F
fairyonbar
Guest
About 8 months ago, I was targeted for robbery in a London bar. I used my Bank of Ireland credit card to pay for a round of drinks, placed my wallet back in my handbag (which was on my shoulder the whole night) and about an hour and a half later, when I went to get my wallet out of my bag I noticed it was missing. I immediately, and repeatedly, phoned Banking 365 and requested card services on the automated answering service. I was informed that the offices were closed and would not be open until the morning. No emergency credit card cancellation number was mentioned on the automated service.
I contacted my mother at home in Ireland who tried to contact the bank and was told that the office wasn’t open until 10:00. The following morning, which was a saturday, just after 10am I got through to BOI and cancelled my card. I enquired about recent transactions and was told that almost 900 euro had been extracted since I had last used the card. Obviously I got straight on to the Metropolitan police and reported the incident although they've never prosecuted anyone for the theft.
The following Monday, when I contacted BOI fraud dept I was informed by both the person I spoke to in this department and the person in the Security department that I would be held liable for the transactions as they had been “cash transactions and a pin had been used.”.
Later that day I received a phonecall from AIB which whom I held a current account that I had a debit card for but which I had NEVER used at an ATM before as I didn't know the pin. I liked to keep some savings in this account as I couldn't access them unless I went into the bank with my ID and had approx 4000 euro in the account. I hadn't realized that this card was in my wallet and had not phoned the bank to cancel it. I was told that there had been some 'unusual activity' on the account and there was now only 7 euro left in the account. The AIB employee I spoke with was extremely patronizing and discouraging and told me that I would not get my money back as the pin was used and it was clear that I held the pin in my wallet. She also went so far as to accuse me of being "trashed" as I was in a bar at the time of the robbery.
For the BOI credit card I was offered 300 euro as a token which I refused. I haven't done anything wrong, I was always very careful about using the card and took all reasonable precautions to prevent others seeing my pin number. I acted with all possible speed in attempting to contact BOI immediately when I discovered the theft of my card, it was due to a fault in their own system that there was no emergency number available to me which of course again they deny. I just didn't think that 300 euro was enough.
I have constantly been called a lier by both of my banks. I have been bullied and victimized by them both and have found it impossible to get my money back. My BOI case is now with the Financial Ombudsman having exhausted all internal lines of contact with them and I am currently bringing the AIB case to them. Im just so exhausted from fighting them and have almost given up hope in fighting two massive institutions such as these.
I know its worth fighting it out until the end - Im 25 years of age and have always been extremely good with managing my finances. I was at the time of the robbery using these savings to maintain myself as I did a fashion internship in London. Ive never had any loans and always repaid my credit card in time. Since this incident I've lost a lot of trust, not only in everyday society, but in the institutions that are supposed to be there to help us and protect our money. I feel so let down and am so worried about money.
If anyone can offer any help or advice...even just a positive story that might help maintain my spirit... I would be hugely appreciative.
I contacted my mother at home in Ireland who tried to contact the bank and was told that the office wasn’t open until 10:00. The following morning, which was a saturday, just after 10am I got through to BOI and cancelled my card. I enquired about recent transactions and was told that almost 900 euro had been extracted since I had last used the card. Obviously I got straight on to the Metropolitan police and reported the incident although they've never prosecuted anyone for the theft.
The following Monday, when I contacted BOI fraud dept I was informed by both the person I spoke to in this department and the person in the Security department that I would be held liable for the transactions as they had been “cash transactions and a pin had been used.”.
Later that day I received a phonecall from AIB which whom I held a current account that I had a debit card for but which I had NEVER used at an ATM before as I didn't know the pin. I liked to keep some savings in this account as I couldn't access them unless I went into the bank with my ID and had approx 4000 euro in the account. I hadn't realized that this card was in my wallet and had not phoned the bank to cancel it. I was told that there had been some 'unusual activity' on the account and there was now only 7 euro left in the account. The AIB employee I spoke with was extremely patronizing and discouraging and told me that I would not get my money back as the pin was used and it was clear that I held the pin in my wallet. She also went so far as to accuse me of being "trashed" as I was in a bar at the time of the robbery.
For the BOI credit card I was offered 300 euro as a token which I refused. I haven't done anything wrong, I was always very careful about using the card and took all reasonable precautions to prevent others seeing my pin number. I acted with all possible speed in attempting to contact BOI immediately when I discovered the theft of my card, it was due to a fault in their own system that there was no emergency number available to me which of course again they deny. I just didn't think that 300 euro was enough.
I have constantly been called a lier by both of my banks. I have been bullied and victimized by them both and have found it impossible to get my money back. My BOI case is now with the Financial Ombudsman having exhausted all internal lines of contact with them and I am currently bringing the AIB case to them. Im just so exhausted from fighting them and have almost given up hope in fighting two massive institutions such as these.
I know its worth fighting it out until the end - Im 25 years of age and have always been extremely good with managing my finances. I was at the time of the robbery using these savings to maintain myself as I did a fashion internship in London. Ive never had any loans and always repaid my credit card in time. Since this incident I've lost a lot of trust, not only in everyday society, but in the institutions that are supposed to be there to help us and protect our money. I feel so let down and am so worried about money.
If anyone can offer any help or advice...even just a positive story that might help maintain my spirit... I would be hugely appreciative.