A “HAB*HABAND” charge on your credit card is a billing descriptor for Haband, a catalog and online clothing retailer that has sold menswear and women’s apparel since 1925.1Golden Gate Capital. Golden Gate Capital Completes Acquisition of Haband If you or someone in your household recently ordered from Haband’s catalog or website, the charge matches that purchase. If no one did, the charge has shown up in enough fraud and unwanted-subscription reports that you should treat it as disputable and act quickly.
Why the Charge Might Look Unfamiliar
Two patterns account for most of the surprise HAB*HABAND charges people report.
The first is straightforward card-number fraud. When someone uses a stolen card number to place an order through a legitimate merchant, it’s the merchant’s descriptor that lands on the victim’s statement. In one case discussed on a credit card forum, a Chase cardholder was alerted to an unauthorized $99.95 charge from HAB*HABAND despite never having done business with the company; searches for similar incidents turned up many more.2myFICO. Chase Catches CC Fraud From a Shady Business The charge looks like Haband, but the actual actor is whoever obtained the card number.
The second is a recurring membership called Hab Perks, which billed $14.95 per month. A 2011 Pittsburgh television investigation reported that Haband customers were routed after checkout to an outside “thank you” page, and entering an email address there was treated as an electronic signature enrolling them in the monthly fee. One customer accumulated $350 in charges over two years before noticing. The station described the enrollment as “legal, but deceitful,” and the company refunded the customer after media inquiry.3WPXI. Channel 11 Helps Man Get $350 in Unauthorized Charges Refunded
Before you dispute, check whether anyone in your household placed a Haband order, and scan back through recent statements for earlier charges you may have missed.
Disputing an Unauthorized Credit Card Charge
Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized credit card use to $50 under Regulation Z, and generally to $0 when the card number was used without the physical card being lost or stolen, as happens in online and phone fraud. Many issuers voluntarily go further with zero-liability policies.4FDIC. Are You a Victim of a Financial Scam
To dispute the charge formally, contact your card issuer and request a chargeback. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you must send the issuer written notice within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge appeared. Include your name, account number, the date and amount of the disputed charge, and a short explanation of why you believe it’s an error.5Discover. Fair Credit Billing Act The issuer must acknowledge the dispute within 30 days and complete its investigation within two billing cycles, and you don’t have to pay the disputed amount while the investigation runs.4FDIC. Are You a Victim of a Financial Scam
Disputing an Unauthorized Debit Card Charge
Debit card protections under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act depend heavily on how fast you report. Report within two business days and your liability is capped at $50. Report within 60 days of the statement and it’s capped at $500. Wait longer than 60 days and you can be held responsible for the full amount.4FDIC. Are You a Victim of a Financial Scam If the charge hit a debit card, call your bank the same day you spot it.
If the Charge Is a Subscription You Didn’t Mean to Sign Up For
When the charge looks like a recurring fee tied to an old Haband order rather than outright card theft, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends contacting the merchant first to request cancellation and a refund, and escalating to a chargeback through your card issuer if the merchant won’t resolve it.6CFPB. How Can I Get a Refund on a Product or Service I Purchased With My Credit Card
If Neither the Merchant Nor Your Bank Resolves It
You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau online or by calling (855) 411-2372.6CFPB. How Can I Get a Refund on a Product or Service I Purchased With My Credit Card If the charge turns out to be the work of someone using your card number rather than a Haband billing issue, ask your issuer to close the card and reissue a new number, and review recent statements for any other charges you don’t recognize.