KEY POINTS:
A man who received a credit card sent to the wrong address promptly went on a $1200 spending spree, buying a PlayStation Portable, pizza and a night in a motor inn with his girlfriend.
Police are hunting for the Auckland man, and the bank has apologised for its
blunder.
The man accepted a courier parcel containing a Visa credit card meant for another bank customer.
Westpac bank, which had apparently listed the card owner's address incorrectly, said yesterday that it would cover the costs incurred.
The owner of the card, who did not want to be named, said his bank statement showed the man went straight to an electronics store, where he bought a Playstation Portable video game player.
He later ordered two Hell pizzas - a "Pandemonium" and a "Lust" - and other snacks totalling $51.50, before visiting a video store and going to a Penrose motor inn, where he spent the night with his girlfriend. He also topped up his mobile phone account using the credit card, giving himself a $100 credit.
The victim said he called several of the places the man visited when he checked his bank balance and realised he had about $800 less than he should have had.
He called the bank to ask what was going on and was baffled when staff told him someone was using his card as he still had it in his wallet.
Westpac said yesterday that the man ordered the new card, but he insisted he had not.
But Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling admitted the bank had made a mistake with the man's address because it usually sent correspondence to his post office box - which courier parcels such as the credit card cannot be sent to.
Due to the fact it was Christmas, the bank aimed to courier the card to the customer as quickly as possible to avoid any inconvenience caused by lack of funds.
The bank would cover the cost.
Police fraud staff and the bank urged customers to inform their bank when they moved house, so they always had the most up-to-date address.
Auckland City police fraud collater and analyst Roy Parker said "interceptions" - where people took credit cards intended for other people - were "not unusual".
Police said they were following strong leads but were keen to hear from anyone who knew the whereabouts of the man pictured, who is suspected of using the card during the spree between January 4 and 6.
