Comments | subbbree: Can They Do This?

subbbree

Can They Do This?

Feb 06, 2004 12:43

I placed an order with This Place for a Bunn Coffee Grinder on 1-26.

My cc was charged on 1-29.

I get an email dated 2-2 that says:
( Email with personal information excluded. )

Comments 17

rtbyjack February 6 2004, 18:18:39 UTC

Hi bree!~S~

It has been sometime since I last looked at a credit card agreement. In the past, when you notify the card issuer that you are disputing the charge, then you receive instant credit. You need to follow the terms of your agreement. The agreement generally states that a detailed letter disputing a charge is to be mailed to a certain department at a specified address.

Editorial: All mail order companies are not alike. Some do try to scam the float as it appears this company is doing. Places like L. L. Bean, the best mail order company ever, do not charge your card until the order is shipped. It is a good idea to inquire into a prospective company policy before placing an order.

Write to me direct if you have any other questions.

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:40:13 UTC

Thank you again Jack. :) I figured they couldn't "get away" with it totally. It was just one of a very few unpleasant experiences I've had with shopping online.

I wonder if I'm just lucky?

BTW, got a letter this morning from them stating that the order had been cancelled and my cc refunded (though it's not showing up yet).

salsuginous February 6 2004, 18:30:10 UTC

Can you complain to the BBB or something?

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:42:15 UTC

I looked around the site and it seems to have glowing reviews. And since they handled it (posted above to Jack) I won't report them. But I absolutely *would* have reported them to either the BBB or whoever is the equivalent for online?

violent_solace February 6 2004, 18:36:33 UTC

You just gave me a great idea. Mind if I make a note of your situation?

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:43:05 UTC

In your journal? Not at all. :)

his_angel February 6 2004, 18:58:22 UTC

Thankfully most of our experiences have for the most part been positive as well. One of our favorite places to shop online for things at home is overstock.com we were only on backorder once but they didn't charge us until it shipped. Hope you don't have to wait 2 months for your money.

His ~angel~

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:43:59 UTC

It looks like I won't (if what they emailed me is correct). Thanks. Oh, and I checked out overstock.com, but they didn't have the grinder. I'll start checking there first! Thanks for the recommend!

z111 February 6 2004, 20:01:36 UTC

I'm pretty darn sure that it's illegal to charge your card before the order has shipped.

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:44:19 UTC

I would have thought so too! Obviously not though.

:(

Re: z111 February 7 2004, 17:47:24 UTC

I don't think it's "obvious" -- have you called the credit card company? I think I had a similar problem several years ago and when I called the card company, that's when I found out it was illegal.

Re: subbbree February 7 2004, 17:50:36 UTC

No, I've not called them. It was a bank debit card, if that makes any difference. But the "customer service" person I spoke with yesterday said that I had "agreed" to be charged when they sent the order to the drop-shipper (something about the Terms of Service contract they have?).

Anyway, it looks like maybe it's worked out (my note posted to Jack above) but we'll see I suppose. They *said* they credited it. But since it was late yesterday, it's not showing up in my bank account yet.