Telecheck is getting bankaccount information from Walmart without customers knowing.
I got this letter in the mail with my old address on it that stated, "To successfully convert a paper check to an electronic item, the banking numbers along the bottom of the check must read with a special check reader and that information must be accurately transmitted to Telecheck to ensure a complete transaction. Unfortunately, the transaction you authorized at the above merchant location can not be completed because the banking information was not read correctly by the check reader. Telecheck cannot successfully complete the transaction."
I could smell a Phishing scam coming on. No doubt they were going to ask me to give them my banking account number. Who is Telescam, I mean Telecheck? The letter continued as expected, "We need your assistance to correct this error. Please call Telecheck at (888) 263-4935 upon receipt of this letter so that we may verify your banking information." At this my head is screaming Scam Scam! I hate scams. So, I called to play along and find out what these scammers were up to.
To my surprise the scam was bigger than I thought. I was connected to a Telecom scam artist, I mean associate, named "Manny". He was friendly at first until he tried to get updated information from me. I only gave him my first name and the old address that the letter was received from. They already had that information anyway. He said that Wal-mart was using them to retrieve funds. I asked him if the check in question had been bounced. He replied no, and continued to re-script what the letter had said about needing information. I told him that I don't even use checks at retail stores, and if the check didn't bounce why was I being harassed with collections letters. We went back and forth a bit, but I refused to give any further information, and was told that if I didn't pay, "it was going to [be held against] me." I hung up.
I thought to myself, “I have had more than enough funds in my account to cover the 131.79 in question. Even if it was my check, why would Wal-mart send it to collections if it didn't even bounce?” It hit me, “Wal-mart is getting scammed!” Telecheck suckered Wal-mart into a contract to prescreen checks. I am sure that Telecheck convinced Wal-mart that they saved them “millions” on bounced checks. But, if Telecheck can just flag customers with or without funding and charge Wal-mart a “small finder’s fee” for protection, they can suck the beast dry. Wal-mart is getting robbed blind! First, Telecheck causes Wal-mart to lose sales. Telecheck then charges an extortion fee; I mean finder’s fee, for every flagged check.
I didn’t give Wal-mart the right to give out my personal banking information to a third party scam artist like Telecheck. I pay Wal-mart in good faith for goods and services, while Telecheck loses sales, destroys customer loyalties, and laughs all the way to the bank about it. I thought customers did business with Wal-mart when they purchased merchandise. I was never informed that Wal-mart was giving my banking information to Telescam companies.
I called again and talked to “Curtis”. He said they have been racketeering, I mean doing business, for 20 years. I told him I needed proof of the check in question. I asked, “What did I purchase?” He said he only knows that I need to pay 131.79, and that it would affect me if I didn’t pay. I can only assume he plans on attacking my credit history. Does “Curtis” from Telescam have the authority to destroy all the work I have done to build my credit and life of a responsible citizen! I am just getting married and would like to own a home soon.
How badly is a Telescam extortion bracket going to attack me? Will they destroy my chances of getting into my own home? Should I pay the 131.79 to get them off my back? Isn’t that black mail!
Telecheck ended their letter with, “Telecheck apologizes for any inconvenience this incomplete transaction may cause you, and we hope that you view this situation as an isolated incident, which does not reflect negatively on the merchant or on Telecheck. The Telecheck Electronic Check Acceptance service is a safe and secure payment method, and we hope you continue to select electronically converted checks as your preferred payment option.” I read,” Hay sucker, don’t tell Wal-mart they are getting played. If you pay up and shut up, no one gets hurt.”
I called back a third time and asked “Curtis” to send me a copy of the check in question so I could compare it to my records and validate it. He stated that he would send it, but I felt from his tone that he was upset. I only pray that they don’t destroy my credit because I don’t view this situation as an isolated incident and do reflect negatively on Wal-mart and Telecheck.
I have never done business with Telecheck, and feel violated by Wal-mart for subjecting me to a third party interrogation team. And although I don’t feel that Telecheck’s method of doing business is ethical, Wal-mart was the one who violated my privacy and gave out my banking information to a third party source without any authority. Is there no law that protects customers from companies giving away banking information? How can I protect myself from monsters like Wal-mart and Telecheck?
Show me where to send the stone to bring the Giants down! They can try to destroy my credit, my future home, my life, and take my hard earned cash, but they can’t destroy my spirit! They are messing with the wrong guy.
