Credit Card Experiences

[lizardcub]

I thought it might be useful to have one thread where people report dealings with their credit cards--especially successful dealings. For example, mine were ordered through Visa. I expect to cancel this week (I know, I'm slow; I REALLY wanted the extras--and still do) if we don't hear anything to make me stick around with AU. I think that in dealing with Visa it would help to know the details of other people's conversations, if other people were able to convince them to refund the charges, or at least to investigate or consider it. Similarly, people who ordered with MasterCard, AmEx, whatever.

So, if you've dealt with your credit card company over this matter, and especially if you've won, or if you're a lawyer or have particular knowledge for some other reason, I think it would be good if we had one thread where the rest of us could hear from you. Thanks.

[pgh kenny]

Updated.... I was going to keep an updated list of people's experiences based on their credit card company, but the following two rules seem to apply:

BANK POLICIES FOR RECOVERY OF MONEY AFTER CANCELLATION

ReggaeFire reports that credit card companies have the ability to dispute fraud charges up to one year old.

Ricky Love reports that debit cards (bank cards with Visa or MC logo) can only be disputed up to 90 days after the purchase.

[rainydayjanes]

I've got a Visa with First USA. When I've called them bunches of times ("What the hell is this comicstore.com charge? I've never ordered from there!" and "I have this extra charge, how should I handle it?" and "Ok, now I have to put the extra charge into dispute...") and each time they've been really patient and helpful. With respect to my overcharge, they told me that since I'd already asked theh company to reverse it, I should call back and put it into dispute if they hadn't done anything within thirty days. So, when thirty days were up, I called and put the charge into dispute, and First USA said that they'd contact AU and if AU said that both charges were legit, they'd send me copies of the sales drafts for me to sign. In the meantime, they provisionally credited the overcharge to my account. After a while of hearing nothing, I called again and they said that they give the company 35 days to respond. Since AU never responded, the credit was made permanent (or official, or whatever).

This is what they told me, anyway. I don't completely understand it, but the upshot is, after about seventy days, I did get my money back.

With respect to the original charges, they told me that if AU never delivers the product, I can dispute those charges at any time, regardless of how many days ago they were posted. (I've now cancelled my order and will put the charges into dispute if they're not credited within a reasonable period of time.)

[ReggaeFire]

I used to work in the corporate office of a retail chain and I handled all the credit card disputes. I know that the CC companies can, and will, dispute fraud charges up to a year old (and on occasion I had to deal with cases as old as two years). From my experiences, the CC companies can successfully post chargebacks for transactions a year old, older than that they would try, but if we protested, they backed down. So if your bank is unwilling at first, try again. It is possible, I've seen it happen plenty. I don't know if it would help but all our Visa & Mastercard disputes came through a place called Fifth Third Bank, you may try contacting them directly for any questions about how you can protest charges with your card, they may be able to give you some advice. Discover & AMEX had their own fraud servicing departments.

Jon

[FarrellGirl78]

I called VISA yesterday and the person I spoke to was very nice and felt very sorry for all of us waiting for a refund but she did tell me that since I had paid for it back in february and march 2002, I couldn't reverse the transaction. I admit, I didn't argue but I will call back tomorrow after calling "office de la protectation des consommateurs" in Quebec (where they can file a complaint against AU). I know there is still chance that VISA reverse the transaction. Some actions from AU or Ross in the last couple of days tell me that I and all of us could have a case against them. I mean I didn't get an e-mail since I cancelled saying that they will give me my money back (when I know Ross did e-mail back some people on the same day), I didn't get the product I paid for and even thought we all agree to give them the money back in march, I think this is where we made the biggest mistake because it is against the law (learned that last night) to ask for the money before sending the product. So, I think VISA will have to listen to me and reverse the transaction even though it is older than 60 days.

Dominique

[Rickie Love]

(I tried to send this earlier, server was wacko)

Hey there - after looking over a few of these stories, I called my bank again - Bank of America - and tried to explain the sitch to a brand new human. The way it works for them, due to FEDERAL LAW, is that I have 90 days - not the 60 I posted, sorry, - to dispute claim on my CHECK CARD. That's the stipulation. Even if your check card (atm/versatel card) has the Visa logo on it, (mine does) and even if you used it as a credit card, not ATM (I did), it's still considered a Check Card and the 90 day limit for disputes applies. "Had this card been an ACTUAL Visa, you would have received instructions on how to inflict the most pain to AU while shoving your arm down their throat and foricbly extracting your refund."

It looks like a VISA card has a different story - the 'they don't care if it's been a year, they can still help you' situation holds true.

Son of a !@*%!@*! bitch!

Well, I filed a dispute anyway, with as much info - including this website address - as possible. She as much as told me it would come back denied because of the above reasons, but in case this gets hairier, I at least have record of it.

I feel ill now.