Play and new cards

Annenon

Before Christmas I found something out that I didn't know companies did.

I placed an order with Play using a new card. Now I should explain that I use a pre-paid card because of concerns about people getting my bank details (this way if anyone gets access to the card details they only get what is on the card itself).

Now I knew that I had enough on the card for the purchase including the transaction fee that Virgin Money make, so I entered the new details into my Play account and went ahead with the order.

However, the card payment came up as declined, so I thought I had entered the details incorrectly and re-entered them. It was still declined, so I spoke to CS who told me to try one more time. Still declined. :mad:

So thinking, have I misread my Virgin balance I checked my account to find that Play was showing as taking £3 from my account.

I spoke again to Play who denied all knowledge of it and to honest had a don't give a stuff attitude with me. I then spoke to Virgin who told me that certain stores take a small phantom payment from any new card to check it works.

Although I haven't had this problem with any other on-line retailer, I just thought it would be an idea to warn others about this issue and to ensure that you have more than the purchase amount when you try to use it.

Annenon

Edit: I should have said that the phantom payment is refunded a certain period of time (10 working days in this case)

bod1467

This is a common practice for cards that companies haven't transacted with before. Many companies do likewise with, for example, direct debit agreements for new customers. (e.g. ISPs do this).

keyser666

Agree with bod, Tesco and Asda take £2 when you do your online shopping way before the shoppng list has been actioned

mcjordi

keyser666 wrote: »

Agree with bod, Tesco and Asda take £2 when you do your online shopping way before the shoppng list has been actioned

asda have only ever preauthorised 1p from my card when i shop online