automatic swipe for your credit cards. So we can’t ask to check them anymore. Trust me, it sucks. Some people have yelled at ME for this-like it’s my fault! Then there’s the thing about people who don’t want to sign when they use it as debit. “I put my PIN in! You don’t need my signature!” Um, yes we do. What if your ex spouse or your kid took it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-check-card-was-stolen-and-my-account-was-cleaned-out/36274.md?page=1)