Amazon not taken money

bobblebob

I ordered something from Amazon the other day and the money was taken from my available balance as it normal. I expected the money to show on my statement in a few days. The item was delivered yesterday, however ive noticed the amount has now gone back into my available balance and not been taken at all.

So it seems i have got an item for nothing. Any idea why the money after being earmarked on my account would suddenly just drop off like that without being taken?

dzug1

You haven't got it for nothing - it will be taken, probably in a few more days. For some reason they have delayed processing the actual payment

bengal-stripe

bobblebob wrote: »

So it seems i have got an item for nothing.

Not very likely! - Sometimes things turn up somewhat belated.

Earmarked amounts, if not claimed, fall off after five days or so. The authorisation code is valid for six moths. (Even after that time, you are still liable for up to six years, although the bank is not obliged to honour the previous approval. If need be, the merchant would have to take you to court.)

Just keep enough money in the account for the next six years. Like that proverbial bad penny - it will show up and if you have insufficient funds, it will bite you in the bum.

bobblebob

Dont worry i will. I assuming once earmarked the bank cant stop the money being taken? Just wondering if its a bank error or an Amazon error

dzug1

Not necessarily even an error - just things happening slowly

One possible scenario - Amazon 'lapse' the earmarked cash as they process the proper payment. It no longer appears on your account.

The proper payment takes a day or so to go through before showing up on your account.

annie-c

The same happened to me this wek, with one Amazon payment and two other debit card payments disappearing from my online statement on Tuesday, although they had shown up on the Sunday before.

They reappeared on Thursday and luckily the funds were still available!

pmduk

Some banks release the earmarked funds very quickly, eg Yorkshire bank do it after 48 hours. The funds have been authorised so they can be taken at any time, even if it puts you into an overdraft, (with all the resulting fees)

bobblebob

annie-c wrote: »

The same happened to me this wek, with one Amazon payment and two other debit card payments disappearing from my online statement on Tuesday, although they had shown up on the Sunday before.

They reappeared on Thursday and luckily the funds were still available!

So they actually appeared on your statement, or just as earmarked money in your account?

bobblebob

Money came out today

Mikeyorks

You save yourself all this hassle if you use a Credit Card for all online purchases ...... and it's much safer. I think (as a lot of major retailers - such as M&S) Amazon only charge at the despatch point so that could be why the debit came in late?

bobblebob wrote: »

I assuming once earmarked the bank cant stop the money being taken?

Despite earlier posts - that is not the case. The authorisation lapses as soon as the Bank software gives up waiting for the debit and moves the 'earmarked' money back into your available balance. If the debit comes in after that point your Bank use their normal rules to determine whether to honour the payment.

bobblebob

Amazon only charge at the despatch point so that could be why the debit came in late?

Dont think so. I ordered Monday night. The money was earmarked on Tuesday and Saturday morning it had gone back in my account.

The transaction was showing on my statement on Sunday, but dated for the Saturday. So maybe for some unknown reason it just didnt show up correctly, despite being taken as normal