Online Gambling Debts Charged to a Credit Card
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: California
I incurred about $1,300 in charges from a (it seems to me) fairly shady offshore online gambling business (winpalace casino). I actually don't remember the experience because I was drunk...which probably means I'm a gambling addict. The charges I got on my credit cards were from shoe stores and other bogus businesses, not for the exact amount I "withdrew" (a few cents off), and I never got any confirmation email or receipt. I'd like to know two things. First, is my credit card company (VISA) likely to accept a dispute of this kind (I looked and apparently this sort of thing is illegal due to an anti online gambling bill Bush signed)? Fact is, while I do not deny having attempted to make charges under the influence, I certainly didn't buy shoes, didn't mak echarges for the amount on my statement, and never got a receipt. Second, will they have a list of bogus "merchants" they can block from charging to my credit card so that I don't get trapped into this kind of gambling BS again?
Thanks!
Re: Online Gambling Debts
You can attempt to dispute the credit card charges.
Re: Online Gambling Debts
You are free to dispute the charges with your credit card company, and can see what happens. You will want your dispute to be timely.
Re: Online Gambling Debts
the dispute may work well as the merchant would be expected to prove they shipped the product to you, since there never was a product i suspect VISA will side with you.
but depending on the place illegal gambling often = organized crime you may want to get some broken legs insurance first.
Re: Online Gambling Debts
I wouldn't worry too much about the thugs - even if we assume that the USCIS would let them in, their air fare and hotel bill would exceed the amount in dispute.
I've heard that what you describe is a pretty common technique for overseas gambling outfits, who want to avoid the fact that the credit card companies will flat-out refuse to pay them if the bill says "Joe's online gambling emporium", so the credit card company will likely be familiar with the subterfuge. But again, it's important to make a timely dispute, and only after you dispute the charge will you find out what your credit card company can or will do for you.
Re: Online Gambling Debts Charged to a Credit Card
Quote:
Quoting
dylanduv
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: California
I incurred about $1,300 in charges from a (it seems to me) fairly shady offshore online gambling business (winpalace casino). I actually don't remember the experience because I was drunk...which probably means I'm a gambling addict. The charges I got on my credit cards were from shoe stores and other bogus businesses, not for the exact amount I "withdrew" (a few cents off), and I never got any confirmation email or receipt. I'd like to know two things. First, is my credit card company (VISA) likely to accept a dispute of this kind (I looked and apparently this sort of thing is illegal due to an anti online gambling bill Bush signed)? Fact is, while I do not deny having attempted to make charges under the influence, I certainly didn't buy shoes, didn't mak echarges for the amount on my statement, and never got a receipt. Second, will they have a list of bogus "merchants" they can block from charging to my credit card so that I don't get trapped into this kind of gambling BS again?
Thanks!
You will not have a problem disputing the charges as the casinos processor submitted the transaction as a bogus charge that they can not provide documentation for. In other words they miscoded the transaction so as not to show the charge as "gambling". So if you believe you were truly ripped off, then file the dispute with your bank if debit transaction or credit card company if a visa, M/C or AMEX transaction within 60 days and you will be credited back the amount of your dispute until the processor replies with proof of the charge. Since they will be unable to do so, your credit will become permanent. If the casino tries to send you to collection just inform the collection company within 30 days of them attempting to collect that you already filed a dispute with your bank/credit card issuer and the merchant failed to provide documentation and the bank made the credit permanent and therefore case closed. If they continue their attempts advise them that attempting to collect illegal,. fraudulent charges is illegal under the RICO act and that you will report them to the Attorney General/Department of Justice of the u.S.
Re: Online Gambling Debts Charged to a Credit Card
They would have to code the transaction as something other than Gambling. No US based credit company would handle such transactions if rightfully described. It is illegal under federal law, one of the few gambling laws they actually do have the ability to enforce, for a US entity to transfer funds for offshore gambling. These offshore businesses run through layers of payment processor (think like an offshore version of paypal) that disguise the nature of these funds.
Unfortunately, alleging that the money was used for any sort of gambling (legal or otherwise) won't help. The credit agreements specifically void any rights to protest when the transaction is gambling related. You'll find that you can get money to gamble in US casios, but it's always a cash advance on your card (and you are given the cash by a processor that is NOT the casino) and then what you do with it is your problem.
I'd go ahead and protest the charge as a "I don't recognize these charges" if he truly can not remember. I'm not hopeful he will succeed.
Re: Online Gambling Debts Charged to a Credit Card
I wonder if they would have still been "fairly shady", if he had won.