Classic Closeouts $69.99 Scam Fraud Unauthorized Charge

On 12/14/06, I made my first and only order from ClassicCloseouts.com. I used the debit card associated with an account I rarely use, and the purchase was for $3.99. I haven't bought from them since.

On 7/9/08, a charge of $69.99 was made to the same debit card from Classic Closeouts. The card I had on file with them had expired in 2007, so apparently they just changed the expiration date ahead a few years and ran it through anyway. I didn't make the charge, didn't authorize it, and I'm furious about it. The account attached to that debit card became overdrawn because of the charge, so I got hit with a $25 overdraft fee.

ClassicCloseouts.com's website shows I haven't made a purchase since the $3.99 one in 2006. It claims to have 24/7 live customer service, but clicking that option only gives you a form to submit. 24 hours later, I've gotten no response. The website doesn't have a contact phone number.

I contacted the bank, who sent me forms to file a formal dispute claim, and I filed a complaint with the BBB for New York, where the company is located. While there, I noticed that they have an unsatisfactory BBB record. No big surprise.

I did some Googling and found complaint after complaint for this same thing all over the internet:

Huge Post on SlickDeals.net
ClassicCloseouts Post on Consumerist
Complaint (and comment) on Epinions
Complaints Board
FatWallet's ClassicCloseouts Review
Google Results for ClassicCloseouts Charge, ClassicCloseouts Fraud, ClassicCloseouts Scam

If you find an unauthorized charge made by ClassicCloseouts.com to your credit card, debit card, even PayPal account, first file a dispute with the payor (CC, debit card, or PayPal), then use the ClassicCloseouts.com help form to request that they fix it, and when they don't reply (they won't), use the link on the bottom of their page to complain to TRUSTe. Follow all that up with a complaint to the BBB.