Payment Pending

Maddogjones

Hello all.

I had a quick look round for similar posts so if I've doubled up or I'm in the wrong place I do apologise.

Bit of back ground..

Last week I made an online purchase for computer equipment from Amazon totalling £791.83 leaving me with £534.89 in my account for 3 direct debits for BT, Gym, and Car insurance which comes to about £100 and some penny's. so I had plenty enough for me until my wages come through on Friday 13th.

However.. this morning I went to get petrol on the way to work and my card was declined. I had zero balance. Reason the bank gave was that there was a pending amount of £791.83 for Amazon due to be debited. And that the £791.83 had been held back for this. I explained that the Amazon order had been paid on Thursday 5th July and there where no other things left to pay. But the Bank have insisted that the amount is due to be debited.

I've phoned Amazon who have confirmed to me, by phone and e-mail, that £791.83 has been paid and that is no outstanding balance owed to them. Amazon also explained that when they receive an order they do a security check with the bank to see if the card has been stolen or lost and if all is well the funds are requested but not debited until Item are dispatched.

Now the bit I'm worrying about..

The Bank have authorised payment of £791.83 but I think they have left the pending in place that and would be why my account shows Zero balance available but £534.89 in credit. Over the weekend two of my direct debits should have been paid however the bank have declined them due to insufficient funds and now there are two £25 "unauthorised overdraft" fee's been placed on my account. One of which was car insurance who (I telephoned them to pay it) charged me £12 admin fee as payment was refused.

Am I at fault ? are the bank or Amazon at fault ?. I don't know what to do. I don't know who to complain too or even if I have a complaint. I've called the bank 4 times today and called in to Branch and they are adamant that there is still a pending payment for Amazon even after Amazon faxed them to tell them there isn't and to release funds.

I don't really see why I'm at fault. Any Idea folks or any similar story's ?

Sorry for the novel but I thought it best to give you all the fact as it were.

Thanks in advance for comments and for reading.

Gaz.

bigadaj

So what did you have in your account at the beginning of last week, if it was around £1500 then you should be fine and complain and get recompense from the bank, if it was under £1000 then it's your fault,

bengalknights

Sounds like a authorization on the card hasnt dropped

jonesMUFCforever

The bank does not ''authorise'' or earmark anything - the retailer does.

Maddogjones

Well I had enough to cover the amazon payment. And the remainder is £534.89 after the funds for Amazon cleared. So as far I'm concerned there was enough to cover D/B's and still leave me with cash. Point I'm trying to explain is that they allocated double for Amazon.

Never had that before. The allocated funds for Amazon should have been taken of £791.83. so I'm left with £534.89 - but the bank allocated £791.83 x 2 and paid the correct amount of £791.83. That can't be right.

I understand what your saying but in reality they took double of the total amount as an allocation.

But I don't know why. And they have not explained.

Maddogjones

@bengalknights: This is what I believe. However they are going to charge me for a security caution. which is confusing.

jonesMUFCforever

Perhaps your post reiterates a very good reason for using a credit card for online purchases rather than a debit card.

fatblackandwhite

A similar thing happened to me albeit on a smaller scale. I did an online shop with Asda (about £100) it was close to pay day so only had about £200 in my account. Anyway, my shopping came to less than the original order amount on the day so Asda earmarked the original order amount and took the actual amount leaving me with 0 available cash. Lucky for me my bank were great and pulled back the earmarked amount on recognising that an actual payment had been taken. Not shopped online with Asda since mind!

Maddogjones

Finally got to the bottom of the problem.

11 phone calls to the bank and two calls into the branch didn't get me anywhere. One call to the ombudsman who telephoned H.S.B.C on my behalf and I find H.S.B.C want to be my new best friend.

Bank allocated funds for the £791.83 when Amazon made a charge to my account for £789.18.. £2.65 less due to one Item on the order decreasing in price. This for some reason this was processed as a new transaction leaving £791.83 unavailable as it was still allocated.

The bank tried to argue that it was my fault, then Amazon's then they released funds, refunded for charges and charges incurred. Also they offered compensation but to me it's not to compensate for their mistake it's a payment to make me shut up. So i walked away with my high horse named Morality and my swearing finger held aloft.

Roberts34

Thanks for sharing.