Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

I opened a credit card account with Best Buy. After six months someone used my card number to make purchases in Culver City, California and Mesa, Arizonia. I found out about this when I received my monthly bill. I called the phone number on the bill and informed them that I had not made these purchases. A week later I received a letter, with the receipts of the purchases,saying they found nothing wrong with the purchases in dispute. Then I send a letter to HSBC the credit holder, I think, and informed them of the illigal purchases. I just received word that they are going to notify the three credit bureaus that the amount, $3253.37, is in disput and nothing else.

Question, should I just let this go or is there some other step that I should take? I have a very high credit rating and would like to keep it that way. Also, I want these charges off my bill. Should I close the account and pay off what I know is my legal charges and ignore the rest?


Asked on 5/05/10, 2:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

There are many web sites that tell you how to deal with identity theft. First, you should file a police report to document the identity theft and use of your card. If it's not your charge, you shouldn't be required to pay. You might also consider sending letters to all three credit bureaus with explanation of the charge, and also put an alert on your credit reports so identity thieves cannot open up any further credit without having to jump through some major hoops.

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Answered on 5/11/10, 7:59 am


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