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AIBU?

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Original poster

Holiday home bill on Prime :(

273 replies

BroodleToodle · 09/05/2022 17:56

More of a wwyd?

I went to a holiday home in the uk around a month ago and while we were there we logged into our own Netflix and Prime onto the tv as this was available. I logged out of Netflix but didn’t the prime it seems as today I’ve had a credit card bill for 340.00. My CC is attached to my prime account.

It lists a lot of prime video, and on logging in I can see that a lot of films have been bought, some to permanently keep in HD (15.99) a piece. All are charges from 1 week, so I’m guessing when a family were staying there?

the thing is what to do next? DFriend says that I should phone the credit card company and deny the charges? But it’s from my account!

DM thinks that I should call the bloody police as it’s theft

and I’m just at a loss, I’m aware that I left it logged in so I’m not sure if I’d even be able to put blame. I’ve messaged the holiday home owner and I’ve logged myself out of all devices

but wwyd?

also name change because I’m mortified

OP posts:
Jedsnewstar · 09/05/2022 18:46

PS since it was a credit card you could also report it to them.

The police may not ‘do’ anything but a crime reference number may help with getting your money back.

burnoutbabe · 09/05/2022 18:46

£15.99 is the cost to rent stuff like THE BATMAN-but still that's a lot of rentals in a week to get £340.

QuebecBagnet · 09/05/2022 18:47

If I accidentally left my bank card in a shop and someone used it the police would be interested even though it was my negligence.

i’d approach the holiday home owner asking for your contact details to be passed on to the next family so they can contact you to arrange payment or you’ll be contacting the police.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 09/05/2022 18:48

Try Amazon first - they have amazing customer service

QuebecBagnet · 09/05/2022 18:48

I guess it could possibly be a kid from the next family and not an adult so maybe not quite as malicious as it first appears. 🤷‍♀️ Because they’ve bought more than they could watch surely, which is odd.

ancientgran · 09/05/2022 18:49

coffeecupsandfairylights · 09/05/2022 18:26

I've never had to confirm purchases via my Prime account.

I just click "purchase now" and there it is.

Show quote history

I didn't have to confirm my purchases until I questioned a charge and it turned out it was a GC pressing buttons (she was 3 so don't think it was anything calculated but she might be a criminal genius in the making) I phoned Amazon and they cancelled the charge and talked me through how to change the settings so I had to confirm. Can't remember how to do it but someone on here might or if not if anyone needs to do it Amazon customer services are very helpful.

LouisCatorze · 09/05/2022 18:49

Could you not ask the holiday home owner to bill the family who bought all those films on your account (and if they pay up refund you)? They may not agree of course but it's worth a punt?

You'll probably find it's the 'children' of the family who have done it. I'd like to think that most parents wouldn't fleece someone else's Prime account to that tune.

Athleticpotential · 09/05/2022 18:49

How do you know they were purchased at the holiday home?

I can confirm you don't need a pin. DS occasionally buys a TV series on my account. He's usually very good at letting me know and sending me the money, but I know straight away because each transaction comes up on my credit card at the time, I don't get a "bill".

Ihatethenewlook · 09/05/2022 18:50

AnotherDelphinium · 09/05/2022 17:59

I’d contact the holiday home owner and explain what’s happened, offer them the proof, and ask if they’d like to be named on the small claims court claim or if they’d like to nominate someone else.

The CF knew exactly what they were doing, and that someone was paying for it. Then I’d issue a small claims court for the whole amount.

Why would the holiday home owner be named? No ones dumb enough to believe they’ll be responsible. And it would actually be illegal for the home owner to give out other peoples details. The only thing the op can do is contact Amazon really, I doubt even the police would be interested.

Jedsnewstar · 09/05/2022 18:51

I doubt the police will want to get involved in a problem caused by the claimant's own negligence

So they don’t bother with burglaries where the homeowner left the window or door open etc? The onus to not steal is on the thief alone and not the victim. Or they all would use this as a defence when caught.
What the police want is irrelevant, it is their job to investigate a crime.

Maltester71 · 09/05/2022 18:51

I’m also a holiday home owner. I have a note in my welcome folder reminding people to log out of Netflix for this reason.

Not my responsibility if they don’t.

Ellmau · 09/05/2022 18:52

the person doing this knew they were stealing

Unless they thought it was included in the rental.

I do sympathise with OP, but you should have logged out. Definitely take it up with Amazon in the first place, and your card issuer, but don't count on anything.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 09/05/2022 18:52

Athleticpotential · 09/05/2022 18:49

How do you know they were purchased at the holiday home?

I can confirm you don't need a pin. DS occasionally buys a TV series on my account. He's usually very good at letting me know and sending me the money, but I know straight away because each transaction comes up on my credit card at the time, I don't get a "bill".

What do you mean that you can confirm you dont need a pin?

It entirely depends on your account settings. Mine needs a PIN because I have kids so I set it up with a PIN.

SockFluffInTheBath · 09/05/2022 18:53

Amazon send me an email when a film is purchased, they will have emailed you as well OP. Check which folder your notifications go to and change it to your main one.

It’s worth giving Amazon a call. If they say no you could try the holiday let company, but they’re likely to say it’s not their circus.

Athleticpotential · 09/05/2022 18:54

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 09/05/2022 18:52

What do you mean that you can confirm you dont need a pin?

It entirely depends on your account settings. Mine needs a PIN because I have kids so I set it up with a PIN.

Show quote history

OK, thats my failing then, but it's definitely possible without a PIN. PP had said it wasn't

LouisCatorze · 09/05/2022 18:54

I'd fully expect young people to not necessarily remember to log out at the end of a holiday stay (they'd likely assume a grown-up would do so), but the account owner yes, unless they didn't use their account themselves while away.

burnoutbabe · 09/05/2022 18:55

Well in theory

We don't know the holiday home was rented. The home owner could have decided to watch the movies themselves?

So they need to give you the name or it's them (separately I believe you can get a court order to reveal these details in order to pursue a crime or a civil matter)

KermitlovesKeyLimePie · 09/05/2022 18:57

Did you get emails saying that the items had been bought OP?

DH pays for our prime and I quite often buy films but he always gets an email to say that such and such a film/show had been purchased.

Booboobibles · 09/05/2022 18:57

roses2 · 09/05/2022 18:00

And don't you also get an instant email notification for purchases? That's 3 things you've missed not 1!

Show quote history

Anything else she’s done wrong? 🙄

Trytryandtryagain11 · 09/05/2022 18:59

Ever the optimist over here, there's every chance it was an accident and they didn't know they were charing you or perhaps thought it came with the property. If you contact the holiday home owner and ask them to get in touch with the family from that particular week they might very well offer to send you the money back and be mortified themselves if their kids racked up the bill etc! x

purplesequins · 09/05/2022 19:01

two-factor-id

set it up asap

I get notifications on my phone when I or dc want to rent or buy something and I have to confirm if it's ok.

steff13 · 09/05/2022 19:01

coffeecupsandfairylights · 09/05/2022 18:26

I've never had to confirm purchases via my Prime account.

I just click "purchase now" and there it is.

Show quote history

You still get an email when a purchase is made, though, showing that you bought or rented a movie.

Flopbopandpop · 09/05/2022 19:02

This is theft, simply because they made unauthorized purchases from your account. Ignore the people saying you should have logged out.

If you use a cash point and forget to collect your card and the next person after you withdraws money it's theft. If you left your account logged in and they knowingly buy services knowing that it is not their account again it's theft.

Prime does inform you you will be charged every time so they cannot claim ignorance. Contact the police and let them deal with it. This is an unauthorized transaction on your bank account.

Blarting · 09/05/2022 19:05

Flopbopandpop · 09/05/2022 19:02

This is theft, simply because they made unauthorized purchases from your account. Ignore the people saying you should have logged out.

If you use a cash point and forget to collect your card and the next person after you withdraws money it's theft. If you left your account logged in and they knowingly buy services knowing that it is not their account again it's theft.

Prime does inform you you will be charged every time so they cannot claim ignorance. Contact the police and let them deal with it. This is an unauthorized transaction on your bank account.

Ignore the people saying you should've logged out.... really?

The police can't deal with actual break ins, but good luck OP, I'm sure they'll assign an officer and everything .... not!

Blarting · 09/05/2022 19:06

burnoutbabe · 09/05/2022 18:55

Well in theory

We don't know the holiday home was rented. The home owner could have decided to watch the movies themselves?

So they need to give you the name or it's them (separately I believe you can get a court order to reveal these details in order to pursue a crime or a civil matter)

I own a holiday rental, I do not need to give personal data to anyone.

I wouldn't need to do anything at all.