rfenst
  • rfenst
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Saturday, September 17, 2011 2:35:34 AM
Please don't be an idiot and trash this thread by posting a single thing that isn't pertinent and helpful!

Tonight, I received an e-mail from what is likely the most popular foreign vendor. The vendor advised its new credit card processor has failed to pay the vendor- so the vendor won't ship my cigars. It wants me to tell my bank the goods never arrived in order to obtain a refund- despite the fact that I don't know if the goods were sent yet or will be held back. Some others have received their goods, but I don't know if they were shipped before or after the vendor realized something wrong was going on. I was more concerned with the bank reporting issue that i forgot to ask!

But, I don't think it wise to report a false claim just to make myself or the vendor whole. One thing I am certain about is that the refund highly likely won't come from the credit card processor itself

unless its own bank has stepped in. In that case, I would bet it will easily take months to get reimbursed, as that portion of the international banking industry works very, very slowly.

So, where would my refund come from? My bank? Visa? Some insurer? I don't know. But, I do know fraud is nothing to fool around with, even more so when it involves insurers or banks, crossing state lines and international borders and the like. If you think getting a "letter" is bad...

I tried to carefully warn everyone here five 5-7 days ago, but no one seemed to get what I was suggesting they look into. Perhaps it was because so many others had trashed the thread.

For anyone who has made an undelivered purchase over the last 3-4 weeks, you may want to look in to matters further. I did. The co-owner called me back immediately and explained what was happening. He told me he intends to make good ASAP, like he said he did when 20% of the cigars seized in the "Chicago Massacre" where his. He sounded very sincere and easy to work with. We will see.

Since this is a very popular foreign vendor, maybe the point will come across better now- and others in jeopardy will catch on in time to protect themselves.

(Edited for better factual accuracy and new info obtained.)

tj2001cobra
Saturday, September 17, 2011 3:37:01 AM
It sounds like the foreign vendor needs to confront the processor. What grounds do they have to withhold payment?

Why should u have to step in?

On another note, why would be lying if u make a claim to the credit card co saying u didn't get the goods u paid for?

HockeyDad
Saturday, September 17, 2011 7:10:45 AM
Credit card processors always keep a certain amount of holdback money to cover credits and returns and it varies by industry. It sounds like they may have increased his holdback or he is using a new processor and they are still establishing holdback. This sort of thing hurt Frontier Airlines real bad a few years ago when it crippled their cash flow.

If this what is happening, you canceling the charge through your bank since he won't ship is exactly why the credit card processor has a holdback in the first place! Poor credit, above average chargebacks and fraud get the holdback increased.

Ultimately, if it doesn't ship you will have to cancel the charge through your credit card.

engletl
Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:31:40 AM
first off...I really don't see how you can logically "justify" one felony over another (breaking embargo vs fraud) a crime is a crime. You of all should know that.

In the real world. you ordered a product on credit card, said product never arrives, now you need to contact credit card company and dispute the charge on the grounds that you did not receive product and vendor has stated it will not be sending it. Honestly that is not fraud. vendor doesn't get paid you don't get product

Over and done with. And sounds like it is time you quit ordering from said vendor and find a new source

nnightmar
Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:43:14 AM
^^^ Some real good advice there.

I think the point has been made. If you don't receive the goods all you need to do is contact your card issuer (the Bank not VISA) and explain to them what happened. If you have an e-mail or other documentation proving you tried to work with the vendor all the better. The type of product doesn't matter.

Nicar
Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:46:25 AM
Robert... working for a bank and being around representatives that take fraud/dispute calls, I can tell you, one the questions is "Did you receive the goods?" They do not ask if the goods were sent or anything. If you did not receive them, that is were you can dispute the charge through your card carrier. If you had received them, and were unhappy, your card carrier would not be able to help you out and would direct you to the merchant. There is a Regulation E, I think, that covers the disputes, might want to look into some of that, should be one that supports merchant transactions.

I know, with my employer, you would be able to call, place dispute, mail, or even fax a letter to a unit, and have a provisional credit given, depending on the amount of the purchase. It will stay there until the results of the investigation which I can think, for purchases against the visa/mastercard, could take up to 90 or 120 days. Call to customer service could take up to 30 minutes, always depends on who you get, get worse folks, and transferred a lot, then longer. So, I know your charge for your time.. but I think you'd agree this some good info for your thread.

KPP
  • KPP
  • Herf-A-Holic
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:12:16 AM
Sounds like an awful lot of work to get a box of Monte Petit Edmundos Robert...;)

Perhaps you should stick to the Hong Kong Phooey..

Best of luck to you bro!

hoyodude
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:20:14 AM
This is bad news but I appreciate you posting it.
kcramer
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:23:32 AM
I got the same email only I did receive my goods. They asked that I tell my bank that I didn't so I could get the money back and send it to them again. I had a feeling this wold be a topic today.
duwan
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:27:06 AM

I got the same email only I did receive my goods. They asked that I tell my bank that I didn't so I could get the money back and send it to them again. I had a feeling this wold be a topic today.

kcramer wrote:

+1

engletl
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:36:30 AM

I got the same email only I did receive my goods. They asked that I tell my bank that I didn't so I could get the money back and send it to them again. I had a feeling this wold be a topic today.

kcramer wrote:

Don't do it...no need to "get involved" in the vendor's dispute with credit clearance.. Your card was charged you got your product. You don't owe the vendor any act of fraud.

kcramer
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:42:27 AM

Don't do it...no need to "get involved" in the vendor's dispute with credit clearance.. Your card was charged you got your product. You don't owe the vendor any act of fraud.

engletl wrote:

^^^This was my thought. As far as I'm concerned...it's their problem now, I did my part. Is it wrong of me to feel that way about it?...honestly?

engletl
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:51:21 AM
nope, not wrong at all. really, if one went to the Best Buy online site and ordered a TV, printed receipt & confirmation of payment by credit card. Got the TV delivered and then got an email from Best Buy saying that they have not got their money from the credit card processor and would like you to call your card company and get a fraud refund so you can resubmit a credit card payment to Best Buy for the product you have already paid for and received....

hmmmmm, all of a sudden it sure sounds like said vendor is trying to get double payment from the consumer

HockeyDad
Saturday, September 17, 2011 12:23:40 PM
Three people have got this? What started as highly weird now sounds like it is approaching outrageous.
dubleuhb
Saturday, September 17, 2011 12:43:38 PM
WTF ! I just recieved the same E-mail.
schusler
Saturday, September 17, 2011 12:51:48 PM
Can someone let me know what vendor to avoid
KPP
  • KPP
  • Herf-A-Holic
Saturday, September 17, 2011 12:55:55 PM
Hmmm....perhaps I was mistaken.

This sounds like the dealings of some other vendor I've chosen never to do business with. Sounds like that was a good call...

Wow. I've heard some bad things from them, but this beats moldy cigars and terrible service by a longshot..

dubleuhb
Saturday, September 17, 2011 1:02:29 PM
I have been dealing with these people exclusively and never had a problem. Usually 8-10 days and my package is here. It seems according to my E-mail that the item was sent. I did recieve an E-mail on the 13th that it was, but as previously stated they are having a problem getting paid.
dubleuhb
Saturday, September 17, 2011 1:04:54 PM

Can someone let me know what vendor to avoid

schusler wrote:

PM Sent

hoyodude
Saturday, September 17, 2011 1:23:14 PM
I would also like to know which vendor it was...please.