suspicious

[spacebug]

Okay, so I bought this keyboard. Or rather, I'm trying to buy this keyboard. I went through the shop's online checkout. I sent an email about coming to pick it up, and dude sends me an email about how my card is declined and how they need the correct address info or the card will be declined and how that's CLEARLY stated and then this whole thing about how the "funds are being held by the bank pending investigation" blah blah blah. (What?) I had another weird declination happen with my card recently, and besides *one* autopay I have set up- specifically to build up my credit rating- I hardly ever use my card. Felt weird, so I called my credit union to see if anything was awry. The other weird decline turned out to be simply that my one autopay needed an updated expiration date, and otherwise, they tell me, the charge for my keyboard looks like it went through just fine. Cool, so my identity hasn't been stolen. Yet. I emailed back, not acknowledging the snippy weirdness or the fact that I called my CU, and just gave my billing address again (which I think was correct in the first place, but maybe I missed something. Whatever.) I haven't heard back yet.

I'm feeling suspicious. Am I right to be feeling suspicious? I just want my keyboard.

Comments

[jodi.livejournal.com]

you are right to be suspicious! the differences between the stories of the CU and the shop are more than enough to you on guard. At this point, since the transaction went through (as confirmed by your CU), they are holding property that you bought. Any delay tactics would make me wonder what they have to gain by giving you a line of bull.

[soylentmean.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't feel worried about your money being lost. Credit card companies almost side with the customer if something happens, like your keyboard not coming through (which would very very much suck!)

Also, banks (and sometimes the issuing companies) will often put a hold on a charge if it is unusual (by size, location, etc.) I often get an automated confirmation message the next day for charges like that. Hopefully that's all this is!

[lio.livejournal.com]

The first (and sometimes the only) thing they check in your address is the zip code. This is kind of a pain in the ass, because your billing address might be a ZIP+4 and maybe the online form only lets you put in the regular ZIP. When checked against the database, they don't EXACTLY match, so the transaction gets flagged as "fraud", when really it's just a matter of data entry.