Need some advice...Credit Card Issue...

LBrown59 · Oct 27, 2004

( In another thread (here) I mentioned the problems I am having with HydraulicHoseFittings.com.

In a nut shell, they charged my credit card for over $500 on September 28th, the day I placed my order. A week later the fittings part of my order arrived.

For a week after than (starting a few days after the fittings arrived, but no hoses) I called and left messages, emailed and finally faxed them, asking for information on the status of the hoses. After a week of trying I got a reply message on my answering machine, and the next morning I spoke with a real, live person, who indicated he had a personal emergency and that the hoses were not shipped because he left the business in the hands of a youger person who did not do well.

That was over two weeks ago, really pushing three weeks now, and I still have no hoses. 17 hoses of different lengths were ordered. I have the itemized cost of the hoses, but have not totaled it up yet. Probably about $250 is what I am out.

I am in a real bind, because I want to get my T&T installed before the cold weather sets in. I can't order from somewhere else, because I can't risk a duplication and ending up with an extra set of 17 hoses that I have to pay for.

The purchase was made under a VISA card.

If I could get a reply from HydraulicHoseFittings I could either tell them to cancel the order and credit my card back for the full amount, or give them a few more days to deliver. But since they have become a huge, non-responsive black hole, I can't find a simple solution... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I plan on calling the VISA card people and trying to do something about this. I don't know the procedures or what to expect, or what to demand, or what my rights really are in a case like this.

I have ordered a lot of things over the phone in the past, and this is the first bad experience I have had.

Grateful for any pointers anyone might give me with respect to this issue. Like I said in that thread I referenced above, I am not here to bad mouth HydraulicHoseFittings, since I know they have do a good job for others here in the past.

My situation may be unique for all I know. I want it resolved. I can't resolve it with them because they do not respond to me phone calls, emails or faxes.

Any thoughts? I'm a bit bummed out on this issue to say the least... )

http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=3
Is an excellent forum about this subject and all credit related issues 
You might say it's to credit issues what Tractor Buy Net is to tractors

daedong · Oct 27, 2004

I am sure Bill will appreciate your link.

It is not uncommon on TBN for topics other than tractors as long as they are civil and with in the general guide lines. Members like Bill make this forum for what it is, we are a happy family forum and from time to time we try to help out with all sorts of topics. So welcome aboard and within reason ask anything you would like /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PS. I hope I have not over stepped my mark by my reply.

Junkman · Oct 29, 2004

( ...........................
Lying, who's lying or suggesting lying?

I said callup and say the item he recieved was unordered, and/or the charge was unauthorized?)

These are your exact words......

"Just call up your cc company and tell them the charge was unauthorized / unordered and your are not going to pay for the charges"

That is pretty straight forward to me. He did authorize the charge and he did place the order along with his credit card.

( He ordered X and Y...he got X...i.e. that is not what he ordered.

He authorized $500 in charges for X and Y...he got X (worth $250) and was charged for X and Y at $500...i.e. the charge is unauthorized.)

Do you work at trying to change the meanings of the words that you write or is it a lack of understanding the English language that is in play here? There is no room for wiggle factor when it comes to making statements concerning Credit Cards. They are regulated by Federal law and deliberate misstatements can be considered a Federal Criminal Offense. Don't believe me, call the U.S. Attorney's office in your state.

( Seems to me someone is overreacting quite a bit here...have you guys ever watched a credit card ad? Anyone ever seen them TELL you that you get PURCHASE PROTECTION when you use your credit card and that is why they (the CC companies) encourage you to use it instead of a check or a debit card? That is what the protection is for. Thats part of why you pay them interest.)

Over reacting? I consider the suggestion that someone lie for to gain the upper hand is wrong. There is no degrees to honesty. You are either honest or not. This is as clear as black and white.

( As far as this being "The worst advice you have ever seen on TBN"...somehow I doubt it. )

I have seen lots of bad advise on TBN, but this is the first time that I have ever seen someone suggest that making false statements is the way to get what you want. Giving bad advise is common, but suggesting that someone give false testimony, is unheard of on TBN. If you disagree, then find an example.... I sure would like to see someone else suggesting that a person lie about a credit card purchase.

Quote from thcri post #519441 >>I also would agree with Junkman that lying is not the way to go, even if Henro looses on this whole deal he can look himself in the mirror (whoops--delete-delete) well he can say he did the right thing.

Response by ejb... ( Now that is probably the worst advice I've ever seen on TBN...you pay for something, you don't get it, you can get your money back with a phone call, but you don't so that you can look good in the mirror.....

Want to roll-over for a company with dubious track record?...go ahead...as they say, there is one born every minute. )

This isn't worthy of a response!!

I will skip the emoticons, because I don't see this as a joking matter. I see this as a difference of opinion of moral choices and knowing right from wrong. If my words seem harsh, they are meant to be. In life, there are very few things that no one can take from you and you can give freely of and never run out. Your honesty is one of those precious things.

Henro · Oct 29, 2004

Hi everyone! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Don't worry, I don't intend to tell anything but exactly the way things unfolded...

I talked to the credit card company a couple days ago and disputed the amount of $285.12. This included an estimate of $22 as the hose portion of the $33 shipping that was also charged to my credit card on the day I placed the order. The fittings I received were shipped on the 30th, 2 days after the card was charged.

After leaving several more telephone messages with no response from HHF.com, and I sent two faxes on successive days. The first one saying essentially if they did not contact me by the end of the day I would be forced to cancel the hose portion of the order, and the final fax including what Hakim advised above and specifically calling out the $ 285.12 to be credited back to my VISA.

The credit card person said I don't have to pay the disputed amount and no fnance charges will accrew until the issue is resolved...a moot point as I already paid it...the only thing I hate more than digging dirt by hand is credit card interest!...so I actually sent of the check before thinking about that charge, especially as I still had faith that the hoses would eventually show up...[some of us are slow learners... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif]

I did not send a letter via any kind of mail. I think I still have time to do that within the 60 day window...but I just don't feel like jumping through another hoop at the moment. Now I will say if the amount was an order of magnitude larger, I would probably hand deliver that letter... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The credit card company said they will contact HHF.com regarding the issue. I wonder if they will have better luck?

If by some strange chance the hoses did appear, before I order from someone else, I would have no problem keeping/using/paying for them...but I will not order from HHF.com again...I honestly doubt I will ever see the hoses though.

I am supposed to get some kind of form mailed to me from the credit card company to fill out regarding this issue.

That's about where things stand at the moment. Glad I am busy putting a sewer line in at our place, so I don't have much time to remember that I have about $800 in cylinders, hoses and fittings laying around doing nothing because I don't have the hoses... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Thanks again for all the advice. It really helped, helps and will help! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Currmudgeon · Oct 29, 2004

( The credit card company said they will contact HHF.com regarding the issue. I wonder if they will have better luck? )

The credit card company has HHF's money in their pocket. You betcha they'll heve better luck. They'll just freeze the disputed amount out of HHF's merchant account until the issue is resolved to their (unfortunately not necessarily your) satisfaction.

ejb · Oct 29, 2004

>>I will skip the emoticons, because I don't see this as a joking matter. I see this as a difference of opinion of moral choices and knowing right from wrong. If my words seem harsh, they are meant to be. In life, there are very few things that no one can take from you and you can give freely of and never run out. Your honesty is one of those precious things.

Give me a break. Don't you have anything better to do than take overanalyze peoples words and preach honesty anonymously to other people over the internet? In my experience, those people that like to preach their faux honesty to others are the most dishonest people I have ever met...so give it a rest. You must have confused me with someone who cares what your opinion is.

Apparently just about no one else had a problem with what I said and it seems, henro is getting his money back because he called up and complained to his credit card company as I, and others, suggested...does that make him a dishonest person too?

...where is that "ignore poster" feature when you need it.

Henro · Oct 29, 2004

Just for the record...

I hope everyone will give me a break and contribute advice that may help me...

And not get into arguments that add no value to the thread...

I really do appreciate everyone's advice, but sure don't want to see this tread go the way other's have...frozen or vaporized...the help you guys are giving me is too useful and important!

As they say...thanks for your cooperation... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Dec 13, 2004

Well, just wanted to report that today I got a letter from the CC company telling me that they resolved the issue and a credit would be given. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Also go the monthly statement from them and the credit was there already! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But I only disputed $285 and change...and they credited my account $307 and change. Not sure exactly why. Maybe that was a number given to them by HHF?

In any case, the resolution was faster than I expected.

Glad to be able to report a happy ending... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks to all for the advice, and Happy Holidays!

JASTN70D · Dec 13, 2004

It is amazing how good customer service can be when your asking them to give back your money that SOMEONE els owes you and not them (the CCC) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am glad it worked out for you. Now you have no excuse not to get the TNT done. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif