Unauthorized use of a credit card

[Ravic]

This is my child's account. After Christmas I used my credit card to buy him Steam credit for something he wanted. I thought I erased the credit card info after the purchase but he has somehow been able to buy two $25.00 wallet credits without any kind of authorization or verification. The card was put away to where he did not have access to it. Not only has my account been charged $50 without my permission, but I will also be charged two $25.00 overdraft charges. So because my 12 yr old was allowed to use a card he did not have authorization to use, it's going to end up costing me $100.00. I have searched everywhere on this site and I'm unable to find a phone number to call to report illegal use of a credit card. Could someone please help me?!

[Ravic]

I can see it when I look at his wallet.

[Ravic]

I haven't deleted it yet so I can show an administrator what was used for the charges.

[Ravic]

I have a ticket number but what else can I do to get in touch with an administrator to find out what to do?

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

Left top corner -> Help -> Steam Support. But they're gonna take a long time to answer due to work-overload. Be patient.

Don't charge back before they issue a personalized (non-computerized) answer. If you'ld contact your bank to perform a chargeback without support from Steam Support, your creditcard will be banned from use on Steam permanently, Steam doesn't like that at all.

[Ravic]

My child is being banned from using Steam and not allowed to use the computer anymore. This has created a HUGE problem. We live paycheck to paycheck. That money taken out of our account was from my checking account debit card and the money was there for my electric bill payment that I made which will now bounce. When the payment bounces...they will turn off my electric. Not only will it cost us the two $25 charges, $50 total, but we are in overdraft status in our account. Which means we'll also be charged two $25 overdraft charges. This will end up costing us not only $100 total, but the electric company will also charge me a returned check fee and never accept checks on my account again. Our paychecks are short this time of year because my husband's company shuts down for the holiday and we are using our overdraft on the account to pay emergency bills like electric and insurance.

I'm really surprised Steam doesn't have more fraud protection in place to verify authorization. He didn't have the actual card. All it took was a click of a button because the card somehow was still in there. I did not click anything to save it for future use but yet it was still in his account. I don't even do that on my utility online payments. My issue with Steam is they make it impossible to talk with a human and resolve an issue like this in a timely manner. I'm being told to sit back and be patient...in the meantime we will have our electric shut off if I can't resolve this immediately. I've talked with my bank and was told I had to resolve it with you first and the dispute could take 60-90 days. I can't find a phone number for support anywhere on the site.

[Hanomaly]

Originally posted by csghost11:

My child is being banned from using Steam and not allowed to use the computer anymore. This has created a HUGE problem. We live paycheck to paycheck. That money taken out of our account was from my checking account debit card and the money was there for my electric bill payment that I made which will now bounce. When the payment bounces...they will turn off my electric. Not only will it cost us the two $25 charges, $50 total, but we are in overdraft status in our account. Which means we'll also be charged two $25 overdraft charges. This will end up costing us not only $100 total, but the electric company will also charge me a returned check fee and never accept checks on my account again. Our paychecks are short this time of year because my husband's company shuts down for the holiday and we are using our overdraft on the account to pay emergency bills like electric and insurance.

I'm really surprised Steam doesn't have more fraud protection in place to verify authorization. He didn't have the actual card. All it took was a click of a button because the card somehow was still in there. I did not click anything to save it for future use but yet it was still in his account. I don't even do that on my utility online payments. My issue with Steam is they make it impossible to talk with a human and resolve an issue like this in a timely manner. I'm being told to sit back and be patient...in the meantime we will have our electric shut off if I can't resolve this immediately. I've talked with my bank and was told I had to resolve it with you first and the dispute could take 60-90 days. I can't find a phone number for support anywhere on the site.

First you should call your bank and /not/ dispute the charges ('cause then they will issue a chargeback and Steam really will lock out you from buying with that credit card again, ever. And may even block your account from doing other things on Steam).

But.. if you call your bank or go into the bank in person, sometimes banks will work with you about overdraught fees if you are poor. Sometimes they'll waive the fees entirely so that you don't have to pay that extra $50 in overdraught. Some banks won't but it's always worth telling them a bit about your situation (with the electric company) and asking if they will waive the fee.

i've had luck (when i've been in a tight spot) with this in Bank of America and Chase. Dunno what bank you do business with though.

~~
Secondly, Steam DOES require your child to enter the CVV/CSC/CVD code on the back of the credit card or debit card. /Every time/ this number must be entered even if it is a saved credit card or debit card. There fore your child either had to have /memorised/ this 3 digit security number on the back of the card some time in the past when you used your credit card around your child. OR the child had to have had access to the physical card when your child made these additional purchases.

Maybe, you can say, that's not the best security method, but that's pretty much the extent of any websites credit card verification when you are re-using a saved card. You know whether it be Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or whatever. If you've saved your credit card or debit card info on the site, pretty much all you need to re-use the saved card again is that "3 digit" security code thingie on the back.

Same for Steam.

Anyway sorry your going through this. Better have your 12 year old get a job, raking leaves, shovelling snow, babysitting, walking dogs, cleaning out your neighbours garage, or something so that they can help pay back the money you owe. ^.^

~~
Lastly, if you've never been late paying your electric bill before your electric company should completely give you an extra month to pay without turning off your electricity. Well at least in the USA, it usually takes not paying your bill at least 2 months before they shut off electricity.

[Hanomaly]

Originally posted by csghost11:

I can't find a phone number for support anywhere on the site.

There is no phone number for Steam Support. You have to create Support Ticket on their support website. Your Supper website account has to be a /brand new/ Steam account, so don't try to use the same login info for the Support account.

Support can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to get back to you with a real human response.

[Ravic]

Originally posted by Screambrulee:

your the dumb ♥♥♥♥♥ who dosnt supervise there children when using a creditcard next time watch what there doing when adding creditcard info into a website like this.

First of all, you spelled you're ("your" is possessive and you're means you are) and doesn't incorrectly and by using the word "there" indicates a place, their is the correct terminology I believe you were attempting to use. YOUR use of the English language and lack of punctuation indicates you might be the "dumb" person in this conversation. Secondly, I don't need your rude observations and there was no need for you to call me a ♥♥♥♥♥. Mind your own business. I am asking for help in speaking with someone that can help, not a troll to criticize and be crude. The card was used one time by myself (in simple layman's terms...he was not handed the card to input the information) to add funds to his account as a gift. I am not an idiot. I did not click anywhere on the page to save the credit card for future use. I have an older son that we've dealt with in this community and never had any issues prior to this incident. The card is put away where he does not have access to it and he has never used it on his own so he did not have access to the security code on the back. This is the first time he has done something like this and the computer is in an area where he is supervised. You don't know me and your opinion is not wanted. Go troll somewhere else. I apologize for reacting rudely but really do not need your crap right now. I'm not a "dumb ♥♥♥♥♥", I have a college education in criminal justice and have enough common sense to supervise my kid and not just hand him a freaking credit card. My child made a bad decision and was caught immediately because he is supervised and he is being punished accordingly.

[Ravic]

Originally posted by Hanomaly:

Originally posted by csghost11:

I can't find a phone number for support anywhere on the site.

There is no phone number for Steam Support. You have to create Support Ticket on their support website. Your Supper website account has to be a /brand new/ Steam account, so don't try to use the same login info for the Support account.

Support can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to get back to you with a real human response.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your help. I did create a Support Ticket by creating another account as it required in the help section that I was able to find. It was a phone number, or direct communication, with an admin that I was hoping to locate here in the discussion forums.

[[dse]Circlestrafe]

Originally posted by Screambrulee:

your the dumb ♥♥♥♥♥ who dosnt supervise there children when using a creditcard next time watch what there doing when adding creditcard info into a website like this.

Dude, back off. People make mistakes. Your post is proof of that.

I know exactly how this person feels in regards to the money issue, as around 7-8 years ago, I was in a similar paycheck to paycheck situation, and one little screw-up equaled extreme stress and financial disaster, overdrafts, late fees, utility reconnection fees; I'm just going to say I'm happy you haven't been there and hopefully never will be.

True, double checking for check boxes when performing online transactions is the users responsibility, as is supervising his/her own children. Are you going to tell me that YOU never disobeyed your parents? That your parents ALWAYS knew EVERYTHING you were doing as you did it, and where you were when doing so? Exactly, they didn't. So STFU before saying something even more obtuse than you already have.

Originally posted by csghost11:

Originally posted by Screambrulee:

your the dumb ♥♥♥♥♥ who dosnt supervise there children when using a creditcard next time watch what there doing when adding creditcard info into a website like this.

First of all, you spelled [edit for space]

No need to explain yourself or apologize to anyone, especially not to any arrogant judgemental "holier than Thou" 11 year old.

[Sierra Oscar]

Originally posted by csghost11:

Originally posted by Hanomaly:

There is no phone number for Steam Support. You have to create Support Ticket on their support website. Your Supper website account has to be a /brand new/ Steam account, so don't try to use the same login info for the Support account.

Support can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to get back to you with a real human response.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your help. I did create a Support Ticket by creating another account as it required in the help section that I was able to find. It was a phone number, or direct communication, with an admin that I was hoping to locate here in the discussion forums.

Support are best placed to provide you with assistance. All you can do at this stage is wait for them to get back to you.

Originally posted by Screambrulee:

your the dumb ♥♥♥♥♥ who dosnt supervise there children when using a creditcard next time watch what there doing when adding creditcard info into a website like this.

Comments such as this are not necessary. Please do not post unless you have something constructive to add to a topic.

[ KARR™]

If they are to keep using Steam in the future, it may be worth looking into Family View https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5149-EOPC-9918

You can restrict parts of Steam down with a PIN code.

[Ravic]

Thank you so much for your kind responses. And we are usually strict with him and I think I'm upset with myself the most in this situation for not double checking to be sure the card was removed as I thought I had done. Our financial situation is usually rough during the holidays, as I'm sure it is for many others. But this is a huge stress I didn't need. And to realize it won't be handled in a reasonable manner is very disturbing. No...he will not be allowed back on this community after some of the things that have happened and kids I've encountered. And it's disgusting to think he wasted his birthday and Christmas money on games in here and won't be able to play them any longer. Life lessons learned I guess.