I purchased an item through a local store’s website, when I went to pick it up they said the authorization never came through. The CC Issuer ( Citibank I believe ) said it did go through. The store was unable to put the auth in manually so Citibank was going to drop the auth and I could re-do the purchase the next day.
I go on Thursday 2/24 and pay for the laptop using the credit card with no problem. Friday night I get a call from the store manager that I can come pickup the laptop because they have an auth now. I explained that I already bought the laptop on Thursday at the store and the manager says he will cancel the new order.
Today I look at my statement online and it shows me being over the limit because there are 2 laptop purchases on it. What I need to know is
How do I avoid being hit with an over the limit fee
How do I avoid heing hit with a higher interest rate because I went over the limit
The agreements with the other credit card issuers I have basicly say if I go over the limit with any of them and they find out they get to raise my rates to default even if I did not default on them
The store this took place at is 59 miles away and I do not want to drive there and back to get this resolved without being compensated for their error.
Call Citibank and explain the situation. While you *could call the store and have them reverse one of the charges, that won’t protect you over over-the-limit chargse and such.
In summary: problem with your credit card? Call your credit card company.
I second iwakura43. Call the credit card company. I had some problems with double charges on my credit card and my company (VISA) retroactively fixes them as in the refunded charge from laptop one will be posted on the day the transaction for laptop one went through. Therefore, they never reall believe you are over your limit. I’ve not dealt with Citibank, but most credit card companies want to resolve erroneous charges as much as you do. Also, I found that the people charging your card respond more quickly to the credit card company than to MannyL, 1000th caller complaining this shift. Also, words like ‘fraud’ ‘better business bureau’ and ‘criminal prosecution’ can get a quicker response if you have the time and desire to go it alone.
I did call the issuing bank and was told if the vendor puts in a credit then I will not be hit with any fees. This though was told to me my the same agent I spoke to on Friday when I was told by the store I could come pick up the laptop I already paid for.
According to my online statement there was one charge on 2/24 and one on 2/25. I called the Store like the issuing bank asked me to and they told me that a credit was put though Yesterday. (Why did they wait until Monday when I told them Friday I bought the item already) This means until the credit goes through my account is indeed over the limit and if they report to the Credit Agencys while over I’m sol. My statement closing date is the 4th so from what I understand if the credit is not in by then It will still report as over the limit
You can reduce your credit amount by paying part or all of your outstanding balance. Do you have another credit card you can do some sort of balance transfer? Can you go to a bank branch and do an electronic payment to your credit card company?
This still sounds like a store mistake that the credit card company isn’t going to penalize you for. Still drawing from personal experience here: I have gotten refunds months later that are still credited on the day the original transaction took place. On your account right now, they don’t show up, but even if they show up after your statement closing date, they are retroactive to the posting date. Also, with VISA, if you have called to tell them about an erroneous charge, they make a note on your account and you are not responsible for the amount in question for 30 days.
I do have cards I can do a transfer to but I would be charged a transfer fee which I don’t want to pay because the mistake is not mine. I could send enough to make me under my limit but that would use all the cash I have for the month.
On Friday I had called the bank who issued me the Master Card and asked them to put a note that a second charge from Office Depot for $1006 was an un authroized charge and they said they would put that note in but that was not done.