I had fraud on my halifax account. I am working overseas in Latin American, and normally have a local account, but due to a late pay day in September, I had to use my Halifax Debit card at a hire car company instead of the local one where my pay is deposited. The same month, I tried to hire a car with the same company but my card was not accepted. I should have realised then something was up. I checked it 3 days later and found that over 3 days in September, criminals have debited just over 1500 GBP from my account in a Total station in Europe (3 times) and what appears to be something to do with catering. I had fraud on the same account approximately 1 year previously and the halifax refunded the transactions after 1 month. This time they have informed me it will take up to 45 days because they have written off to visa to obtain the original sales vouchers from the merchant. The first time I spoke to them, they informed me it would take 30, then it increased to 35, now they're saying 45. It's crazy. I have no idea what this means or why they are taking so long to give me my money back . To rub salt into the wound, I have gone over the allowed overdraft and incurred many charges for each transaction, taking it in total to over 1700 GBP. Collections have been in contact and it is affecting my credit rating. I have a first class credit rating before this and am self employed, so this is is very bad for me. I feel like I am the one on trial, when the bank are clearly at fault for allowing this to happen but also for allowing it to go so far over the allowable overdraft. I'm worried they will try to say because of chip and pin its not our problem. I still have my Visa debit card that is cancelled within my possession. What are my rights - is it a matter of just waiting now to hear their 'verdict', why do they make me feel like I am the criminal here? What can I do and I am looking for other peoples experiences. I noticed one member of this forum had a similar problem and was paid back with 14 days after complaining, but because I am not a single mother with 3 kids to feed, it seems its ok to withhold paying me back, even though I do have a wife and baby to support and I am now stuck without my Visa debit card backup.