Is GDATA frigging crazy

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by trjam, May 4, 2009.

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  1. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

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    I bought the AV for my sister and put it on her home computer. After a few days she wanted to go back to Norton, go figure. I had paid for GDATA with a credit card and their website states you have 30 days to cancel the order. Fair enough.

    So I ask for a refund and today get this email saying that even though they can charge your credit card, they cant refund to it. He wants my personal bank information to issue the refund. Now I am not going to even offer how I feel about this, but if you can charge a card and not refund to it, you need to get out of that shady of a payment practice. I am totally floored, hell keep the money because you are not getting my bank info.


    Hello Mr. $$$$$$

    This is a confirmation that your order has been cancelled. In order to refund you the money, we would need your Bank details as we are unable to refund onto a credit card.

    Kind Regards

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$

    Sekretariat
    G DATA Software AG • Königsallee 178b
    D-44799 Bochum, Germany • http://www.gdata.de
    Postfach 100 868 • D-44708 Bochum, Germany
    HRB Bochum 6886 • UStIdNr.: DE 127 065 359
    Tel.: +49 (0) 234 / 9762-0 • Fax: +49 (0) 234 / 9762-299
     
  2. Saraceno

    Saraceno Registered Member

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    From where I'm from, most or if not all businesses need bank details to issue a refund.

    Unless you buy something over the counter, through the register, in cash, you can receive the amount back in cash.

    Not sure of the finer details, but it is an accounting/company business practice procedure thing, to monitor expenditure (or it may be a safer/more traceable method).

    In the businesses I've been in, always did the same, issued to bank accounts. I wouldn't worry - takes a couple of business days to clear.
     
  3. Saraceno

    Saraceno Registered Member

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    I checked my country's taxation office, and their procedures on refunds, and even they require bank account details and state 'only in limited circumstances' will they pay a refund in another way. eg. "by cheque where the person holds religious beliefs that preclude the operation of a bank account. Also may pay refund into a third party bank account that you have nominated, where the third party has a close legal relationship with you".

    Seems the common practice.
     
  4. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

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    May be but their site doesnt say it and from what I am finding out from Mastercard Worldwide, they cant do this and are in violation of their agreement.
     
  5. TonyW

    TonyW Registered Member

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    I recently purchased an item from Amazon, and it was paid for by credit card. Unfortunately, there was a delivery issue which meant I never received the goods. Amazon refunded the amount back to my credit card; this shows it is possible for an online business to refund to a credit card.
     
  6. the Tester

    the Tester Registered Member

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    I have received refunds as a credit back to a credit card also.
    Amazon does it as well as other online booksellers if, say,they are out of stock.
     
  7. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    It may sound strange to Americans, but for people living in Germany it is common practice to have their bank details sometimes even in their business cards. It is particularly common for people freelancing so that they can get paid as quickly as possible. If your bank account number is not on line, there isn't much that can be done except depositing money on that account.
     
  8. Jazz

    Jazz Registered Member

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    I concur.

    Every time I have paid by CC, I have been refunded via CC, which proves it is a viable, online method.

    However, I live in the UK, as does TonyW.
     
  9. RealResults

    RealResults Registered Member

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    trjam,

    Call your credit card company and challenge the charge. In the U.S., there is a presumption the consumer is correct. You will receive a credit to your account for the full purchase. The burden is then shifted to the business to challenge the refund and why they will not credit the credit card. Wanting your checking information for a refund is ridiculous (Never heard of a company wanting checking acount info.)

    Your credit card company will watch your back (they have to under State and Federal law). Give them a call and challenge the charge.
     
  10. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

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    they can keep it. The point that (1) they fail to disclose this when purchasing (2) the basic fact they cant do it, just shows how rinky dink of a company they are. The money isnt the issue, the issue is about operating in the 21st century. Hopefully this thread will help keep someone else from getting the shaft.
     
  11. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    Jeez in the US if ones bank acct # & bank & branch are known. 99/100 an unscrupulous business or criminal can suck/take out all your money by check by phone procedure. Thats why specifically I tell my bank to never accept a check by phone withdrawal on my account. Cause if it's on record that you've specifically told the bank to never accept a check by phone withdrawal. And more telling them more than once helps a great deal. And secondly on your account there are NO previous check by phone withdrawals. Then the odds are very good that'll be not that hard to prove fraud & get ones money back. Otherwise good luck. I was in collections once & we loved check by phone.
     
  12. Saraceno

    Saraceno Registered Member

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    Must be a country issue.

    I thought if a company has your credit card information, they can already take as much $$ as they want.

    zapjb, here (Aus), banks can terminate/block payments, and operate 24/7 days a week.

    Whereas a person could have my bank account number, branch, and they can't do anything with it. Unless they are an authorised financial authority and the customer has signed all the relevant forms to authorise payment. But if they're an authorised authority, any payment they take which you feel is unauthorised, the banks will investigate/reclaim.

    Credit card fraud is out of control. Bank account number fraud (here), I've never heard of. I guess it depends on the controls your banks have set up in the US.

    Give anyone in the street here your credit card number, and expiry date, and they'll buy anything and everything (online/phone).

    Give anyone here a bank account number and branch, they can't do anything (they'd need my driver's licence details, know the additional security number password I've setup, the additional password, and if these aren't available, would have to come into a branch in person with all relevant forms of ID). Only thing they can do is deposit some money into your account, that's it. Fine by me, show me the money. Like I said, must be different situations for different countries.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2009
  13. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    I lived in Germany for a long while, and even though it may sound as a serious breach of privacy in some countries, it does really work there. Now if you have an account number that is on line as well, I wouldn't use it for such a purpose, but let's not forget that even with an online number you really have to hack the password and other measures. If I were trjam, I'd send GDATA the account number by registered mail. The whole operation will be negotiated among banks. While I was in Germany I never heard of any fraud related to this system.

    Obviously trjam can try other ways to recover his money, but there isn't really anything shadowy about GDATA's refund procedure.
     
  14. NoIos

    NoIos Registered Member

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    I can't judge if GDATA is doing something wrong...for sure I don't like their method. I have bought products from all around the world using visa and amex...and always got refunds directly to my cc.

    In any case thanks trjam for letting me know.
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2009
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