This is how it is

[pgh kenny]

I guess there are fewer consumer protections with a debit card than a credit card. If need be, you can dispute a credit charge before you have pay. You can still dispute a debit charge with your bank, but like you indicated, that doesn't help if you were counting on having an extra $80 in your checking account.

As an engineer... they way I see it, even if they had 1,500 overcharges, I do not see why they couldn't have systematically fixed the problem much faster, especially since some of the transactions were certain to be 'cash' debit transactions. You know, set up a spreadsheet or database and just figure it out. Like I said on another post, I doubt that the cc authorization company or au's computer fullfillment system suddenly grew a mind of their own or developed artificial intelligence. It's fun to speculate, but of course we'll never what really happened.

[Jason R]

I have tried to be as honest here as I can based on the facts I verify.

I was originally told by AU that the problem was the fault of Authorize.net. Because of the number of double charges I became alarmed, and I, too, called Authorize.net and got the same answer that you received; that they could not possibly be the cause, and that no complaints had been filed by AU.

As of last week, I was told by Justin Martin at AU that the problem was with the shopping cart, and that it should not happen any longer.

I guess they realized that they were to blame, so I wonder why Wade told you what he did.

[pgh kenny]

anyone else get the feeling AU is covering something up?

I don't think there is a sinister plot behind the overcharges. Clearly there was some sort of mistake made, and due to the volume of customers relative to what they are used to dealing with, they are overwhelmed. I don't understand why they didn't just fix the problems as soon as it was apparent that something was going terribly wrong. And automatically submit credits the same way they automatically double or triple charged people.

[Krakolano]

I don't understand why they didn't just fix the problems as soon as it was apparent that something was going terribly wrong. And automatically submit credits the same way they automatically double or triple charged people.

...easily explained by the 'sinister plot theory.'

[andrewgd]

I guess they realized that they were to blame, so I wonder why Wade told you what he did.

Well, everything I had done went down at least a month ago (I beleive) so at that point they may not have figured it out quite yet. They were able to credit my debit account fairly quickly (a week or two, seemingly quick compared to other people's wait). So I don't fault them much for fixing the problem promptly.

I didn't even know about this site at that point, and only came to know of it when I asked if there was a way to keep better updated on the status of the set, since it was apparent that they weren't sending me emails like they should have been. I think it was Mark (or Mike? I'm so bad with names) that told me that updates were being posted here. Then just last week I browsed around a little more and found the forums here.

[dTheater]

As of last week, I was told by Justin Martin at AU that the problem was with the shopping cart, and that it should not happen any longer.

Do we know of any non-MSCL overcharges? Were there overcharge problems before the DVD? Are their other customers currently being overcharged?

[Nostradamus]

unbelievable...
anyone else get the feeling there's something shady going on here? these guys are sketchy at best...
there is definately something weird about this, legitimate delays and such aside -- anyone else get the feeling AU is covering something up?


what were they doing with our 'borrowed' money?
anyone have and AU conspiracy theories?
where's Fox Mulder when you need him?

I love a good conspiricy theory, but I have a different angle on this one. Rather than a convoluted company wide scam, perhaps we should consider the possibility of a single crooked AU employee or outside contractor. It is not unheard of for an otherwise honest company to accidentally hire a small time pilferer into the ranks. I do not know enough about credit card fraud in general or AU's employees and contractors in particular to say whether this explains the dvd overcharges, but maybe someone else does. It may be that AU is too small for a criminal to hide in, or that their system has no access for human interference. We must also consider the possibility that if this is a company wide conspiricy, this "Lone Gunman" theory provides an easy scapegoat.

Please understand: It is not my intention to acuse the comapny as a whole or any individual of wrongdoing. I have no specific evidence to confirm or deny this or any other theory. I certainly do not wish to create a "witch hunt" atmosphere with this post, as I still believe that the most likely explanation of this mess is a sad collection of human and/or computer errors. Dtheater, too, raises valid questions. I only wish to have all the possibilities considered.

And remember: We still haven't ruled out the Zeta Reticulans, either...

[somamoon]

I've wondered the same thing Nostradamus - it could be a lone embezzelor(sp). When I called AU about my refund a few weeks back, the guy on the phone told me that my request had been submitted to the Accounting Dept and it was in their hands. Perhaps someone in the Dept did the overcharges and is also sitting on the refunds. Just a thought I had, don't know how plausible it is.