Consumer complaint received 2022-03-14
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: MD
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Sub-issue: Card was charged for something you did not purchase with the card

Complaint:
I am seeking resolution to a disputed fraud charge on my credit card while on vacation in XXXX in the amount of {$250.00} from a retailer named XXXX XXXX XXXX. I notified Chase as soon as I saw the unrecognized charge on my statement closed out my card for safety and was sent a new card. On first review, I was told the charge was valid because the " chip '' was used and because there were valid charges before and after. I appealed the decision. 

Upon appeal, Chase is maintaining that because the card was used for valid transactions before and after that there is no way the charge could be fraudulent. I explained that I do not check my charges until I review my statement and that I alerted them as soon as possible. Chase stated that so long as the physical card/chip was used that there is no way it could be fraud. I asked, if I hand my card over to a retailer to pay for a bill at a restaurant, or to the gas station attendant and they decide charge me without me knowing, how is that not fraud. Chase maintains that it could not be fraud and so long as I hand my card over ( which is a normal part of paying for items ) that essentially that person can deceptively charge whatever they want without me knowing and I have no recourse because the physical card was present. 

My appeal was also denied. I asked Chase for a copy of the receipt, Chase said they could not provide it and would not reach out to the vendor. Chase said that I would need to prove a negative and get a statement from the vendor saying that the charge was not valid even though they can't even identify the vendor in a search. Chase also stated that the charge was flagged as a commercial transaction. I asked Chase what commercial business would I be doing on vacation in XXXX for 4 days. They had no answer. I asked Chase what goods I received in relation charge. Chase had no answer. 
Chase essentially wants me to prove a negative all the while they have to provide no proof that it is a legitimate transaction. 

My next step was to attempt to dispute the transaction. This is because the fraudulent charge was labeled XXXX XXXX and was charged 1 min before I obtained gas at " XXXX XXXX '' for {$23.00}. My best guess is that this was a scam to charge me without me knowing. In XXXX you can't pump your own gas and it was the only time I had to hand my card over to someone else. Chase told me I can't dispute the transaction because they can't verify it is the same retailer because it was titled different. Chase told me to find out which station I went to in XXXX and ask for a letter from the vendor that they refuse to contact, and that I ask for a letter from the vendor that the charge is incorrect. 

Chase basically told me I have no recourse and that there is no universe in which you could hand your card over to someone and they could charge you an unauthorized amount. This is despite the fact that I have had this account for over approximately years and I have never filed a fraudulent charge.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation