Am I obliged to pay? What should I do?

Question

A salesman sold me over the phone a bunch of books I wanted and he told me the total price was $215. When I checked the credit card statement, I realized that they charged an additional $115. When I try to contact the person I am unable to. I sent emails and they remain unanswered What should I do? Can they get away with this?

Answer 1

Who was the company who sold the books to you?

It could have been a scam. But if you're not getting a reply via email try actually calling the company. Last resort, dispute the charges with your credit card company since you didn't authorize the other $115 charge.

Answer 2

Have you seen a breakdown of your receipt? Were their any outrageous fees that you were not told about? I'd report the company to the Better Business Bureau. You may have to just take this as a loss but learn from it. Don't give your credit card info to people that you don't trust 100% that are from a reputable company.

Answer 3

Write to your credit card company immediately and give all the details.   Dispute the charge.   Report the person to the Better Business Bureau, and the telephone company.    And don't do business over the phone that way again.  ALWAYS get the terms in writing before you give out your credit card information.    You realize you will probably never see the books either.

Calling your credit card company first is a good idea, but it does not protect your rights.  You must put your dispute in writing, and you must do it in a timely fashion.   Good luck.

Answer 4

Contact your credit card company.  They will send you a form to report this fraud.  They will fight the salesman's company for you.

Answer 5

Did you receive any paperwork saying that you would only pay $215? They can get away with this if you don't do something about it. Contact your credit card company to try and get them to contact those who charged you.

Answer 6

Call your credit card company and have your receipt ready & be near a fax.

You can also use the internet to look for the company then check your account for accuracy.

In the future, when you order something by phone, try to use a debit card.  Most of banks have free on line account accessibility & you can check your transaction within minutes, print out any current information and you can usually call someone to "have your back" when you need to dispute any transaction.

Also contact the BBB - see if they have any "shady" business practices in their history.

And don't use them again -- let companies know that our spending power is what keeps them alive.  Even if it's only a few cents, if they quote/calculate a price to pay, then THAT'S what we pay - if companies want to take advantage of customers; show them what happens - it's a matter of principle and fair practices.

It may take a while - but you will get your $$ back.

Answer 7

Contacting your credit card company may or may not do any good.

Do not simply call them.  You must follow the rules of the Fair Credit Billing Act and contact them in writing, this will also provide you with records if needed.

Write to the creditor at the address given for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending your payments, and include your name, address, account number and a description of the billing error.  Send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you.   You should also send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of what the creditor received. Include copies (not originals) of sales slips or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter.  Sample letter:

"I am writing to dispute a billing error in the amount of $______on my account. The amount is inaccurate because (describe the problem). I am requesting that the error be corrected, that any finance and other charges related to the disputed amount be credited as well, and that I receive an accurate statement.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe any enclosed information, such as sales slips, payment records) supporting my position. Please investigate this matter and correct the billing error as soon as possible."

The creditor must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days after receiving it, unless the problem has been resolved. The creditor must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles (but not more than 90 days) after receiving your letter.

The FCBA settlement procedures apply only to disputes about "billing errors." For example:

unauthorized charges. Federal law limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges to $50;

charges that list the wrong date or amount;

charges for goods and services you didn't accept or weren't delivered as agreed;

math errors;

failure to post payments and other credits, such as returns;

failure to send bills to your current address - provided the creditor receives your change of address, in writing, at least 20 days before the billing period ends; and charges for which you ask for an explanation or written proof of purchase along with a claimed error or request for clarification.

You can also file a complaint with your states attorney generals office.  Here is a link to locate yours

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/atto...

Hope this answer is of help to you

LEGAL DISCLAIMER:  The answer provided  here is intended for informational purposes only.  It is not intended nor presumed to be legal counsel or professional legal advice.

Answer 8

Oh dear....I'm sorry to hear that! I'm not sure what the procedure is in the US to be honest, have you a receipt/invoice?

Do you have other contact details like an address?

Is it a well known company, whose head office you could contact?

Never give your number out over the phone if you can help it as you never know what they are going to do with the details.

Answer 9

Call the credit card company and contest the charges. Be prepard to defend your position with an original statement or something proving that you only agreed to pay the initial $215. They should investigate for you, and will force the seller to correct or explain all charges for you.  

Answer 10

You can call your credit card company and dispute the charge if the company does not return your emails.  If you receive the books do not open the package and refuse the shipment.  

Answer 11

That's why I never buy anthing over the phone and I hang up on anyone that calls me trying to sell me something.  If I want it I'll buy it.

The first thing I'd do is check the Better Business Bureau and see if the company name has been reported.  If they aren't on the list, I'd report them.

As far as being obligated to pay, it seems like you've already paid it, if you paid via credit card.  I'd discontinue that credit card, so that no other charges gets put on it.