Webcert complaint!!!!

[Pembo]

I have $20 on my wc. I decided to order a gift card to treat myself! After spending quite a bit of time looking for a place I could get one for $20 and no shipping I found JCPenney's.

Today I get a call from JCP, my card # wont' work. I go over to WC and see $1 has been deducted from my account.

So I call WC-it seems that JCP put thru a $1 charge to make sure the card was valid, then they tried to put thru the $20 and it wouldn't take because wc shows a balance of $19. Are you with me so far??????

How stupid is that! I'm so annoyed! I did order a Disney gc awhile back and had no problem with the $1 thing. I just wanted to branch out and shop somewhere else this time. ugh!

 

[jcemom]

I just ordered a $50 Disney Store GC, and not only did they put the $1 through first, BUT then they charged $53! A total of $54! They did eventually (after a week or so) credit the $4 back, but I had to use my Mastercard to add money to the account because I didn't have enough in there at first. Very frustrating!

 

[mad4themouse]

Making that $1 charge to ensure that you are using a valid credit card is common place. It's not the fault of Webcertificates. Many merchants do this and then credit that $1 back to you. When you use a debit-type card, you run into problems with not having enough money in the account. With a regular credit card, that $1 does not become an issue unless you have exceeded your credit limit.

 

[Pembo]

I wasn't upset with wc just that I couldn't get my gc. I understand the purpose, it's just frustrating!

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

That same thing happened to me several weeks ago and I posted on this board, I think. It may have been the budget board. I was so frustrated. I did not get clear answers. I don't know who's fault it is, if it is anyone's fault, but it makes it near impossible to make a purchase and use the entire amount you're due from your webbie. The webbie people were helpful in trying to explain that some places...like the disney catalog, just add tax or shipping, or that fee to check, then that makes your webbie short of funds. Seems like in this day and age, they could figure a way to find out that the anount on your card exactly matches what your charging...like a gift certificate. Anyway, I am stuck paying the fee to make my webbie a "hard card" so I can just use it at a store for an exact amount purchase. I hope that works. It hurt to pay 6.95 out of my hard earned my points earnings, but in the long run, I will use the card over and over, I guess.

 

[Nala217]

I do customer service for visa, mastercard and discover gift cards. I do not do service for Webcertificates, but I thought I'd give everyone some general info about these type of cards. This applies to web purchases and purchases with a hard card.

1. When you make internet purchases and phone purchases, many companies will Authorize $1.00 off the card to make sure it is a valid, working card since they do not have the card in front of them. An authorization is different than a purchase. An authorization is done first so the merchant can get the o.k from whatever credit company the card is from. If the authorization goes through, and the purchase is made it will show up on the card a few days later. The merchant has a certain amount of time to send the transaction info to the credit companies. If they do not send the info by that time the money goes back to the card. That is what happens with that 1.00. It doesn't go through as a purchase so it goes back to the card. Sometimes, the authorization will go through on the credit companies side but not the merchants. That money is held until that experation date the merchant has to send the transaction info in. This can hold up funds for a while.

 

[Nala217]

Had to start another post. Here's the rest of the info.
2. Hard cards usually cannot be used at pay at the pump at gas stations. They can be taken inside to the cashier to pay.
3. At customer service we usually tell customers not to use these cards at restaurants. The software in the credit terminal is set up to authorize the card for up to 20% more that what is being entered to make sure there is enough money available in case a tip is left. So, if you have a 50.00 dollar card and your meal is 50.00 the machine will try and authorize 70.00 dollars. This doesn't mean you get charged 70.00, you will only be charged for what you sign the receipt for. But, the card will be denied even though the merchant puts only 50.00 in as tender. This can also happen when buying a gift cert at a restaurant. This is usually true of any place you might leave a tip such as hair salon
4. If you have a hard card and want to use it towards a larger purchase you must pay the difference with cash or check first and have the merch run the card last!!! If the purchase is 50.00 and you have a 25.00 card, you need to pay 25.00 with cash or check have the register total brought down to 25.00 then swipe the card. If the card is swiped first it tries to charge the entire amt. to the card. Any more ???? let me know.

 

[starwood]

What these stores should do (obviously) is make the $1.00 charge to make sure the card is good. Then charge your order minus the $1.00 transaction fee.

 

[Nala217]

o.k. last post.

One thing I can't stress enough is read any terms and conditions you get with these certificates. Most problems I get calls about are explained there. If the people would read those when they receive their cards they would save themselves some hassle. However, sometime the terms and conditions are vague or sometimes just wrong. When in doubt call the customer service # for the card. That's what we are there for. Also, If you are having trouble make a purchase with the cards at a store, call customer service from the store. Many merchants don't know how to run these cards. Usually the customer service rep can walk them through it or explain why there is a problem. I have many people call when they get home and have already paid some other way. If they would have called from the store, we could've helped them and they could've used the card.

I hope all this info helps. If anyone has anymore questions, I'll try and help.

 

[cuterlt]

the thing that aggravates me is that the merchant (particularly an online merchant) will charge a card, even if the transaction does not go through, and then it takes FOREVER to get the charge off of the account. I've had that happen particularly with the webcertificate card and it makes it difficult because then your card is indebted for that amount until they figure it out. I called and complained about it to the merchant and to webcertificate, and it's still sitting there as a "pending transaction".

 

[Nala217]

cuterlt-

I know that stinks. If the charge is listed as a "pending transaction" there probably isn't anything webcertificates can do. I know with the gift cards I work with we have to wait until it goes through as a purchase. Because, with a pending transaction MC is only holding that money for that purchase. The merchant doesn't have the money yet. I would suggest calling webcertificates and finding out if they know the expire date for the hold. That would be when the money should go back to your card. Also, you could ask them if the merch calls them and gives them permission can they remove the hold. If the "pending transaction is now listed as a purchase. Call webcertificates and tell them you want to dispute the charge. I know all of this is a pain the the you know where. Unfortunately most of this is MasterCard or Visa regulations. Webcertificates is probably just doing what MasterCard mandates.

 

[cuterlt]

Thanks for the explanation Nala. It makes sense, I guess. lol. I'll bug them again on Monday if it isn't fixed yet.