Author Topic: PSA : Never pay someones credit card through an ACH pull (Read 5907 times)

shidduch · « **on:** October 22, 2014, 03:54:30 PM »

Last year I owed someone some money and he needed it really quickly so I called up his credit card company, American Express, to pay his bill.

Fast forward to today. I check my bank online and there is an almost 10k ACH pull to this guys Amex account.

When I called Amex then I asked them not to save my info, apparently that did not help.

I called the guy he apologized profusely. I am assuming it was a mistake. However, now I have to wait for my nearly 10k to come back.

Lesson learned. if you need to pay someone do an online bill pay, do not allow them to ach pull from your bank.

Malachi · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:02:30 PM »

Crazy story.

shidduch · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:04:54 PM »

FYI,

I called the person and he said he will call amex. But I also called my bank to file a dispute. lets see how long it takes to get the money back.

AsherO · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:14:33 PM »

Quote from: shidduch on October 22, 2014, 04:04:54 PM

FYI,

I called the person and he said he will call amex. But I also called my bank to file a dispute. lets see how long it takes to get the money back.

Not that you care, but the guy is probably going to get hit with an F/R...

shidduch · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:18:26 PM »

I guess we will see. its very scary, because had it been less money I may not have noticed it. Or had it been on a day when I had a similar sized payment going out I might not have noticed it. BH I noticed it. I just went through the past year transactions and see no other achs going out so I think I am good.

Redbull3 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:22:03 PM »

You can call Amex to pay someone else's bill via ACH from your own account... ? I am so confused how you were able to do that.

shidduch · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:39:45 PM »

I called with amex account holder on the phone. he did all the verification and i gave amex my account info.

Redbull3 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:45:42 PM »

Quote from: shidduch on October 22, 2014, 04:39:45 PM

I called with amex account holder on the phone. he did all the verification and i gave amex my account info.

Got it. Still mildly surprised you pulled that off.

Emkay · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:19:30 PM »

Quote from: Redbull3 on October 22, 2014, 04:22:03 PM

You can call Amex to pay someone else's bill via ACH from your own account... ? I am so confused how you were able to do that.

Why? I do it all the time no issue on all my cards

Redbull3 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:24:49 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on October 22, 2014, 05:19:30 PM

Why? I do it all the time no issue on all my cards

it = ach payments from an account that doesn't have your name on it?

eta- just feels like a big fraud risk

Emkay · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:26:12 PM »

Quote from: Redbull3 on October 22, 2014, 05:24:49 PM

it = ach payments from an account that doesn't have your name on it?

Yup, I can double check but im pretty sure also with citi

Redbull3 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:27:00 PM »

I believe it just surprised! Ok moving on

Emkay · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:29:17 PM »

Quote from: Redbull3 on October 22, 2014, 05:27:00 PM

I believe it just surprised! Ok moving on

Is it officially not allowed?

Redbull3 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:30:20 PM »

IDK, sounds allowed from these anecdotes. You'll come to learn I don't know much lol.

Emkay · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:33:12 PM »

Quote from: Redbull3 on October 22, 2014, 05:30:20 PM

IDK, sounds allowed from these anecdotes. You'll come to learn I don't know much lol.

smurf · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:36:44 PM »

I would suggest that the other guy just pay you pack.
You'd get your money faster and he'll avoid issues with amex

Ephraimh · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2014, 06:00:55 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on October 22, 2014, 05:29:17 PM

Is it officially not allowed?

Quote from: Redbull3 on October 22, 2014, 05:30:20 PM

IDK, sounds allowed from these anecdotes. You'll come to learn I don't know much lol.

It's officially allowed if the card holder is an authorized signer on the bank account.

ChaimMoskowitz · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2014, 07:16:57 PM »

Quote from: shidduch on October 22, 2014, 04:39:45 PM

I called with amex account holder on the phone. he did all the verification and i gave amex my account info.

What type of info did Amex want from you? Just account info like account # and routing #? This seems like a big fraud risk.

Emkay · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2014, 01:57:25 AM »

Quote from: ChaimMoskowitz on October 22, 2014, 07:16:57 PM

What type of info did Amex want from you? Just account info like account # and routing #? This seems like a big fraud risk.

Just that and if its a personal or biz account

shidduch · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2014, 09:51:51 AM »

So it gets very weird. Apparently, the money went to go pay my money. But for some reason, every time i do an amex ach pull from my account it gets this guys name. So there is no money missing, but just a very big scare. I need to call the bank to find out why this is happening.