Crooks are getting Brazen.... and stupid!

We went to pay some bills today, one of which is an account at the tire store where we have an account. We had not received the monthly statement so we stopped in to find out why and make a payment. When they pulled up the bill it was for over 500.00 more than we owed. It seems that some guy came in and told them he was our son and that we told him he could charge a set of tires to our account.

Now, I would do that for my son but would go in and handle the bill myself. My son was not even in the area when this was done. And they did not call us to ask if it was OK or ask for identification of any kind. Their records do show it was for a Ford Escort and they have the license plate number. My son has a Ford....Navigator! In fact I don't even know anyone that drives an escort.

They said they would remove the charge from our account as soon as they investigate the matter. I insisted they remove the charge immediately. She asked me how I could expect them to do that without proof that my son had not bought the tires. I informed her that even if he had they had no right to allow it since his name is not on the account so that they would be liable for the expense in any case. And since I am certain it was not my son I saw no reason to delay correcting my bill.

So unless it was a stolen car they should be able to track the culprit from the license plate. How bright was that!

Hope they're able to track this character down. Let us know how it goes!

Could someone have taken the bill out your mailbox,since you said you didn't get your monthly statement?If they don't find this person,i would check the cars in your area.
I hope they find them.

Whoops,just noticed that you said they have the plate number.Edited for not reading your topic closer.

This message was edited Jan 23, 2004 4:28 PM

I hope they called the police. I believe you should do it anyway to get this on file just in case and to make sure your not going to be charged for this anyway. The police can get a copy of this I would think and track down the owner(if it wasnt stolen) and charge him with hmm theft, and since it would have been a bill out of your mailbox or at least addressed to "you" isnt that a federal offense to open someone elses mail or take it out of their mailbox?
Yes I would definatly call the police and not leave it up to the tire place, after all its your money.
Dont forget to tell them you want to press charges.

They did call the police and we had to make a statement that we had not authorized any such charges to our account. They did not think it was identity theft because it is an in store account and not a credit card account. But they do think they may have taken our statement for the name and then just bluffed from there. But our mail goes to a P.O. Box so I don't think it was that unless they work at the P.O. or the mail was put into the wrong box. But they did remove the charges finally and so since they are now he victims we are out nothing.

I was thinking about this more last night and wonder if they didn't add this purchase to the wrong account.

Boy, you'd think they'd see "Zanymuse" on the account and realize it wasn't the right one! I mean how many Zanymuses could there be? *snicker*

That reminds me of some stupid college kids I heard about on a talk show a few days ago (Shawn Hannity maybe?). Apparently a guy came into a local college town bar and said the ATM was giving out double the requested withdrawal. After that, bunches of people hit the ATM to strike it rich. Some of them held sweatshirts over their heads so the cameras couldn't see their faces.

Ummmmm....People, you're using your own ATM cards and pin #'s. They know who you are.

One girl told police a friend called her at 2:00am and told her about it, so she jumped out of bed and came down for her chance. The host remarked that he doubts many college kids would jump out of bed at 2:00am if they were offered a job to make money.

LOL GW I never cease to be amazed and amused by the brilliant minds who still think they can out wit the system!