Random $1 charges against credit card

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Lurch

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#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

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#707444 27-Oct-2012 13:15

I could find the reason why email me some details john (dot) reader (at) vodafone (dot) com

Lurch

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#707464 27-Oct-2012 14:21

Thanks John, sent through an email. :-)

nitrotech

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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).

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johnr

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#713932 8-Nov-2012 08:49

We have some official coms coming soon on this just waiting for sign off

VodafoneCB

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#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.

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freitasm

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#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.

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richms

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#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

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#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

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Peppery

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#715257 10-Nov-2012 18:33

Did you get any refunded?

richms

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#715260 10-Nov-2012 18:34

Well its only happened today and I havent endured calling them yet, will just go to the dairy and get a top up that way later tonight since a simple charge to a visa isnt working with vodafone.

Richard rich.ms

johnr

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#715262 10-Nov-2012 18:35

richms: Well its only happened today and I havent endured calling them yet, will just go to the dairy and get a top up that way later tonight since a simple charge to a visa isnt working with vodafone.

What bank are you with?

mjb

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#715263 10-Nov-2012 18:36

johnr: edit: search $1 in our help section and you will see the answer I would drop the link but it's so long

What, this one?

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

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