I hadn't ordered them! The advice note had a company called Ultra
Trueflow in the 'Invoice Address' box and my name and address in the
'Deliver To' box.

Have you ever ordered from them in the past?

Please check your Credit/Debit card just in case it has been charged.

Several "errors" can occur...
o Telephone buyer gives surname to sales rep
---- Sales rep enters surname, dumbware auto-completes address
---- Item is sent to you AND is charged to your retained payment info
o Same again, only the customer gives a different address
---- Sales rep uses the retained payment info
---- Item is not sent to you BUT you get charged for it
o Sales rep gets the boot, charges every lead with retained payment info
---- Leaves company with fat commission check
---- Everyone on the planet gets goods they just enquired about

The third is rare, the second is very common, the first occasional.

Now other tricks...
o Your payment details are compromised
---- someone sold them out the back door
o Someone is testing the card out with small purchases (card valid)
---- if sales rep challenges the address it defaults to "oh yeah, home one"
---- you then get something you did not order delivered to your address
o If you do not spot it on the statement
---- next month they usually try a big order & redirect to different address
---- usually this fails due to "floor limit" re not registered card address
---- you again get something you did not order delivered to your address

So always check because it could be the start of the above.

In my case...
o Someone put 2 small transactions went through ok
---- National Express & online tool place -- I have never used either
o Then they tried a 7k order with an online PC reseller
---- fortunately failed on name not matching card registered name
---- Misco immediately wrote to notify me & voided it - excellent
---- I should add most resellers have 5k "floor limit" before checks anyway
o Then they tried a 3k order with another PC reseller
---- charged, but delivered to my card registered address
---- rejected at the door

They had timed it perfectly.
It was between statement dates - statement had not arrived, so "invisible".

Thankfully Misco's letter made me suspect the card was being "tested", but
the statement date was still days away. So I signed up for Net banking and
found the 2 small transactions and 3k funds already released. One phone
call & the card was blocked, money refunded and now being chased.

Yours may be a very simple miss-direct - or it could be the same.

However I have had all the above errors & events in the past eight years.
No paperwork goes to the bin, no card used physically (card destroyed
& requisite numbers committed to memory), no online banking etc.


You probably know but...
o CCP - Credit Card Processor (VISA or Mastercard etc)
o CCC - Credit Card Company (the Bank)
o CCH - Credit Card Holder (You)
o CNP - Customer Not Present (Mailorder, phone, online)

All transactions are governed by CCP rules.
CCP require any order under CNP to be delivered to the CCH address.
CCC may allow redirect - but the CCP makes them carry the can for it.
Supplier may allow redirect - but CCC & CCP make them carry the can.

The conditions of the CCP are what govern the transaction.

Hence the "peculiar situation" can arise where a card is fraudulently used
yet delivers to the CCH address so the person obtains no financial gain.
This is because the CCP rules require it and Supplier & CCC enforce it
either totally or for varying levels of transactions or "floor limit"
checks.

Sadly the (good) tough retail security of years past is now very lax.

However always check your cards if something turns up out of the blue.
Most likely it is just a deliver address error, but be aware - not always.

For transactions over £100 use a C/C re protection.
You may want to verify if international protection still applies, a recent
ruling (Jul2004) as I recall nullifies the protection for CNP outside UK.

For transactions under £100 use an online system with protection.
They are far from perfect, but it at least gives you some protection and
anyone seriously using them will not risk their reputation re referrals etc.

Just something to be aware of.
Errors do occur, but cards are sold out the back door in the hundreds.
--
Dorothy Bradbury