Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

fraudulent charge

My credit card was stolen. The thief went on a shopping spree. This caused me so much anxiety. All this had taken place within half an hour after my card was stolen. What bothered me the most is the dept. store never bothered to check for I.D. when this thief bought over $2,000 worth of merchandise. I felt I have been victimized twice. I cannot go after the thief since he or she is probably hiding somewhere. But can I take a legal action against the dept. store for neglect. I can understand if the purchase was done on line and there's not much anyone can do. But the thief physically walked in the store to make a purchase with my stolen credit card. This whole ordeal is causing me mental distress.


Asked on 5/15/07, 6:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Eric Sterkenburg Law Office of Eric Sterkenburg

Re: fraudulent charge

You should not be charged with the $2000 bill. If you contacted the store as soon as you knew your card was stolen. If the store does not eat the loss then you can take the store to small claims court and sue there. Even though the card was stolen from you the lost and the victom is the store.

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Answered on 5/17/07, 6:12 pm


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