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

[KubotaSteve]

When I've had problems with internet orders, I just called the credit card company, explained to them what happened and they removed the charges from my bill. With that being said, all of mine were with the entire order and not a partial order. I've never had to put anything in writing, but of course I got the little recording about this conversation will be recorded. I think I would cut my losses call the credit card company and start looking elsewhere for my parts because when you did contact them, they gave you bogus delivery dates which they will probably do again.

 

[thcri]

In all the times I had problems like that the credit card people were the best to start with. They even have the power to stop this company from having use of Master Card/Visa. If that is taken away from them, it will be tough to stay in business.

murph

 

[Henro]

HI Everyone,

Thanks for all your input. Great help gives me a lot to go on.

Couple points:

I cannot resolve anything with the vendor, as they (he, I should say probably, I think it is a one man show, and that man is having some sort of problems...) are not replying to my phone messages or faxes...no way to contact them. I will make one final try today by both phone and fax...

The frustrating thing is the no answer/no response/black hole issue...

The BBB like Bob suggested just seems like it puts me to too much trouble. I don't want to be on the phone for hours to resolve this issue. At this point I just want to cut my losses. I will advise HHF.com that if I don't hear back from them by the end of today, to cancel the order. I will follow that up tomorrow with a final phone call and fax advising them to cancel the order if it has not already been cancelled, and to credit my VISA for the excess they already charged on it. I will propbably tell them the amount I expect creditied to the visa.

(AT this point, either the guy running the show is not available, for whatever reason, OR he is available and ignoring my attempts to contact him. The second is worse than the first IMHO, and that in itself would be reason not to want to deal with him further. Period.)

After the final message/fax is left/sent I will call Visa and see what happens.

I won't order hoses from another source until after I see the credit on my statement (hummm...guess I better get set up again for on-line stagement viewing...I usually use a different card which offers a rebate, and that is the one I look at all the time...)

There is a place in PA at the other end of the state that DOES seem to answer the phone and is pretty price competetive. I ordered some nylon hose sheathing from them and was satisfied with their performance. So I will probably try them for the hoses when the time comes...

Thanks for the help! I have a good idea where I am going with this now...

Bill

 

[thcri]

I went to their web page. I hate it when they hide their phone numbers. I won't buy from any web page unless full phone numbers are on the home page. 800 numbers make it better also. I got into one of these type of deals a long time ago on a prop for my boat. I just wanted to drive from Minnesota down to Arkansas and beat the guy over the head. I ended up paying for one and a half props and only got one. Credit Card Company helped as much as they could but not to my satisfaction.

Henro I wish you the best of luck. Maybe all of us TBN's could write this company and tell them we were thinking of buying but based on a post at TBN we decided not??? Should get his attention, at least you would think. But then that would be stoping to the suppliers level.

murph

 

[fishman]

Henro,

The one time I had a problem like this, the credit card company credited my account right away, but informed me that if the facts came out differently than I presented them, they would remove the credit. The company had 3 months (I think) to contest it.

So the bottom line is that you will get your money back right away. Sounds as if the issue will be resolved as mine was, with no response from the seller, since they know they are wrong.

You should be good to go.

 

[Hank]

In addition, the FTC is on your side with the Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule. They outline both of these, with steps to take, here, (including a sample dispute letter).

As most folks have said, the best thing is to document everything, and work with your credit card company. You will ultimately need to provide documentation of what you've done to resolve it.

 

[dummy]

<font color="blue"> There is a place in PA at the other end of the state that DOES seem to answer the phone and is pretty price competetive. I ordered some nylon hose sheathing from them and was satisfied with their performance. So I will probably try them for the hoses when the time comes...
</font> My local repair shop 98% of the time has had as good or better prices than I've found elsewhere. Don"t you have any local sources?

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Don"t you have any local sources?
</font>

I don't where they are...except for the expensive ones...one place wanted about three times what tractor supply wants for a simple hose with NPT ends on it...bought one from TSC.

The other was a little cheaper than Kubota for a hose I needed for my backhoe...but still that one hose cost about double what HHF advertises...and that same dealer, which is a full stocking Parker distributor, by the way, charged me over $10 for one fitting that HHF lists for just over $3...

So the local option is too expensive...if anyone knows better, in the Greater Pittsburgh area, let me know...

I perfer to buy local, but not at 2 or 3 times the price!

 

[timb]

Henro - one of the basics of credit card sales, state laws or not - the Visa/MC merchant agreements require the merchant to not bill until an item is shipped - or within (I believe) a 24-hour window. Now that's for 'normal' merchandise. You've got a custom order so there *may* be some wiggle room there for the merchant - but I don't recall ever actually seeing that in an agreement.

Billing ahead of shipment is a big no-no - but VI/MC will never actually know unless a customer complains. They could very well lose their merchant account which is not going to be a good scene for them for future business.

I appreciate dealing with small 'cottage industry' companies trying to get going - and while we don't like delays "stuff" happens. But failure to communicate and set your expectations is inexcusable.

 

[ejb]

Just call up your cc company and tell them the charge was unauthorized / unordered and your are not going to pay for the charges...put the hose company on the defensive. I guarantee when they realize the CC company isn't going to pay them, and you have $250 of their equipment, they will be in touch.

I have done this before for similar situation...worked out just fine.

Good luck.