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Sorry if this has been asked before. Re credit card transactions.

On 11 Sept this year, my husband bought a stereo from PC world/currys, (it was over £200,) and he used his credit card. So far, it has not appeared on his account. He has bought petrol from a local garage about 10 times this past few months, and it always goes onto the credit card account within a few days. Also, he has paid for shopping on it from Iceland and Morrisons, and they always go on too, within a few days.

Oh and also, he bought some trousers from a little shop in Birmingham when we went in early October, and that hasn't gone on either. They were only £30 though.

He is miles away from his limit, and has only £107 owing (apart from these 2 missing transactions,) but is this normal? For a £200 item to not be 'asked for' (or whatever happens,) 6 weeks after the purchase. Should we chase PC world/Currys? or is there a chance that it may never go on and we will have a free stereo and free trousers?! :eek:

The biggest concern I guess is say he 'was' near his limit, (only £50 from it,) and the stereo had not gone on, what would happen if it did go on then? Would he be kind of 'overdrawn,' or would the money be 'earmarked,' like it is when you use your debit card?
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Comments

  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Petra_70 wrote: »
    He is miles away from his limit, and has only £107 owing (apart from these 2 missing transactions,) but is this normal?For a £200 item to not be 'asked for' (or whatever happens,) 6 weeks after the purchase.
    No, it's not normal, but generally they have up to 6 months to take the authorised amounts from the card.
    Should we chase PC world/Currys?
    Up to you.
    or is there a chance that it may never go on and we will have a free stereo and free trousers?!
    There is a chance.
    The biggest concern I guess is say he 'was' near his limit, (only £50 from it,) and the stereo had not gone on, what would happen if it did go on then? Would he be kind of 'overdrawn,'
    He would. During 6 months he has to be prepared to the money taken at any time and without any notice.
  • 20aday
    20aday Posts: 2,610 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker PPI Party Pooper
    It's certainly not normal. I pre-ordered my iPhone through Vodafone on pre-sale date in September. I used my credit card (Tesco) and it went through aOK.

    However it's still not been processed to my account. Vodafone are adamant they've received the payment from Tesco (they quoted the first four and last four digits of my card number) so have set aside the money for when it finally gets posted.
    It's not your credit score that counts, it's your credit history. Any replies are my own personal opinion and not a representation of my employer.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It may not be normal but you only have to look at the number of threads on this board asking the same thing to see that it's far from unusual. I myself have a payment that I authorised on 13th April that has still not been claimed.

    There is some evidence that after 6 months the payment should not be taken without seeking further authorisation from you, and that if it is you can ask your card issuer to reverse the transaction. However, you still owe the money for 6 years (5 in Scotland) and if you don't pay the payee may take you to court and will probably win.
  • A few years ago, a flight ticket I purchased took a month to go through.

    From memory, the ticket was around US$2400. At the time of the purchase, £1 was about US$2.00. It went through at US$1.84....

    Ouch. I "lost" about £100...

    At least you won't have that problem!
  • boo_star
    boo_star Posts: 3,202 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    As others have said, it isn't normal but it does happen.

    Just keep a spreadsheet or list of your transactions vs your balance and remove them when they hit your statement.
  • reclusive46
    reclusive46 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    A few years ago, a flight ticket I purchased took a month to go through.

    From memory, the ticket was around US$2400. At the time of the purchase, £1 was about US$2.00. It went through at US$1.84....

    Ouch. I "lost" about £100...

    At least you won't have that problem!

    This is one big advantage with Amex. They use the exchange rate of the day after the transaction took place (not the post date). So atleast you a good idea of what your getting charged. I've seen a few people stung on Visa and MC over the years with that happening. (Ofcourse it could be beneficial but I think most people are happy knowing what their going to pay).
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,837 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    This is one big advantage with Amex. They use the exchange rate of the day after the transaction took place (not the post date). So atleast you a good idea of what your getting charged. I've seen a few people stung on Visa and MC over the years with that happening. (Ofcourse it could be beneficial but I think most people are happy knowing what their going to pay).
    Yeah but they also charge a markup on the exchange rate, or at least did when I had an Amex a couple of years ago. I've got a Barclaycard Amex now and they definitely charge a markup - so I never use it abroad, I use the Clarity or Nationwide Select.
  • Yep, I had an Amex Platinum at the time, but never used it overseas as it charged about 3%. But I agree, there is more certainty (same argument can be made about DCC) if you get the rate on the day. In my experience, with visa/mastercard, the vast majority of transactions go through in a day or two max, and the fluctuations balance out.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    zagfles wrote: »
    Yeah but they also charge a markup on the exchange rate,
    or at least did when I had an Amex a couple of years ago. I've got a Barclaycard Amex now and they definitely charge a markup - so I never use it abroad, I use the Clarity or Nationwide Select.
    I know at least one Amex that doesn't charge - Lloyds Avios.
    I guess reclusive46's comment applies to all Amex card regardless of the actual issuer.
  • reclusive46
    reclusive46 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    zagfles wrote: »
    Yeah but they also charge a markup on the exchange rate, or at least did when I had an Amex a couple of years ago. I've got a Barclaycard Amex now and they definitely charge a markup - so I never use it abroad, I use the Clarity or Nationwide Select.

    Yeah the Lloyds Amex and MBNA Everyday Plus Amex do not charge any markup.

    Amex (even if it is one that charges a fee) is also a good card to have if your going to China or Hong Kong as DCC is unavoidable (No way to cancel it on the machine) and the terminal will give you a markup of around 5 to 10%.
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