COLD deal -- Discover protection

[caisa]

Mods, please allow this, credit protection is a hot deal when it works against fraudulent companies.

I wanted to share my experience trying to enforce the Discover card protection clause. I have used the card to buy a voucher from a company called "University Auto" in CA, which was described as providing free services for my car. The actual small print revealed that it did not, unless I also bought some expensive services, so I called to return it. I spoke with the owner of the company, who gave me an address to send it to, and promised a refund. I returned the voucher, but the refund never came.

The cold deal comes from Discover though. After I have disputed the charge with them, they kept the charge, saying that the merchant replied to my claim that they have no record of my canceling the service, and that "all sales are final". I have tried to argue with Discover that their protection clause should cover me exactly against this kind of fraudulent company, and as stated in the credit card agreement it requires only that:
1. I'm not satisfied with the product or service
2. I have tried to correct the problem with the merchant.
3. the purchase is over $50
4. the purchase was made within 100 miles of my address,
and all four conditions were met in my case, but their only response was that the clause is for billing errors ?!?, and I have to take it to court.

I had an entirely different experience with a dispute with an American Express card, too bad I have stoped using it for some time since it did not have cash back.

I was wondering what are your experiences with credit disputes involving other cards.

 

[GhettoFob]

Do you have the Register service which costs extra or is it just the basic card?

 

[caisa]

Just the card, but it *should* have protection against fraud.

 

[skywhr]

Mine has protection against fraud, Ive never had a problem with them. Have had a Discovercard for 5 years...

 

[Shmorq]

I've never had a fraud problem with Discover, but I gotta say that with my American Express card, I feel that they are on my side. When I called in to dispute a charge, they immediately suspended the charges to investigate the situation. As it turned out, I was the one that screwed up, but it was nice to know that they would take my word first and then begin to look for the solution.

 

[GetReal]

The problem with CC fraud protection programs is that most CC consumers consider fraud to be anything that displeases them about the CC purchase. If they would take the time to read the terms & conditions of these fraud prootection programs they would see that the CC companies generally deliver exactly what is stated in the terms & conditions.. CC companies consider fraud to be the unauthorized use of your credit card by another entity or failure to deliver a good or service. They do not consider the quality of goods or services , overpayment for an item, or even bankruptcy unless you never received your item.
Some CC cards such as AMEX Blue offer specialied programs to compensate for these, but as a general rule if you authorized the CC purchase and the merchant delivered your purchase in good faith then it becomes a civil issue for the courts system should you want to persue it.

 

[caisa]

GetReal, I have to agree with you on the fact that Discover does not consider quality of goods and services to be covered. I've learned it the hard way. The only problem I have with it is that the Terms and Conditions specifically mention "problems with the quality of goods and services" on the said clause, though they did not honor it.

As for this case being indeed a fraud one, I consider both misrepresenting a product and requiring payment for a product I have returned to be evidently fraudulent.

 

[WolverineGator]

I returned the voucher, but the refund never came
2. I have tried to correct the problem with the merchant.

Right now it's your word against theirs. Show Discover copies of the voucher and the letters you've written to the company to get a refund. Without proof, you're hosed. If you have written evidence, you're in good shape to keep fighting.

 

[Emulex]

you send it back registered or signature required?

Don't ever send anything back before consulting your CC company.

 

[Emulex]

you send it back registered or signature required?

Don't ever send anything back before consulting your CC company.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

before Dec, they sent a letter about spend over $100 in xmas, and get $15 instant credit back in March.
it came out to be just $5 on my March statement,
I called cs, and they said it's $5, I told them I still have the letter,
so the cs asked me to send a copy of it to another dept.
I did so, recently received back the $10 on my May statement.

I consider this is bad faith of Discover, I guess they think most people will forget that the exact amount of that promotion, so they're trying to play trick.

Does anybody have same experience as this?