Amazon taken early payment.

VoucherMan

Always one for a bargain, I was alerted to something on Amazon that I liked (a hard drive). The catch, it wasn't expected in stock for a couple of months. That wasn't an issue to me, and since they don't charge until the item is despatched, even better.

Yesterday I got my credit card statement, and noticed Amazon had charged me for the drive when I placed the order last month, even though it's still not due in stock for another month or so. To make it worse, I try to keep my current account balance to a minimum, which means I won't have enough to cover the additional credit card balance.


Whatever route I take now is going to cost me extra, thanks to Amazon.

• I can cancel the order and have my account credited, but even this may not reach my credit card account in time to reduce the balance. What's more, if I re-order the hard drive, I'll have to pay the new, higher price.
• Or I can keep the order as it is, and try & work out which will cost me less, credit card interest, or overdrawn bank charges.
• Lastly I could move some money back to the current account from the savings account, but that will incur a charge or lack of interest.

Is there an option that I've not thought of that would allow me to get the drive at the original offer price without any extra costs?

Carrot007

VoucherMan wrote: »

Always one for a bargain, I was alerted to something on Amazon that I liked (a hard drive). The catch, it wasn't expected in stock for a couple of months. That wasn't an issue to me, and since they don't charge until the item is despatched, even better.

Yesterday I got my credit card statement, and noticed Amazon had charged me for the drive when I placed the order last month, even though it's still not due in stock for another month or so. To make it worse, I try to keep my current account balance to a minimum, which means I won't have enough to cover the additional credit card balance.


Whatever route I take now is going to cost me extra, thanks to Amazon.

• I can cancel the order and have my account credited, but even this may not reach my credit card account in time to reduce the balance. What's more, if I re-order the hard drive, I'll have to pay the new, higher price.
• Or I can keep the order as it is, and try & work out which will cost me less, credit card interest, or overdrawn bank charges.
• Lastly I could move some money back to the current account from the savings account, but that will incur a charge or lack of interest.

Is there an option that I've not thought of that would allow me to get the drive at the original offer price without any extra costs?

Never had anything but pay on dispatch from amazon. Was it a 3rd party seller? Guess that might be different.

Inner_Zone

I recently had the same, then Amazon cancelled the order after five weeks and I had to chase for a refund. Not happy.

SnowTiger

VoucherMan wrote: »

Always one for a bargain, I was alerted to something on Amazon that I liked (a hard drive). The catch, it wasn't expected in stock for a couple of months. That wasn't an issue to me, and since they don't charge until the item is despatched, even better.

Yesterday I got my credit card statement, and noticed Amazon had charged me for the drive when I placed the order last month, even though it's still not due in stock for another month or so. To make it worse, I try to keep my current account balance to a minimum, which means I won't have enough to cover the additional credit card balance.


Whatever route I take now is going to cost me extra, thanks to Amazon.

• I can cancel the order and have my account credited, but even this may not reach my credit card account in time to reduce the balance. What's more, if I re-order the hard drive, I'll have to pay the new, higher price.
• Or I can keep the order as it is, and try & work out which will cost me less, credit card interest, or overdrawn bank charges.
• Lastly I could move some money back to the current account from the savings account, but that will incur a charge or lack of interest.

Is there an option that I've not thought of that would allow me to get the drive at the original offer price without any extra costs?

How much is the drive? £100? What interest are you earning on your savings? 5% APR? You'll lose about 42p interest per month.

born_again

When you say from Amazon. Was it direct from Amazon or from the Amazon Marketplace?

It makes a lot of difference. One is Amazon, the other is not...

Amazon are a great retailer because they do not take payment till dispatch, despite the fact they can take it at point of order. Which is what most Marketplace sellers will do.

Choice is yours what you do. How much do you want the hard drive?

Forwandert

They started doing this on out of stock items a few months back, it's happened to me several times. They pre authorise on the 5th day of it being out of stock from memory , I've struggled to find this info on Amazon itself when purchasing and it says on product pages they won't charge but it's how they are doing it now.

[Deleted User]

I'm certain this will be a third party seller on Amazon rather than Amazon itself.

For the best, and most secure, purchase experience on the site you should only purchase from Amazon direct.

boo_star

Carrot007 wrote: »

Never had anything but pay on dispatch from amazon. Was it a 3rd party seller? Guess that might be different.

Amazon now charge at order, or at least reserve it, nowadays.

I'm not sure why they changed things, they used to charge when they prepared the order, but it is what it is I guess.

warby68

If you've found something misleading in the T&C, you can always contact Amazon and see what they say but it seems unlikely and that looks like the only option.

There was always the chance the item would come in stock sooner so it seems a bit rash trying to narrow down your availability of funds to this extent.

I very much doubt that borrowing either on overdraft or credit card will be cheaper than accessing your savings unless you have some free/interest free deals. Some instant access savings should minimise the 'loss'.

deanos

Amazon now charge on ordering not on dispatch , been like it a while now

[Deleted User]

deanos wrote: »

Amazon now charge on ordering not on dispatch , been like it a while now

Contradicted on the Amazon website here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201455290
"If you place an order which will be paid by a payment card, we won't charge the card until the order enters the dispatch process."