PNC Bank Does Not Protect Customers Against Fraud Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Thank you for all of the helpful information that you have provided me with. I spoke with PNC again yesterday as I had not received the affidavit that I was to sign. They now inform me that I would need to file a police report in order for my claim to be processed. I filed a report with my local police department who told me that this was a very common occurence. He also encouraged me to put a fraud alert on my credit. Today I received a phone call from Experian and guess what, someone tried to open up a line of credit in my name. Thank goodness I followed my initial insticts to file that alert. Who knows how many months would have passed before I would have noticed that.

In any event, ALL of the money that was debited from my account has been replaced by PNC as of 6am this morning. It is still listed as a provisional credit but at least they put it back. It was rather strange that they put the money back since I have not signed any paperwork yet, but I will as soon as it arrives.

As I said before I have been very happy with PNC, and they have gained my trust back. I just wish that their customer service reps would have been a tad more considerate. Oh well. Thank again everyone, especially Stile for all of the great information that you have provided.

Use cash, or use a credit card., Credit cards have more protections and flexibility than do debit cards. Restaurants and bars are great havens for skimmers.... so cash is probably best there.

"I thought the provisional credit didn't become permanent until after the fraud investigation is completed(usually within 30 days or up to 90 if it is an overseas transaction), not when the affidavit is signed and submitted. The bank could deny the fraud claim and deduct the provisional credit from the account."

The bank *could* deny the fraud claim, but not without a very good reason (such as the customer's story being inconsistent, or a reasonable belief that the customer participated in or benefitted from the transactions). Most fraud claims (particularly where the card has been skimmed, lost, or stolen) gives the bank an automatic chargeback right through VISA, and the merchant cannot represent the charge to the bank as valid without a lot of supporting evidence. For practical purposes, the claim is essentially decisioned once the fraud affidavit is returned unless it's an unusual situation.

I'll give you an unusual situation, briefly. This comes from a friend who used to work for a large bank's fraud investigation unit. She was investigating a claim where a customer claimed that a few thousand dollars in strip club charges on his check card in Vegas weren't his. She contacted the strip club to get receipt copies (standard procedure). The strip club sent my friend copies of the receipt, photocopies of the front and back of his check card, 3 credit cards, an affidavit stating that he wasn't drunk or under the influence of drugs (all with a signature match) and a copy front and back of his driver's license. When he still insisted that they weren't his, she advised him that if he could show he wasn't in Vegas at the time the charges were made, she would pay the claim. That was the last she heard from him.

"But I could be wrong."

You're not technically wrong, in that the law states the credit is provisional until the investigation is complete. You just don't have experience in a claims department as I do.

In any fraud claim, an affidavit must be signed and returned by the cardholder. Although you reported the fraud to them, this was done only verbally. By returning the affidavit, you are confirming your fraud claim legally. This affidavit is then used by your credit card company to go back to MasterCard or Visa to present the fraud case. And, if you think about it, if everyone who called up and claimed fraud received instant permanent credit, everyone would be doing it. And no one would have to pay their bills. My suggestion is to return the paperwork immediately.

In any fraud claim, an affidavit must be signed and returned by the cardholder. Although you reported the fraud to them, this was done only verbally. By returning the affidavit, you are confirming your fraud claim legally. This affidavit is then used by your credit card company to go back to MasterCard or Visa to present the fraud case. And, if you think about it, if everyone who called up and claimed fraud received instant permanent credit, everyone would be doing it. And no one would have to pay their bills. My suggestion is to return the paperwork immediately.

In any fraud claim, an affidavit must be signed and returned by the cardholder. Although you reported the fraud to them, this was done only verbally. By returning the affidavit, you are confirming your fraud claim legally. This affidavit is then used by your credit card company to go back to MasterCard or Visa to present the fraud case. And, if you think about it, if everyone who called up and claimed fraud received instant permanent credit, everyone would be doing it. And no one would have to pay their bills. My suggestion is to return the paperwork immediately.

"As far as your claim, don't worry about the "provisional" part of it. You'll have to sign an affidavit of fraud, but once that is done the credit becomes permanent."

I thought the provisional credit didn't become permanent until after the fraud investigation is completed(usually within 30 days or up to 90 if it is an overseas transaction), not when the affidavit is signed and submitted. The bank could deny the fraud claim and deduct the provisional credit from the account.

But I could be wrong.

First off, let me say I sympathize with your card being skimmed. Same thing happened to me. I tried using my card at the grocery store and it wouldn't work. When I called the bank, they told me someone had tried to use my card in Moscow, and that the card was blocked to prevent fraud, so I understand how you feel.

First off, once an item is authorized on a Visa/Mastercard checkcard the bank cannot refuse the transaction even if it is fraudulent. So the reps that told you that they were making notes so that the items would not be paid were either wrong, or making notes that you would be calling back to file dispute. I am surprised, though that the bank didn't cancel your card right away rather than waiting until you called back.

Secondly, the bank does have to wait for the item to post before a dispute can be filed. Since it was only an authorization when you first called, no money had actually been removed from your acocunt, so there was nothing to file a claim on.

Thirdly, the provisional credit is standard procedure under Regulation E. Banks must provide credit on disputed items within 10 business days, though for fraud most provide it right away. As far as your claim, don't worry about the "provisional" part of it. You'll have to sign an affidavit of fraud, but once that is done the credit becomes permanent. The bank has to call it a provisional credit for regulatory reasons.

Lastly, I think the fraud alert on your credit bureau might be overkill. The thief in this case would have gotten your card info through skimming (a process by which the magnetic stripe on the back of the card is copied, usually at point of sale). Your SSN and other personal info almost certainly has not been compromised, so you can breathe easy there.