Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Cyber debit charges

Look, Mom and Dad! Dave's doing his homework, and his stack of CDs, his guitar and his prized computer prove he's a busy guy in his senior year at UMass Lowell. While Dave studies, Mom and Dad down in Somerset get the bills.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"It's much easier to have everything go to my parents address, so that they can look over that and manage everything."
 
Now, last year when single guy Dave signed up for a dating service, he figured his parents wouldn't know, because it was a one-month free trial.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I figured well, 30 days of my time for nothing is at least worth a shot to try to find someone."
 
He wrote some notes, saw some photos, but basically, Dave decided he's not an online dating kind of guy.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I ended up kind of ignoring it and canceling at the end of the trial."
 
He called the place last April and told them no thanks and adios.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"They had sent me an e-mail confirmation that I had cancelled."
 
Meanwhile, Dave met the wonderful Lindsay, and the online dating thing was completely history, or so he thought.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"And that's when I noticed I'd been charged by the Web site."
 
His parents didn't notice, but Dave did. In May, $49.99 and in June, over and over. He was overcharged more than $500! But Dave figured he could fix that in one phone call.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I didn't expect it to be nearly as difficult as it ended up being."
 
The Web site agreed Dave had cancelled months before.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I was able to confirm it with everyone that I spoke with that day."
 
But they said company policy, they'd only refund him $100.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I felt a little bit suckered by the company."
 
Dave had paid with a debit card, so he called his bank and uh-oh.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"The bank actually advised me to look into taking legal action."
 
So, Dave got back online and sent a cyber SOS.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"In the end, I pretty much ended up going pretty much with you guys."
 
You know paying with a debit card can be just like paying cash. But we told the company they'd charged Dave for something he'd properly cancelled.
 
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News Investigative Reporter
"Do you have any idea how this happened?"
 
And we reminded them that it can't be company policy to rip a customer off.
 
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News Investigative Reporter
"So, you'll check into that?"
 
And soon after, Dave's bank balance went up by $500.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"I was ecstatic."
 
And then courtesy of the very understanding Lindsay, his balance went back down a bit.
 
Dave Brodeur, college student
"When I got that money back, I took her out to a very nice, steak dinner."

(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)