Be Careful with Ordering Online!!!!

Korpi · Apr 6, 2011

Well we are still where we were a week ago. The online vendor is looking into what could have happened. The police report (I picked up a copy yesterday) ends at the report i gave to the patrolman, it was referred to detectives. The bank is basically not doing a thing, really makes me rethink my loyalty to the people who are supposed to "safeguard my money". The only bright side is that because i was lucky enough to check my account the day the charges posted, I was able to get GAP to stop shipment and they refunded the money because it was never delivered. So today, I have been refunded my $250 dollars that where charged to the GAP, i did loose a bit more that was charged to AT&T but only a couple bucks, again luckily i checked my account the time i did.
But, I did get my SWC Xtreme 160 skimmer today. So i guess a lil more silver lining to a crappy learning experience.

Korpi · Apr 7, 2011

After inspection i saw that the skimmer was either damaged in transit or kicked by the reefer god. My the pump was supposed to be secured to the base of the skimmer. The base of the pump was snapped at one corner and breaking on the other corner so one side was coming off of the base plate this makes the air hose unable to attach to the pump which means....no foam. :sad:
I hope this is just Murphy's Law kicking me in the ****

fsu1dolfan · Apr 7, 2011

Few things i wanna mention:

#1 "Sent a note to the company" Why is it the norm to just send an email? Is it just me or when there is a problem...why cant people pickup the phone, 90 percent of problems end there! Not trying to rag on you Korpi but i have seen this happen all over....but seriously you have you information jacked and stuff purchased and you didnt call???

#2 Paypal - I love it and use it all the time but never with my bank card unless i know the vendor. Yes you can dispute it with paypal but if you lose the bank is not going to fight for your money! Credit Card companies (at least mine) have taken care of any issues i have ever had. I purchased a custom built computer on ebay once $1000 really nice - Vendor didnt answer and paypal told me to wait 30days go by and im freaking out - poor college student who needs computer - Called my credit card company and explained the situation and how Paypal is working on it...the person said "You have a problem, you call us and we take care of it". 3 days later money returned. Paypal is like a buffer to keep you credit card/debit card info from the vendor while still using it. It shouldnt be how you get you money back!

#3 I have ordered from TB before and have had no problems. Everything that has happened seems to me that it got lost in shipping, kicked around until someone realized that it needed to be delivered...then finally got it to you.

#4 Debit/Credit card information can also be hacked online. It could have been from the vendor but the chances of that are low because they risk going out of business fairly quickly if they start jacking peoples info and charging stuff.

#5 Dont use Debit cards online period...no safety net like good credit card companies! Heck i had one of my credit cards hacked and over a few thousand in multiple purchases...They called me and asked if i made any purchases....i said no...they sent me an affidavit to sign and money returned...new card issued.

Tabasco1 · Apr 7, 2011

Yep, I ordered a sweet camera online last year, camera never came and my bank called to see if I was in a VA walmart buying electronics. Apparently the people purchasing the electronics actually had a physical card with my information on it. Then the company disappeared. I am MUCH more careful now and always look for reviews on the company.

It was my bank card, not a cc. Luckily my bank took care of the fraudulent charges.

tbaquatics · Apr 7, 2011

I can assure everyone his card was not stolen via our website. We don't store #s and they get passed right to the processor. I had my developer and hosting company check everything from head to toe and there's no hack or exploits.

More than likely the customer has malware or a virus on his computer, the number was stolen by a local waiter, gas station attendant or a skimmer on some atm somewhere and sold with hundreds of other #s stolen online.

The fact that we were the only place it was used online is certainly an odd coincidence and the reason why I spent time and money ensuring the site was secure and checked after his report. It does not however prove anything as to where it was stolen.

We take credit card security extremely seriously.

And anyone will tell you, use a credit card online, using a debit card is much riskier since it offers no protection and someone can clear your bank account out.

Troylee · Apr 7, 2011

i have had this happen to me 3 times!!!!!!! it was my bank card every time.... bank refunded it no problems ever..... i have also purchased from tb with no problems... i think you got it jacked at a gas pump honestly this is where it always happens.... my bank told me to never use my pin while using my debit card at a pump and recycle the number every 3 or 4 months for a new one to prevent this in the future.....hth....

fsu1dolfan · Apr 7, 2011

Troylee said:
i have had this happen to me 3 times!!!!!!! it was my bank card every time.... bank refunded it no problems ever..... i have also purchased from tb with no problems... i think you got it jacked at a gas pump honestly this is where it always happens.... my bank told me to never use my pin while using my debit card at a pump and recycle the number every 3 or 4 months for a new one to prevent this in the future.....hth....

Glad to hear people's banks are so helpful in rectifying these issues. Thankfully i have never had to test those waters...but my credit card has been tested a few times. My debit card just worries me to much and usually just stays in my wallet.

tbaquatics · Apr 7, 2011

I am also working with him on the ups damage.

Tabasco1 · Apr 7, 2011

TB-sorry, I wasn't trying to imply that this was what happened with you... clearly in my case it was a fake company or something. Just trying to add useful info on the title "beware when ordering online".

If I purchase with my debit as gas or grocery I always process it as a credit so I don't enter that information.

Korpi · Apr 7, 2011

The vendor has been working hard to get it checked out on his end too. After talking with him on the phone and through emails I am certain that it isn't his fault. When i started this thread the information that I had showed that the card that was used fraudulently was having items sent to an address in the same state. So initially I admit I did jump to the conclusion that there was a tie between the vendors site and the uses, and I publicly apologize for any type of accusations that I made. I was more concerned that if the vendor had an employee that was using other people's money as a subsidy to their regular pay that the vendor could look to making sure it didn't happen again. I just didn't want this to happen to other people. Like i've said in the thread previously, be careful with your info, identity theft is a big deal, I used to see the reports on TV and figure that it wasn't that big of a deal, it is. There are tons of ways for thieves to get into our wallets. Paypal was a tool that I should have used, but in my little bubble of "it's never going to happen to me", I was not too smart in my decision there.
Brian, I'm sorry if i made it sound like you where dishonest. That was not my intention.
Everyone, just be careful with your debit cards. They are ridiculously easy to use by dishonest people. Paypal everything!!!!!!

fsu1dolfan · Apr 7, 2011

Korpi said:
TB has been working hard to get it checked out on his end too. After talking with him on the phone and through emails I am certain that it isn't his fault. When i started this thread the information that I had showed that the card that was used fraudulently was having items sent to an address in NJ. So initially I admit I did jump to the conclusion that there was a tie between TB's site and the uses, and I publicly apologize for any type of accusations that I made. I was more concerned that if TB Aquatics had an employee that was using other people's money as a subsidy to their regular pay that TB Aquatics could look to making sure it didn't happen again. I just didn't want this to happen to other people. Like i've said in the thread previously, be careful with your info, identity theft is a big deal, I used to see the reports on TV and figure that it wasn't that big of a deal, it is. There are tons of ways for thieves to get into our wallets. Paypal was a tool that I should have used, but in my little bubble of "it's never going to happen to me", I was not too smart in my decision there.
TB, I'm sorry if i made it sound like you where dishonest. That was not my intention.
Everyone, just be careful with your debit cards. They are ridiculously easy to use by dishonest people. Paypal everything!!!!!!

It takes a big person to apologize and i appreciate it!! Sorry if i was harsh with what i wrote it was written for just you. Hope everything works out ok!!