What to do in this case

[RadiclDreamer]

Friend of mine bought a 360 recently from radioshack.com. He said initially his card showed it as a pending auth but then never went on to be a full charge. Now the pending auth has dropped off and he has had the item for about a week. I told him he should call but hes being a dick about it saying "its their screwup"

My question is how does something like this happen?

I hope they can come back and charge him later but is that even possible?

 

[blackdogdeek]

i think they'll eventually figure it out and charge him the full amount.

 

[Adam8281]

Hmmm...that's a tough one. Abraham Lincoln would walk back to RadioShack, no doubt, to let them know of their mistake. Then again, it's certainly RS's fault if they're botching transactions like this. Personally, I (hope) I would notify Radio Shack - I think that's the right thing to do - although I'd probably wait another week or so, figuring that the charge might show up eventually.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Hmmm...that's a tough one. Abraham Lincoln would walk back to RadioShack, no doubt, to let them know of their mistake. Then again, it's certainly RS's fault if they're botching transactions like this. Personally, I (hope) I would notify Radio Shack - I think that's the right thing to do - although I'd probably wait another week or so, figuring that the charge might show up eventually.

It's been a week and a half

 

[Adam8281]

I know, but I'd wait a little longer. I used to work in a bank, and on rare occasions it would take longer than a week and half for a charge to fully to post to someone's account (this was with Visa branded debit cards, not actual CC's). By law (I believe), a "hold" or a "pending authorization" can only stay on your account for a certain number of days, so it's possible that that amount of days was surpassed, so the pending authorization had to drop, but RadioShack is still processing the charge.

 

[bobdole369]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Friend of mine bought a 360 recently from radioshack.com. He said initially his card showed it as a pending auth but then never went on to be a full charge. Now the pending auth has dropped off and he has had the item for about a week. I told him he should call but hes being a dick about it saying "its their screwup"

My question is how does something like this happen?

I hope they can come back and charge him later but is that even possible?

They have his card, unless they failed at that - they could come and take the full amount like 6 months later. Tell your buddy to keep that money in his account. He knows he paid for it. When they get it in 2 or 3 weeks - he might bounce his rent check.

If they can't get it - then its stealing and RS might call the cops.

"It's their screwup" is the most irresponsible, childish, greedy thing to think in this case. Your buddy deserves the 97423432 overdrafts that will royally fuck him in about 2 weeks. Remember - banks pay off largest to smallest - so when that 360 bill comes right after the rent check - then he'll get overdrafted on the light bill, then the phone, then the internet, then the cell phone, then every time he ate lunch at work, on down to the gas fillups. Depending on the bank - this move might cost him thousands of dollars.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I ran back into a GameStop one time when I looked at my receipt and noticed that they had only charged me $60 for a game, a controller, and an extra battery, when they should have charged closer to $120. But that was only $60. For a $250+ purchase... like Adam8281, I hope that I'd tell them, but it's hard to say. I probably would, after waiting some time, because they could easily take the money out at any time, no matter how inconvenient.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Hmmm...that's a tough one. Abraham Lincoln would walk back to RadioShack, no doubt, to let them know of their mistake. Then again, it's certainly RS's fault if they're botching transactions like this. Personally, I (hope) I would notify Radio Shack - I think that's the right thing to do - although I'd probably wait another week or so, figuring that the charge might show up eventually.

However, George Bush defeated Abraham Lincoln in a light saber fight, so he should just get you a taco.

Tacos rule.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I ran back into a GameStop one time when I looked at my receipt and noticed that they had only charged me $60 for a game, a controller, and an extra battery, when they should have charged closer to $120. But that was only $60. For a $250+ purchase... like Adam8281, I hope that I'd tell them, but it's hard to say. I probably would, after waiting some time, because they could easily take the money out at any time, no matter how inconvenient.

So stealing $60 dollars is fine but $250 is bad?

:Q

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: bobdole369

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Friend of mine bought a 360 recently from radioshack.com. He said initially his card showed it as a pending auth but then never went on to be a full charge. Now the pending auth has dropped off and he has had the item for about a week. I told him he should call but hes being a dick about it saying "its their screwup"

My question is how does something like this happen?

I hope they can come back and charge him later but is that even possible?

They have his card, unless they failed at that - they could come and take the full amount like 6 months later. Tell your buddy to keep that money in his account. He knows he paid for it. When they get it in 2 or 3 weeks - he might bounce his rent check.

If they can't get it - then its stealing and RS might call the cops.

"It's their screwup" is the most irresponsible, childish, greedy thing to think in this case. Your buddy deserves the 97423432 overdrafts that will royally fuck him in about 2 weeks. Remember - banks pay off largest to smallest - so when that 360 bill comes right after the rent check - then he'll get overdrafted on the light bill, then the phone, then the internet, then the cell phone, then every time he ate lunch at work, on down to the gas fillups. Depending on the bank - this move might cost him thousands of dollars.

Well, thats good. Hopefully they notice it. Is there a limit on the time they can go back on this?

 

[Chiropteran]

Text

 

[Adam8281]

Originally posted by: PlasmaBomb

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I ran back into a GameStop one time when I looked at my receipt and noticed that they had only charged me $60 for a game, a controller, and an extra battery, when they should have charged closer to $120. But that was only $60. For a $250+ purchase... like Adam8281, I hope that I'd tell them, but it's hard to say. I probably would, after waiting some time, because they could easily take the money out at any time, no matter how inconvenient.

So stealing $60 dollars is fine but $250 is bad?

:Q

I don't think he was saying that. I think he was saying that it's easy to do the right thing when a small amount of money is at stake; it's harder when it's a lot.

 

[Crusty]

Isn't this kind of like "If we don't give you a receipt then your purchase is free"? I don't understand how RS could have let him out of the store if the charge was still authorizing. He wouldn't have been able to sign off on the transaction unless the CC company authorized the transaction. The CC company authorizes the transaction, and the CC holder authenticates it by signing off on the transaction. It's not a valid transaction if one of the two parts fails and Radioshack shouldn't have let him walk out the door with it.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: Crusty
Isn't this kind of like "If we don't give you a receipt then your purchase is free"? I don't understand how RS could have let him out of the store if the charge was still authorizing. He wouldn't have been able to sign off on the transaction unless the CC company authorized the transaction. The CC company authorizes the transaction, and the CC holder authenticates it by signing off on the transaction. It's not a valid transaction if one of the two parts fails and Radioshack shouldn't have let him walk out the door with it.

In my OP I said it was RS.com, hence online order

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer

Originally posted by: Crusty
Isn't this kind of like "If we don't give you a receipt then your purchase is free"? I don't understand how RS could have let him out of the store if the charge was still authorizing. He wouldn't have been able to sign off on the transaction unless the CC company authorized the transaction. The CC company authorizes the transaction, and the CC holder authenticates it by signing off on the transaction. It's not a valid transaction if one of the two parts fails and Radioshack shouldn't have let him walk out the door with it.

In my OP I said it was RS.com, hence online order

Either way, they shouldn't have shipped the item then. Something is amiss.

 

[Anubis]

i would not lose sleep over it if i was your friend

to be honest i prob would not even notice for like a month, or however long it was till my next CC bill came

 

[Adam8281]

I think the question is what to do if somehow RS made a mistake after he had left with his purchase. Obviously the transaction was approved, since the authorization showed up on his CC. But we all know that retailers can "undo" charges, as when you return a product, for example. So the question is, if RS made a mistake and somehow erased the charge before it was finally paid, what should OP's do. No one is doubting that it's RS's error, but does that excuse not reporting it? I don't think so, but I recognize that it might be very hard to do the right thing. I would certainly be tempted.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i think they'll eventually figure it out and charge him the full amount.

yup

those initial charges only last a few days if I recall...then he would be charged the full amount.

If you want to be a kick ass friend, call radioshack and tell them/ask them ^_^

 

[GarlicBreath]

Years ago, I had a mix-up with Sears. Bought a washing machine, returned it, bought another, etc., etc. Anyhow, they didn't charge me at first, but caught up to me a few months later.

I'd tell your buddy to do nothing. If he goes back there and tries to fix it, my guess he'll eventually get charged twice, then go through hell finding anybody on their end who can fix it.

 

[ivan2]

I won't report it until at least months later because god knows how their system works and I won't take the risk of being charged twice.

 

[bobdole369]

Is there a limit on the time they can go back on this?



As far as the law is concerned - as long as the debt is owed - so the discretion of the judge/jury if RS were to sue.

Collectors are allowed to go after you until the debt is paid - i.e. the end of time. Certain things they just can't do after a period of time, like report the debt to the credit bureaus, sue you, etc.

It depends on the state, but in Florida (where I live) this sort of transaction might be 4 years.

Now if they can't get back in on the card they'll try to reach him by mail, or failing that - skip-trace, hiring a collection agency, etc.

I wouldn't have a $250 or whatever xbox hanging over my head. I can't stand it when the roomate forgets to bring the rent check and goes the next day....

 

[BoomerD]

Nah...keep the 360 AND the 46" television...after all...both are the fault of the seller...right?


Don't people teach their kids any ethics anymore?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
I think the question is what to do if somehow RS made a mistake after he had left with his purchase. Obviously the transaction was approved, since the authorization showed up on his CC. But we all know that retailers can "undo" charges, as when you return a product, for example. So the question is, if RS made a mistake and somehow erased the charge before it was finally paid, what should OP's do. No one is doubting that it's RS's error, but does that excuse not reporting it? I don't think so, but I recognize that it might be very hard to do the right thing. I would certainly be tempted.

My best guess is that he fudged his billing address or something and when it didn't match up with the one the card company has on file RS rejected it.

It could be a processes of something like...

- Card is given a temp. authorization with just the number and exp. date given.
- Make sure it's in stock
- Ship and Charge Card

There are a surprising amount of temporary authorizations that don't check the billing address, and maybe they added a bunch of labor to speed things up during the holidays and it was working so well that they didn't catch the rejection before it went out.

Even if he wants to be an asshole about it and try to get a freebie he should call and ask how their billing goes because as mentioned, I wouldn't be surprised to see a charge show up a month or two down the road.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: PlasmaBomb

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I ran back into a GameStop one time when I looked at my receipt and noticed that they had only charged me $60 for a game, a controller, and an extra battery, when they should have charged closer to $120. But that was only $60. For a $250+ purchase... like Adam8281, I hope that I'd tell them, but it's hard to say. I probably would, after waiting some time, because they could easily take the money out at any time, no matter how inconvenient.

So stealing $60 dollars is fine but $250 is bad?

:Q

Unless I'm reading that wrong, it looks like he says he ran back into the gamestop once he realized he was undercharged. If so, he's not condoning stealing.