Disneystore.com now charges your card twice...boooo!

[Hi Pluto]

I recently ordered a couple items from disneystore.com totaling about $40. I noticed on my debit card that I had pending payments for the same order twice, tying up the funds on my checking account. I contacted customer service to address what I thought was a clear mistake and this is the response:

"Thank you for sharing your concern regarding your recent DisneyStore.com order.

We have recently upgraded our system with enhanced order processes. This has improved our order authorization system by first checking a Guest's credit card information against the address which is on file with the credit card issuer. After checking to insure the billing information matches the credit card account, the credit card is then authorized for the order total amount.

Regrettably, we are unable to drop credit card authorized from processing orders. Most credit or debit card issuing banks, will drop authorizations. The authorization of $40.87will normally drop off of the credit or debit card account, within the timeframe designated by the credit or debit card issuer. This timeframe is usually within 3 to 5 business days from the shipping date. Please check with your credit card company for any authorization or charges you have questions about.

Thank you again for your interest in Disney."

So now they will charge you once just to make sure they can, then charge you again "officially". The second charge will be dropped eventually, I'm sure this will mess a lot of people up, especially when paying with debit card. I guess I'm not shopping on disneystore.com anymore.

~Cari~

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Your thread title is a bit misleading; you are not actually paying twice for your order.

 

[SUSIEQ]

That's why I pay with a credit card. Problem solved.

 

[DizMe]

That's why I pay with a credit card. Problem solved.

Sounds like the same thing happens on credit cards.

OP, thanks for the info. I find that very annoying.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Sounds like the same thing happens on credit cards.

OP, thanks for the info. I find that very annoying.

Yes, but when it is on credit card, the $ in my bank account isn't tied up.

 

[jaccceee]

Yesterday, none of my credit cards would work. It said to call a certain # and he told me "yeah, that happens sometimes...have a magical day.bye" Maybe I'll try again today.
Anyone else super annoyed about the way they do things when paying with a gift card. It almost doesn't seem legally binding. You put in gift card # then they make you add credit card #. So you can never be sure how you paid.

 

[lmtravis]

many retailers do this most people just don't notice since the bank doesn't always post these test charges before they are removed. As long as you aren't being charged...I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Hi Pluto]

many retailers do this most people just don't notice since the bank doesn't always post these test charges before they are removed. As long as you aren't being charged...I don't see what the big deal is.

The big deal is let's say you have $100 in your account and buy something for $60, and they have it as a pending payment twice, then your bank will see the second pending payment and start getting your overdraft coverage and fees going. With the exception of hotel rooms that often do this as a way to cover extra charges, I've never had a doubled-up payment pending from a retailer. It would be nice to have a little pop up bubble or something explaining this. Now the second pending payment will be sitting there for "3-5 days after shipment".

If a double hold on your money doesn't effect you, then great, but I thought I'd share since this is the "budget board" and I'm sure many of you are trying to avoid this kind of thing or at least be aware that it will happen.

~Cari~

 

[Marionnette]

many retailers do this most people just don't notice since the bank doesn't always post these test charges before they are removed. As long as you aren't being charged...I don't see what the big deal is.

I ran into this problem with another website. They double charged the 1¢ inquiry and ended up triggering a fraud alert on my account My card was frozen until I spoke with their fraud department to verify that I had indeed initiated the transaction.

I'm glad that the mess the other website created is not going to have an impact on me. It wasn't my main CC and it had a decent line of credit, so I'm not skating close to the edge with my limit. But not everyone is like me and double-dipping like that can cause some real headaches, especially for people who use debit cards.

 

[lmtravis]

I think it is good information so thanks for sharing. I can see how with a debit card this could be a problem but my point is this is not unique to Disneystore.com. Restaurants, gas stations, hotels, rental car companies, and many retail stores all do the same thing. Disney is just catching up with other retailers, not blazing a new trail.

 

[phinz]

I've seen my Amex get hit with a $100+ charge at the gas station (my phone tells me immediately when I'm charged) and then hit me again with the actual amount. It was a bit disconcerting the first time it happened.

 

[Marionnette]

I think it is good information so thanks for sharing. I can see how with a debit card this could be a problem but my point is this is not unique to Disneystore.com. Restaurants, gas stations, hotels, rental car companies, and many retail stores all do the same thing. Disney is just catching up with other retailers, not blazing a new trail.

Most of those merchants place holds on CCs and debit cards because they run risks of losing money if they don't. You could pump more gas than your card allows, trash a hotel room or damage a rental car. I've never had a retail establishment double up on their authorizations on purpose.

 

[lmtravis]

yep. that is definitely where the trend started but now even walmart will place a hold on the transaction.

 

[here757]

gas stations do it all the time..

 

[Hi Pluto]

gas stations do it all the time..

Yes, but that's also when they don't know how much you'll take.

 

[Marionnette]

yep. that is definitely where the trend started but now even walmart will place a hold on the transaction.

Another good reason for not shopping at Walmart.

 

[JJZMgailey]

This is definitely a noteworthy situation with most debit cards.

When they first run your card, it's simply an authorization that takes the money from your available balance and sets it aside supposedly waiting for the real charge to come through. When that real charge comes through, the bank is supposed to apply the actual charge to that authorization money that's sitting aside but all too often like you guys said, the authorization just hangs there for 3 to 5 days causing basically a double deduction. It really stinks for large purchases!

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is definitely a noteworthy situation with most debit cards.

When they first run your card, it's simply an authorization that takes the money from your available balance and sets it aside supposedly waiting for the real charge to come through. When that real charge comes through, the bank is supposed to apply the actual charge to that authorization money that's sitting aside but all too often like you guys said, the authorization just hangs there for 3 to 5 days causing basically a double deduction. It really stinks for large purchases!

But then it sounds like it's an issue with the bank processing time, not the merchant.

 

[JJZMgailey]

But then it sounds like it's an issue with the bank processing time, not the merchant.

Yes! Many years ago when I worked for Key Bank and debit cards were the "new thing", it was presented to us like that and I really think it still works the same way. It doesn't happen like that to me every time, but a lot; even more so when it's an online order you're placing.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

But then it sounds like it's an issue with the bank processing time, not the merchant.

Not if the merchant is sending in two different authorizations with different auth codes. I work in card services for a credit union and I haven't really seen retail stores using this method before. The holds for gas, retauarants. and hotels are different. If you pay at the pump, they don't know how much gas you are going to pump when you swipe your card. Hotels can authorize for incidentals and resturants can authorize an additional amount for a tip.