If someone else’s credit card was charged 4 months ago for a purchase that I made, do I have to pay it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If someone else’s credit card was charged 4 months ago for a purchase that I made, do I have to pay it?
I went on a cruise and recently received an invoice saying that “due to a clerical error, I owe $100.22”. They’re saying that their employees accidentally charged $100.22 to another person’s credit card and now just realizing the error. It’s been 3 months, do I have to pay them even though it was their error?
Asked on December 14, 2015 under Business Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you have to pay: an error does not entitle you to keep someone else's money or not pay for goods or services you received. Under the law, they could seek this repayment for up to 3 years, so seeking it after 3 months is no problem. Look at this way: suppose somene accidentally charged something to *your* card? Wouldn't you expect, if you discovered the error after 3 months, to get your money back? And you'd be right to--you'd be able to get your money back. The same principal upholds: you received food/drinks/whatever and have to pay for them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.