I'll try to keep it brief.
I made a big purchase (over $1000 and under $3000) online from a large retailer using a charge card. The order was approved and I had an immediate pending charge on my card. Fast forward four days and the charge is still pending. The next day the item ships with charge still pending.
Two days later I get a notification from my cc company that they've denied a second charge for the same amount. I called the cc company and thanked them for not letting the online retailer double charge me for the same purchase. Immediately following, I contacted the seller and told them all of the above. They said that it was normal, no worries.
The next day, I recieved my item and my "pending" charge disappeared. There was now no charge for my item. I called again and told the retailer that I still hadn't been charged, and was told by the CSR that "everything's good on our end."
Fast forward 8 days, no charge. I get a voice mail from the retailer saying "it seems as though you have not paid for your item. If you don't pay by tomorrow you will be placed in our fraud file and may not be able to order from us again."
I haven't responded. Am I in any financial or legal danger? I'm annoyed by both their ineptitude and their aggressive voicemail. I told them twice about the error and was dismissed, now they accuse me of fraud? They have my cc number, why aren't they trying to run it again?
Avoiding the ethical question, am I legally obligated to pay at this point?
I made a big purchase (over $1000 and under $3000) online from a large retailer using a charge card. The order was approved and I had an immediate pending charge on my card. Fast forward four days and the charge is still pending. The next day the item ships with charge still pending.
Two days later I get a notification from my cc company that they've denied a second charge for the same amount. I called the cc company and thanked them for not letting the online retailer double charge me for the same purchase. Immediately following, I contacted the seller and told them all of the above. They said that it was normal, no worries.
The next day, I recieved my item and my "pending" charge disappeared. There was now no charge for my item. I called again and told the retailer that I still hadn't been charged, and was told by the CSR that "everything's good on our end."
Fast forward 8 days, no charge. I get a voice mail from the retailer saying "it seems as though you have not paid for your item. If you don't pay by tomorrow you will be placed in our fraud file and may not be able to order from us again."
I haven't responded. Am I in any financial or legal danger? I'm annoyed by both their ineptitude and their aggressive voicemail. I told them twice about the error and was dismissed, now they accuse me of fraud? They have my cc number, why aren't they trying to run it again?
Avoiding the ethical question, am I legally obligated to pay at this point?
I'm assuming that you're just trolling, as I asked about my legal position, and specifically requested we avoid the ethical questions involved.
If you actually do have some detailed legal expertise to contribute to the conversation I'd appreciate it.
If you actually do have some detailed legal expertise to contribute to the conversation I'd appreciate it.
Something similar happened to me with a Williams Sonoma order. In my case it happened because the item was backordered, so the payment authorization expired before they processed my payment, (even though I had received the item). They sent me an email letting me know that they had not been paid and I was able to call them and pay for my order over the phone. It was simple and fast, only took a few minutes to resolve.
@Billharrell wrote:
I'm assuming that you're just trolling, as I asked about my legal position, and specifically requested we avoid the ethical questions involved.
If you actually do have some detailed legal expertise to contribute to the conversation I'd appreciate it.
What bothers me is you don't want to be bothered with the ethical question.
My opinion, do the right thing, pay what you owe or return the product. Trying to take advantage of the situation and not living up to your obligations will eventually catch up to you, legal or otherwise, I certainly wouldn't post about it on a public forum for the world to see.
The GOLDEN RULE is always GOLDEN.
You can never go wrong when you do the RIGHT thing...
This is an open forum and while you can state you don't want to be troubled with the ethical/moral question, we are also just as free to address it anyway.
The fact you mentioned the moral dilemma tells me you already know the best course of action...
Have a grand day..
Oh, brother. Nothing against the fine members if this forum, but it is not my "go to" site for ethics advice. I'll continue to rely on people I actually know for those questions.
The forum IS chock full of experts in credit laws and regulations, hence the specific question above.
The forum IS chock full of experts in credit laws and regulations, hence the specific question above.
