Business ProfileforTeleCheck Services, Inc.

The BBB of Houston and South Texas has received complaints that exhibit the following pattern.

Consumer disputes allege their personal checks are being denied at point of sale even when the money in their account and/or they haven’t had a check returned. This is considered a Code 3 by the company. When consumers contact Telecheck to inquire, they are being asked to provide personal information to access their accounts.  Consumer’s state they are uncomfortable  providing their personal information to a company they are not doing business with.  Additionally, many of the disputes allege the company explains the reason for their checks being denied is due to the consumer’s lack of check writing history. They were told they need to write checks for smaller amounts more often to establish a history.

TeleCheck has provided the following statement and wants the consumer to have the following information.  TeleCheck was the sole creator and provider of the following information and does not speak for or express the views of the Better Business Bureau of Houston.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS:  By communicating through the BBB's secured, automated complaint system, you AUTHORIZE TeleCheck to share the information it has on file about you with both you and the BBB via electronic mail.  If you do not wish to communicate via electronic methods, please call TeleCheck directly at the numbers appearing below, or write TeleCheck at the address provided in this report.

WHY DO WE NEED PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU BEFORE WE CAN ASSIST YOU?  TeleCheck’s files are arranged by data elements specific to the individual, including their full bank account number and driver’s license number.  This kind of information is needed to verify we are communicating with the right person about the right records.   Sometimes, we may need to ask for a social security number in order to locate and verify records reported by a bank or credit union.  To a consumer worried about identity theft, we understand it can seem like a lot to ask. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please visit https://www.firstdata.com/telecheck/ to learn more about us and what we do.

YOU’VE GOT MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT AND YOU’VE NEVER BOUNCED A CHECK, SO WHY WAS YOUR TRANSACTION DECLINED? You probably received a risk-based decline that we also refer to as a “Code 3.”  This type of decline happens when TeleCheck has no negative information about a check writer in its files, but, upon our analysis, the transaction looks potentially risky.  How did we determine this “potential risk?”  Through the use of modeling tools built on the detection of common characteristic groupings observed in past transactions, we statistically determine the likelihood that a payment may return.   So, while there may have been nothing wrong with your transaction, it had certain characteristics that made us question it.  Receiving a risk decline does not signify to you -- or anyone else -- that we have records of bad check writing history on you.  And, it does not mean you do not have enough money in the bank to cover your payment.  We have no visibility into your bank account balance.  And finally, it has absolutely no effect on your credit.  These risk models provide critical protection against fraud.   A Code 3 is often the first alert a consumer receives that their account has been fraudulently compromised.  Risk modeling also enables merchants to continue to safely accept their customers’ checks by minimizing fraud-related losses, and controlled loss brings cost benefits to customers.    You can call us at 800.366.2425 to find out your next steps for minimizing any further inconvenience. Or, if you’re interested in learning more about Code 3s, we encourage you to visit  http://www.firstdata.com/telecheck/telecheck-declined-check.html.

HELPFUL NUMBERS: 
                                             
General Questions: 
Check Writer Services:  
888.288.0131                
800.366.2425
888.223.4085
Fax # 402.916.8190      

Check Acceptance Issues:           
Check Declines    800.366.2425 
Code 3 Declines   800.366.2425 
Please have Record Locator #, if provided by retailer

Reporting Forgery/ID Theft          
800.710.9898
Fax #402.916.8180   
Please submit a forgery affidavit and/or police report reflecting bank account, routing and check numbers reported.  Visit www.firstdata.com/telecheck/ and go to the Forgery or Identity Theft menu to obtain an affidavit form or visit www.ftc.gov to obtain an identity theft reporting form.  You may also obtain these forms from your bank.

Reporting Bankruptcies:                   
800.280.7196
Fax # 402.916.8160 
Please provide case filing information and/or attorney contact information


Merchant/Bank Customer Issues: 
Sales/Service Support:  800.835.32443   
Please provide your TeleCheck Account Number in all communications.