Card Fraud in France

[Superbobbird]

I have just go back from a weekend at the Nurburgring with 12 mates. We filled up in France twice, and had to use unmanned stations, where you put in your card and pin for the fuel.

We have all been fleeced from ?130 upwards, my acount has been emptied, and others have had their credit cards that they used also done, all the transactions are over ?100 and have been done two or three times. We only put in 12 - 15 EUR.

My bank (Barclays) have logged it as fraud, and are investigating, but wont give me a bloody OD in the meantime:bang:

If any of you are going over to europe beware..........

Bob

 

[Biker Babe]

I have just go back from a weekend at the Nurburgring with 12 mates. We filled up in France twice, and had to use unmanned stations, where you put in your card and pin for the fuel.

We have all been fleeced from ?130 upwards, my account has been emptied, and others have had their credit cards that they used also done, all the transactions are over ?100 and have been done two or three times. We only put in 12 - 15 EUR.

My bank (Barclay's) have logged it as fraud, and are investigating, but wont give me a bloody OD in the meantime:bang:

If any of you are going over to Europe beware..........

Bob

Unfortunately its rife in Spain, lost count of the amount of people its happened too, can't say about other countries as I can only comment on Spain, my personal advice to anyone going there for a holiday would be to use cash only, you might be OK going into a bank and using ur cards but I wouldn't even do that.

Hope they sort it out OK and you get refunded, you should be ok and get it all back, although it takes time and doesn't help you out at the moment!!

 

[Superbobbird]

The thing is we did have cash but as it was a Sunday the manned petrol stations were not open (well we didn't see any that were) so we had to use the unmanned card ones:bang:

This was at Carrefour in Charleville M?zi?res, and again an hour and a half further on (cant remember where that was)

 

[bmwdumptruck]

Same thing in Evreux last year, three of us in an unmanned station on a sunday afternoon. Daft thing is I remember seeing two blokes sitting in a car on the other pumps, and they were there the whole time supposedly doing nothing.

So if you have to use one have a look around, check out who else is loitering nearby, and if they are have a really good look at the pump. Although I'm not sure what you're looking for, these things are bloody clever, and don't look out of place.

One tip is to head or look for motorway services, as they are always open all day sunday even in France.

 

[mickeystitch]

shoot , am going down through france fro the weekend this thursday to drop some gear of ready for bike holiday soon, will have to be doubley careful now, thanks for warningb0x2

 

[Smix]

Prepay credit card? At least you only lose whats on there, not your bank account or limit of the proper credit card?

 

[bmwdumptruck]

Prepay credit card? At least you only lose whats on there, not your bank account or limit of the proper credit card?

Great idea smix, silly question, but where from?

 

[Smix]

Great idea smix, silly question, but where from?

Post office do one - they also do a 'currency' card

Virgin do one I think

and the dodgy cheque cashing places do them LOL


There is a charge (as with anything) but I know the PO one is a choice of a one off charge or a charge per transaction - which I believe you can change between. I've looked at the PO one a bit, but not got around to doing it yet, and someone I know uses a Virgin one for internet transactions - not that she is suspicious about security or anything!!!

x

 

[Superbobbird]

Prepay credit card? At least you only lose whats on there, not your bank account or limit of the proper credit card?

Yes but what if you put ?500 say on there, get some fuel cos you have to, and the lot gets taken, what do you do then? Use your bank/credit card cos you need fuel to get home(on a Sunday when only the automated stations are open so cash is a no no) then yer bank gets done aswell.....

 

[mickeystitch]

Post office do one - they also do a 'currency' card

x

Just ordered the Post Office one online, thanks for the tip Smix

 

[Smix]

Yes but what if you put ?500 say on there, get some fuel cos you have to, and the lot gets taken, what do you do then? Use your bank/credit card cos you need fuel to get home(on a Sunday when only the automated stations are open so cash is a no no) then yer bank gets done aswell.....

This is true, but you'd have your tank of fuel, and hopefully it won't be sunday for too long, so you can go to a bank (hopefully safer?) to sort cash??? Still better to lose whats on a pre pay card than have your bank account cleared out??? (Unless you are me )

Just ordered the Post Office one online, thanks for the tip Smix

Cross fingers it all works out! I might get around to getting one too!! LOL

 

[mickeystitch]

Cross fingers it all works out! I might get around to getting one too!! LOL

it was easy and free delivery :-0) only gonna use it for fuel so will never be too much on there you can also top up by phone so if you need a bit more it's just a call away, shall put on what I need at each end of the trip to play safe, buggers are not getting my dosh b0x2

 

[yoshibird]

It ain't just europe its in this country too just had to open account a new bank because some scrote tried to transfer a £1000 out of it fortunately the bank were suspect about it and stopped it and then got in touch with me. I would say use a credit card in europe then you are usually covered against fraud

 

[Superbobbird]

you can also top up by phone so if you need a bit more it's just a call away, shall put on what I need at each end of the trip to play safe

Thats good, especially if it is pretty instant....

 

[Demonbane]

been looking into these cards, and i would NOT recommend the post office one.

reasons!

its a VISA ELECTRON ... limited places take it.

from its terms and conditions.,..


9. Restricted Transactions

9.1 The card can be used for card purchases and cash withdrawals wherever Visa Electron cards are accepted, including ATMs displaying the Visa symbol. However, you are not permitted to use the card for any of the following types of transaction:
? To reserve a rental car or when collecting a rental car but you may use the card, at the end of the car rental, to pay for the rental
? To reserve a hotel room or when checking into a hotel but you may use the card, at the end of your stay, to pay for your room
? To pay for fuel in an automated terminal but you can use the card to pay for fuel by presenting the card in a service station

i just got one with thompsons travel

major difference is that it is a MASTERCARD... so 28 million places to use the bugger!

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/extras/travel-money-card.html

 

[Supabird1100]

Here's another option......got one of these meself !!!:-0)

http://times.tuxedo-money.com/index.html

 

[firebladetrev]

Just ordered the Post Office one online, thanks for the tip Smix

Not a lot of good if you cannot use it for automated fuel pumps especially as this is the reason for having it.