Article in the Post-Dispatch today attempts to explain how you can get a charge on your credit card bill, without even giving your number to the company. The reporter got the story idea from one of the consumer victims in our Operation Taken for a Ride lawsuit involving car extended warranties.

The company in question used what’s called “pre-acquired account information,” so they had this woman’s credit card number before they even called her. This is not supposed to work this way. If you get charged for something you never ordered, work with the company first to remove the charge. If that doesn't work, go to your credit card company. If that doesn't work, file a consumer complaint with our office.