I got an unsolicited Macbook Air, called Apple, got return slip but Apple says we never spoke-anyone have problem like this?

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Level 1

1 points

I got an unsolicited Macbook Air, called Apple, got return slip but Apple says we never spoke-anyone have problem like this?

A laptop arrives at my home, I call Apple, I get a postal service return shipping label from returns@apple.com and sent it back. Apple says I never spoke to them, has locked the orders details on my Apple ID order history and has told me they won't talk about this any longer. Eveything points to someone AT APPLE-the return was shipped down the highway in Texas from the call center I spoke to. What is odd is how Apple does not want to talk about this any longer and suggested I contact my local police (who laughed). So no I have a $1300 bill, an email from returns@apple.com and no way to prove that I spoke to them other than the email I received that they insist is not from them. Can anyone give me any insights? Any suggestions? I am desperate here and I think a bad apple (pun intended) within Apple...thanks in advance.

MacBook Air

Posted on Feb 28, 2012 12:34 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 28, 2012 1:32 PM in response to captwilb

Was the $1,300 charged to your credit card or bank account? If so, you need to file a fraud claim through your financial institution.

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Answer 2

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Feb 28, 2012 5:35 PM in response to captwilb

Very strange post. Apple doesn't send out equipment without prepaying. IF they did do it, how did they get your credit card number in order to charge you?

My policy is to AWAYS pay for insurance on any item valued at over $100 just in case the return department says they never got the item.

IF your credit card has been billed as you seem to say, you need to dispute the charge ASAP. I went through a similar dispute about an airline ticket and I disputed it. The investigation took about 3 months before I was notified that the matter was resolved and I didn't have to pay. In the meantime durting the dispute, the CC put the disputed amount aside so that I didn't have to pay it.

When the dispute is being checked, your CC should cancel your card and issue you a replacemet so that no further charges will be accepted for the CC card.

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Answer 3

captwilb Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 29, 2012 5:09 AM in response to Macaby

The order was placed with my apple login (it's in my order history) and charged to my amex. Amex is treating it as fraud but since I did in fact receive the laptop and it is the RETURN that was fraudulent I am not sure if they are going to let me off. I had never called Apple before (despite owning a lot of their products) and got their number off the box that arrived. It was them who gave me the order number and email used on the order. Then within 2 hours I get this email that they tell me is not from them (it was USPS express mail not Fedex which they told me they use) and I send it back. So I can't even explain to Amex how this happened. Unless whoever answered the phone at Apple pulled a fast one. Seems unlikely but given that it was shipped somewhere not far from the call center it is what I am thinking. I am not a conspiracy monger at all but I simply cannot come to any other reasonable explanation. Unless someone hacked my copper land line and redirected my phone and did an awful lot for $1300. Perhaps it was an erroneous order accidentally and an opportunistic person on the phone at Apple. Apple's evasiveness was the biggest surprise, honestly.

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Answer 4

Mar 1, 2012 4:34 AM in response to captwilb

My guess (and that is all that it is) is that someone that you know has your Apple login credentials and used them to order the laptop. They then waited for the laptop to be delivered and then sent you an email with an address to ship the laptop to. Do you have that address? Have you changed your Apple password? USPS was used because there is no tracking unless you pay extra for it.

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Answer 5

captwilb Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 1, 2012 5:07 AM in response to Retired Engineer

Someone ordered with my log-in, yes. But they would have to get me to call them once I received it. The box came from Apple's dictribution center in Lewisberry, PA. And I called Apple within 2 hours of receiving it. So either my phone it tapped or someone who answered the phone at Apple played games because Apple insists I never spoke to them. I spoke to SOMEONE because that's where I got the order number from and I did on fact receive a shipping label. So, maybe someone got into my email and played games but Apple insists I never spoke to them the first day. I have the address, tracking number (it was Express Mail) and person who signed for it. But Apple was not interested. My local police are not going to do anything. So how does one even get to talk to Apple about something like this? They have been clear they do not want to talk about this anymore and I should contact law enforcement.

Yes, my password was changed as was my credit card.

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Answer 6

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Mar 1, 2012 9:29 AM in response to captwilb

captwilb wrote:

They have been clear they do not want to talk about this anymore and I should contact law enforcement.

You should also get a new credit card. PITA if you have auto payments setup with the card. I just went through that.

Re the local police, I has a similar deal with a eBay purchase. Trotted down to the local station to file a report as eBay would do nothing unless I sent them a copy of a police report. I was told by my police station that because the fraud involved something shipped to me, I had to report the matter to the local FBI office. Since the item in question was about $150, I gave up.

When you called Apple, they should have given you a RMA number which would have generated a record of your call.

Next time you "buy" a new MBA, would you mind sending it to me? 😉 Sorry, just kidding. If your credit card company won't drop the bogus charge, it would be tempting to just not pay it. However, you screw up your credit rating and probably would be hounded by a collection agency if you were to do so. Just keep screaming FRAUD to your credit card company until they take care of the matter to your satisfaction.

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