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14/01/2010

Paying with a credit card protects you against fraud, bankruptcy and non-delivery

Credit card companies will refund you in the event of fraud, bankruptcy or if goods or services are not delivered

Legal protection in case of fraud

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Useful links

Paying on the internet
Brochure ECC (in French)

Complaint form 
Visa/Mastercard

Costumer service
Amercican Express

There are various ways of paying for purchases on the internet. Our brochure 'Paying on the internet' (in French) lists all the payment possibilities with their advantages and disadvantages.

Credit cards receive a positive score. If you make purchases using a credit card, then the law1  protects you against fraudulent practices. If someone has been able to get hold of your card details after you have bought something with a credit card, then the card issuer must refund the money that was wrongly debited.

It goes without saying that you must have acted with care and not revealed your card details without good reason. Stick to secure sites to avoid problems. You can recognise a secure site by the key which appears at the base of the screen on the right or if the internet address starts with https:// instead of http//.

The law offers the same protection for ‘all instruments for electronic transfer of money’ – therefore also for internet banking and debit card systems (Bancontact/Mister Cash/Maestro).

What if the goods or services are not supplied?

Visa, Mastercard and American Express offer you additional protection. If you paid with a credit card or the goods or services were not supplied, you will be able to reclaim your money. This is on condition that you have tried to convince the seller to supply the services or goods. If this is not successful, you can make a complaint.

Filing a complaint with a credit card company

If you have a Visa or Mastercard, you can complain to Atos Worldline. You will find the complaints form on the BCC website (in French), which is a part of Atos. You should send the completed complaints form to Atos Worldwide Issuing Dispute & Fraud, Haachtsesteenweg 1442, 1130 Brussels. Or fax it to 02 727 80 77. For more information you can telephone Atos (02 727 86 40).

If you have an American Express card, you can file a complaint on the website (in French), where you have to complete a form or you can call customer services (24/7). Click here for the number linked to your type of card.

Do not forget to say that you have already tried to resolve the complaint yourself. Your complaint must be filed within 120 days after the date when the goods or services had to be supplied. American Express increased this time limit to 13 months starting from 1 November 2009.

 

1 Law of 17 July 2002 on transactions performed with instruments for electronic transfer of money. This law brings Belgian law into line with Recommendation 97/489/EC of the Commission of 30 July 1997 concerning transactions performed with instruments for electronic transfer of money.

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