outnumbered
5-3-2008, 3:05 PM
I have moved, and the three kids no longer share a bedroom. Since 4 y/o DD is now in her own room, she can upgrade to a twin bed and I can get rid of the current toddler bed. I'm opting for a bed w/trundle, so that I have a place to sleep besides the couch...(I gave both bedrooms to the kids so I no longer have a bedroom). My back is pretty sore from all the sofabed sleeping, so I'm eager to get this new bed.
Found a website that looked like a good place to buy from. (justkidsbeds.com) Bought a bed. Paid with Citi Dividend card. Received order confirmation. Waited and waited for shipping notice. The bed has finally been shipped. Yay, no more aching back.
Except...now they are having billing problems. They originally put a hold on the card for the amount, and are now trying to charge the card as a purchase, and are getting denied. They left me a message asking me to call them. I did, they explained the above situation, and suggested I get in touch with Citibank to see what's going on.
Called Citibank. Was told the original charge on 4/23 was authorized and they shouldn't be trying to charge the card again...it's showing as a pending charge so the money has been deducted from my credit line. My credit line isn't high enough to allow a second charge, hence them being denied now.
Called CSN stores (bed people). Told them what Citibank told me. They said the first charge was just an authorization and they have not actually charged me, it was just a mark on the card, and now they are trying to push it through as a purchase and they can't. Suggest that I call Citibank back.
Called Citibank. Was told no, this was a purchase, and I need to double-check with the merchant because they ought to have their money. When they originally marked the card, it was treated as a purchase, and so funds were released, and all they have to do is fill out the receipt/provide the authorization code and they will get their money. Maybe they lost their code?
Called CSN stores. Relayed info. Was told that the original charge was voided on 4/23 for "some reason" and they have NOT charged the card. Gave me transaction number for voiding of mark on card. Suggested I call Citibank back with that number as proof of voiding, so that funds can be released and they can charge the card.
Called Citibank. Attempted to relay info but kept getting cut off after uttering only 2 words by annoying customer service rep. Kept trying to explain situation, kept getting told I only have $200 available credit and reminded of JC Penney and Pizza Hut purchases and pending charge from CSN stores, so any current charge for $400 will be declined. Kept trying to explain that pending charge is the reason for my call, kept getting interrupted. Asked to speak to someone who will not interrupt me--was told she was not allowed to transfer my call to anyone. Responded with polite, but firm disbelief. Was transferred to a supervisor. Supervisor actually listened but didn't give me any further information and then started to cut me off too, ugh. Just kept insisting that the charge was there and not voided, would not listen to transaction number, and said there was nothing they could do for me--the merchant has to call them.
Called CSN stores, exasperated. Explained the above and asked if they could just PLEASE call Citbank themselves and get the charge cleared and start over. They're going to transfer this to some other department and try something on Monday, blah blah blah. End of phone calls for today, at least. UGH.
So in the course of my final conversation with CSN Stores, I finally got an idea of what has happened: They ran an authorization, not in the amount of $1 like most merchants, but for the entire $419. They they immediately voided the transaction, because they don't actually charge until the bed ships. But Citibank doesn't post money back to my account after a voided transaction for something like a month, so that money's going to be on hold for a month, if CSN doesn't call them and clear this up somehow.
Overall, I probably ought to be annoyed with the justkidsbeds.com people for the way they do temporary authorizations, but they were so incredibly friendly, sympathetic, willing to listen, and helpful with suggestions that I am not mad at them at all. I am, however, irate with Citibank after my last call to them. A little decent customer service goes a long way.
And I don't think I am going to make any sort of big purchase from anyone, with any card, for a long, long time. This has been the biggest pain EVER.
Found a website that looked like a good place to buy from. (justkidsbeds.com) Bought a bed. Paid with Citi Dividend card. Received order confirmation. Waited and waited for shipping notice. The bed has finally been shipped. Yay, no more aching back.
Except...now they are having billing problems. They originally put a hold on the card for the amount, and are now trying to charge the card as a purchase, and are getting denied. They left me a message asking me to call them. I did, they explained the above situation, and suggested I get in touch with Citibank to see what's going on.
Called Citibank. Was told the original charge on 4/23 was authorized and they shouldn't be trying to charge the card again...it's showing as a pending charge so the money has been deducted from my credit line. My credit line isn't high enough to allow a second charge, hence them being denied now.
Called CSN stores (bed people). Told them what Citibank told me. They said the first charge was just an authorization and they have not actually charged me, it was just a mark on the card, and now they are trying to push it through as a purchase and they can't. Suggest that I call Citibank back.
Called Citibank. Was told no, this was a purchase, and I need to double-check with the merchant because they ought to have their money. When they originally marked the card, it was treated as a purchase, and so funds were released, and all they have to do is fill out the receipt/provide the authorization code and they will get their money. Maybe they lost their code?
Called CSN stores. Relayed info. Was told that the original charge was voided on 4/23 for "some reason" and they have NOT charged the card. Gave me transaction number for voiding of mark on card. Suggested I call Citibank back with that number as proof of voiding, so that funds can be released and they can charge the card.
Called Citibank. Attempted to relay info but kept getting cut off after uttering only 2 words by annoying customer service rep. Kept trying to explain situation, kept getting told I only have $200 available credit and reminded of JC Penney and Pizza Hut purchases and pending charge from CSN stores, so any current charge for $400 will be declined. Kept trying to explain that pending charge is the reason for my call, kept getting interrupted. Asked to speak to someone who will not interrupt me--was told she was not allowed to transfer my call to anyone. Responded with polite, but firm disbelief. Was transferred to a supervisor. Supervisor actually listened but didn't give me any further information and then started to cut me off too, ugh. Just kept insisting that the charge was there and not voided, would not listen to transaction number, and said there was nothing they could do for me--the merchant has to call them.
Called CSN stores, exasperated. Explained the above and asked if they could just PLEASE call Citbank themselves and get the charge cleared and start over. They're going to transfer this to some other department and try something on Monday, blah blah blah. End of phone calls for today, at least. UGH.
So in the course of my final conversation with CSN Stores, I finally got an idea of what has happened: They ran an authorization, not in the amount of $1 like most merchants, but for the entire $419. They they immediately voided the transaction, because they don't actually charge until the bed ships. But Citibank doesn't post money back to my account after a voided transaction for something like a month, so that money's going to be on hold for a month, if CSN doesn't call them and clear this up somehow.
Overall, I probably ought to be annoyed with the justkidsbeds.com people for the way they do temporary authorizations, but they were so incredibly friendly, sympathetic, willing to listen, and helpful with suggestions that I am not mad at them at all. I am, however, irate with Citibank after my last call to them. A little decent customer service goes a long way.
And I don't think I am going to make any sort of big purchase from anyone, with any card, for a long, long time. This has been the biggest pain EVER.