Boatfix.com

[MedDreamer]

Has anyone bought anything from this company. I have used West Marine before but not Boatfix and have received an e-mail from them telling me that to process my order they need not just my credit card details but also a photocopy of both sides of the card - this they say is a requirement of their bank.

I have not had this before (certainly not the case with West Marine) and I am reluctant to send this copy.

Has anyone else been asked for this

Martyn

<hr width=100% size=1>Living the dream

 

[BarryH]

I'd tell'em where to shove it and go elsewhere. Put the boot on the other foot, ask'em for their merchant number issued by Cardnet!

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[BustinAround]

Absolute rubbish, you should tell the company management and the police, as it's probably a dodgy employee trying to steal credit card details.

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[Roy]

DO NOT supply them with this info. All they need ever ask for is the usual stuff and possibly security no - last three digits on rear side. My business does around 300,000 credit card transactions per year and we have never needed nor asked for photocopies of any cards. Call the cops on this one me thinks.. Roy

<hr width=100% size=1>What does this mean then?

 

[Chris_d]

Boatfix like West Marine are pretty big in the USA, photo of card is I believe now quite commonly requested by US companies because of credit card fraud, it is simply oneway of establishing that you actualy have the card. Its standard practice when dealing with none-English(US) speaking countries.. err so I guess that includes us!
Must admit I would be reluctant to send it myself, but I don't think their doing anything wrong.

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[Newbieknownowt]

I had this from an American website (NB) - something to do with it being a requirement of their credit card processor for non-US cards. I don't think it's necessarily a fraud, but your UK card issuer would prob. take a v.dim view of your doing this and might hold you contributorily negligent for any subsequent fraud on your card. I wasn't happy doing it, and found another supplier.

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[HeadMistress]

Boatfix.com is a reputable company (I know the owner, George van Parys) and has excellent prices...but that IS strange and something I've not heard of them doing before.

It may be something they've started doing because they've had a problem wih non-US credit cards...or it could be a rogue employee's doing---Boatfix is a very small company compared to a West Marine, located in a very rural part of southern NJ where good help is hard to find.

I saw your post to George on the BOC site asking him about this...I suggest you email him directly too. His email address is gvp@boatfix.com. He also owns Dolphin Marine...a boatyard. If you don't get a prompt reply from that email address, try him at dolphingvp@hotmail.com

I'm very curious to know the answer to this, because I quite often refer people to boatfix.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[[2068]]

Have ordered stuff from them recently, and yes, the order confirmation said they needed the copy, and no, I did not comply...

...and the order turned up fine anyway.

Believe they are reputable, maybe a request from the card processing companies to "prove" possession of the card in the case of dodgy non-US people.

dv.


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[Althorne]

Why can't we go back to bartering it all so much easier "in the old days".
Got 2 sheep and SWMBO looking for a change of lifestyle. 1 of the sheep likes stocking and sussies Barryh. Any offers.

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[pistonbroke]

Quite common, I buy lots from www.getfeetwet.com , and I always have to do the same. Unfortunately, it's now a regular occurrence whenever I buy by internet from the States.

Mastercard over here are aware of it, and seem quite happy for me to comply with the request!

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[BustinAround]

Surely the security number on the back us for proving that you've actually got the card?

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[Chris_d]

Hey.. I'm not asking for it! But if you have obtained a card number frauderently then you will probably have obtained all the other numbers that go with it, but you won't have the card will you. How does anyone know that you have a card in your hand when you order over the phone or internet, you only need to have the numbers writtian on piece of paper. Actualy I don't see any problem in sending a photo, its no more risky than giving all your details to anyone else.

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[BustinAround]

No way! Giving all your details to someone else is not something you should regularly do I assure you. The point is that actually getting all the numbers so you can do that is very difficult, and they also reference it against your name and address when you pay over the net.

And what does actually *having* a card with the numbers on it prove anyway? how do you think card fraud is committed in shops, with a cut-out cardboard card?

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[Chris_d]

Look give me your card number, expiry date and last 3 digits of your number on the back, this is asked for everytime I've ordered anything over the phone, you give it out no problem. Now armed with this simple info I can order anything I like from any mail order company in the UK, but if I call Boatfix I'm stuffed without the card, see.

I guess we will soon have to send a finger print and retinal scan as well soon.

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[Planty]

Agree entirely, we have to order a fair bit from US and are increasingly being asked for this, even by companies we've known for years. They confirm it's to do with non US cards, bloody worrying though. Mind you so is the amount of Credit Card fraud.


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[BustinAround]

Well there's a funny situation there isn't there! There is no security that the person at the other end of the line hasn't written it all down for their own use.

The only security against them using the details is that security concious outfits will only deliver goods to the card's registered address (for at least the first transaction anyway). If they don't, then they are open to fraud and *they* have to foot the bill if the transaction is subsequently found to be fraudulent.

They could get a card knocked up and use it in shops, but this isn't as easy as mail order fraud for obvious reasons.

Problem is, that sending them a picture of the card ISN'T the solution, the solution is to only deliver to the registered address, so either they're very stupid or its all rubbish.

Anyway, my point is, that you *won't* be able to order from any uk mail order company, or if you do, then the card holder is going to get it and not you!


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[MedDreamer]

Intereresting point as the delivery address I gave them was my office not home, which is the registered address of the card. I wonder if this is why they have asked for the copy.

I am not comfortable sending the copy which will of course have my signature as well as all card details so I am not going to send it and will cancel the order.

Pity really because the owner of Boatfix give a lot of good advice on another forum I use and I wanted to buy something from him as payment for that advice.
Not only that, the part I have ordered is $52 on Boatfix but I have been quoted £92 by the UK agent. I suppose once VAT and carriage have been added on the difference won't be that much

Martyn



<hr width=100% size=1>Living the dream

 

[BustinAround]

Maybe you could offer a comprimise? A computer parts company I use will deliver to a different address, but only by a courier, so a naughty drop box can't be used, and they insist on sending the invoice to the card's registered address, so the fraud would be picked up v quickly. (sorry for the long sentence!)
And the amount of hassle for the fraudster would mean that its not worth their while.
Or just have them send it to your home address, $52 v £92 will still be cheaper after all the extra is added on...




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[mikewilkes]

With the $ as weak as it is you are only paying 28 quid for it + p & p + vat

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[MedDreamer]

Hi Peggy

As you will see from the replies on here, this is becoming standard practice with some US suppliers.

I know that Boatfix are a very respected and reputable organisation but I am just not comfortable sending copies of credit cards and have cancelled my order - back to West Marine I suppose.

I think this is just Boatfix policy for overseas orders so I would have thought that you could still recommend them with confidence for US customers.

Regards

Martyn

<hr width=100% size=1>Living the dream