Random $1 charges against credit card

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand, TelstraClear and ihug › Random $1 charges against credit card

Lurch

677 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 111209 27-Oct-2012 12:43
After getting nowhere with my ticket that I raised via the helpdesk, with the last comment "sent request to payment dept." then the job being closed I thought I'd post here. For several months, possibly over a year random $1 charges are being put against my credit card. The helpdesk could not find the account number that is showing on the transaction and apparently do not want to resolve the problem. After all it's only a $1 right??? My credit card isn't even saved on the website. Anyway here's an example: 24 Oct '12 5215 #771732 VODAFONE FXDLNE/BBAND NEWTON NZ $1.00

1 | 2 | 3

BDFL
43744 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

Trusted

Geekzone

Subscriber

Reply # 707430 27-Oct-2012 12:46
Cancel the credit card and get a new number. They will come running to you if it's a legitimate charge. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

johnr

13313 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vodafone NZ

Subscriber

Reply # 707444 27-Oct-2012 13:15
I could find the reason why email me some details john (dot) reader (at) vodafone (dot) com Systems Engineer Vodafone NZ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Lurch

677 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 707464 27-Oct-2012 14:21
Thanks John, sent through an email. :-)

nitrotech

733 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 707467 27-Oct-2012 14:37
It's just an authorisation charge that gets reversed several weeks later. I've got no idea why Vodafone do it if you pay say 100 they charge the 100 and a 1 authorisation - it seems to take them forever to release it back again. So in short it's not just you it happens every time I make a cc payment.

gregmcc

587 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 707499 27-Oct-2012 15:43
nitrotech: It's just an authorisation charge that gets reversed several weeks later. I've got no idea why Vodafone do it if you pay say 100 they charge the 100 and a 1 authorisation - it seems to take them forever to release it back again. So in short it's not just you it happens every time I make a cc payment. there is an easy way to either fix the problem or make some money, Inform Vodafone that there will now be money usage charges for this $1, some thing reasonable for the cost of your time to check that this $1 is actually been returned to your credit card, $30 sounds fair. make it their choice either stop the $1 charge and reversal several weeks later or it will cost $30.

Lurch

677 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 707586 27-Oct-2012 19:39
nitrotech: It's just an authorisation charge that gets reversed several weeks later. I've got no idea why Vodafone do it if you pay say 100 they charge the 100 and a 1 authorisation - it seems to take them forever to release it back again. So in short it's not just you it happens every time I make a cc payment. Why doesn't the help desk know this, also why is it using random account numbers on the statement that are not related to me? The other thing is the $1 charge is sometime after I pay my bill at least a couple of weeks before it shows up on my bank statement, wouldn't it happen at the same time? Will have another look at the website but I'm sure it doesn't mention anything about a authorization charge. Very strange.

Peppery

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 707643 27-Oct-2012 21:58
gregmcc: there is an easy way to either fix the problem or make some money, Inform Vodafone that there will now be money usage charges for this $1, some thing reasonable for the cost of your time to check that this $1 is actually been returned to your credit card, $30 sounds fair. make it their choice either stop the $1 charge and reversal several weeks later or it will cost $30. They aren't taking the money - they're putting an authorisation hold on it which means if they do want to charge you $1 they will get their money. The money never leaves the card but your available balance goes down by $1, and is usually reversed with these types of charges. Similar to how Apple run their online stores, they put an authorisation hold on your card until they ship your product, then they complete the transaction (however these small charges are usually to prove you do have a valid card). World famous Twitter hacker.

Regs

10100111001
3177 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 708157 28-Oct-2012 23:01
freitasm: Cancel the credit card and get a new number. They will come running to you if it's a legitimate charge. have you ever cancelled a card? do you know how much work it is to re-configure everything that autobills? this would be a last resort in most cases.... Need help implementing Microsoft CRM? Give OA Systems a shout. Winners of CRM Solution of the Year at the 2010 Microsoft NZ Partner Awards

johnr

13313 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vodafone NZ

Subscriber

Reply # 713932 8-Nov-2012 08:49
We have some official coms coming soon on this just waiting for sign off Systems Engineer Vodafone NZ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

freitasm

BDFL
43744 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

Trusted

Geekzone

Subscriber

Reply # 713940 8-Nov-2012 09:06
Regs: freitasm: Cancel the credit card and get a new number. They will come running to you if it's a legitimate charge. have you ever cancelled a card? do you know how much work it is to re-configure everything that autobills? this would be a last resort in most cases.... I have had credit cards since 1988 (my first AMEX was issued in 1990 and the best thing about it is that you can even move countries and it is still the same account, same history - unlike other brands). I only had to cancel a credit card once, this year when I left one behind in the ATM (even though it was found and handed to the bank, but just in case). But yes, I thought the second sentence in my reply would show it was a joke. I agree this sounded like those $1 authorisation charges, although why having those on every transaction is strange. Let's see what Vodafone posts here soon. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

VodafoneCB

36 posts

Geek

Trusted

Vodafone NZ

Reply # 713986 8-Nov-2012 09:58
The auth fee will not occur if you log in and use the credit card details you have already saved with Vodafone, it only occurs on one-off type payments, where you havent pre auth'd and you do not sign or enter a PIN, as mentioned it wont leave your account but is held as evidence there are funds to draw on. As John mentioned the AR team is putting togeather some comms that should be out soon. Vodafone staff,you'll see me on the @vodafoneNZ twitter account and Vodafone NZ facebook page signing off as ^CB

freitasm

BDFL
43744 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

Trusted

Geekzone

Subscriber

Reply # 713987 8-Nov-2012 10:02
That makes no sense... If the auth fee is used to find if the credit card is valid, then why not go for the full top up amount? If it's declined, end of the story. If it is accepted, end of story. As it is, the auth transaction is an unnecessary overhead in terms of time seeing this is for one-off transactions. Also the auith amount is held by the credit card company until a "timeout" passes. It never leaves the account, but the customer can't use that dollar because it's on hold for a certain amount of time - usually a week. Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

richms

8811 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 715252 10-Nov-2012 18:08
Me too, $1 charge but this was on an unsucessful topup done online via my account to a new prepay number with my loaded card. Now have $5 or $6 of vodafone charges and no credit on the phone. Richard rich.ms

johnr

13313 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vodafone NZ

Subscriber

Reply # 715256 10-Nov-2012 18:32
richms: Me too, $1 charge but this was on an unsucessful topup done online via my account to a new prepay number with my loaded card. Now have $5 or $6 of vodafone charges and no credit on the phone. It's not a $1 charge as such I need to find the link in the help section but it's a pre auth cause the credit card is not registered, edit: search $1 in our help section and you will see the answer I would drop the link but it's so long Systems Engineer Vodafone NZ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Peppery

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 715257 10-Nov-2012 18:33
Did you get any refunded? World famous Twitter hacker.

1 | 2 | 3