A furniture maker has been told he must foot a fraud bill of more than £6,000.

Nathan Levick from Heathfield was stung by fraudsters ordering goods four times using stolen credit card details.

He went to police when his suspicions were aroused after the third order but was told no crime had been committed. Mr Levick said his business cannot absorb the losses.

He said: "I think you could say I was livid, worried and feeling sick from losing that much furniture.

"A lot of it is hand-made and I have an emotional attachment to it. To lose it that way is like having your house burgled."

He said he has been told by his bank he must pay back the £6,330.

HSBC bank said the seller is responsible for telephone and internet transactions.

Sussex Police said the matter is under investigation.

A spokesman for Card Watch, a UK banking industry initiative which aims to raise awareness of card fraud, said retailers who accepts transactions over the phone or the internet signs a contract with their bank.

He said: "The contract states the retailer should foot the cost of fraudulent card-holder-not-present transactions. It is up to the retailer to take as many steps as they possibly can to make sure the person they are dealing with is a genuine cardholder."

Local MP Charles Hendry is taking the matter to Parliament as he believes it is not fair Mr Levick should lose out when he was the only person to attempt to stop the fraud.

Three other traders in the area have reportedly also been stung.

Friday, April 21, 2006