Do you piss off customers by doing authorizations?
 

This question is for those who have their own processing systems. As you know some customers try to complete a pay form a few times before they get it right. Each time their payment is rejected they get an authorization charge that doesn't go away for a couple of days.

So, if they try a few times and then see $200+ worth of charges on their statement thinking those are real charges - how do you deal or go around that?

It happens with all ACH transactions... if they want to avoid it they should choose a different payment method. :2 cents:

I get this on a regular basis. The customer is usually angry because they see multiple charges on their online statement.

I diffuse the situation by explaining to them the difference between authorizations and charges. Thereafter, I list each transaction that got authorized and explain to them why it failed. Usually, it's bad address, incorrect CVV2, etc.

I have my explanations pre-written. I copy and paste it in my reply.

That is what happens when you have your dick in one hand and you are trying (desperately) to buy porn.

IC, it's good to know that I'm having the same issue like everybody else :-)

Any other comments? suggestions?

Surf's up.
:2 cents:

I have an explaination in my 'decline email' that is sent out.

i am fucking pissed at a cc company for doing this recently

double auth'd a 200+ charge AND then declined it, so my balance is down $400+

WHen i contacted the merchant ( netbilling ) for help the guy seemed clueless, helpfull but clueless.

seems like a pretty simple process, customer goes to buy something , merchant does an auth , then bills the card , but if there is a problem and you re-try they dont just use the original auth , they take another auth, then everyone points the finger at the other guy, cccard says ( contact the merchant they are holding the funds ) , ( merchant says contact your cc they are holding the funds ). Why allow an auth but not allow the transaction.? dont take the auth if you cant bill it properly.

i don't get the need for an "auth" for something that you already know the charge for, it would be like buying a burger and the store says " let me see if you have anough money,, ahh yes you do but there was a problem sticking it in the cash register so i'm going to need another $20, you will get the first $20 back in a few days, oh wait , there was a problem sticking it in again , im going to need another $20.

:thumbsup ditto

I agree - in this age I think this process is pathetic and there is probably 100 better ways of doing it. But I do realize we're dealing with banks and they don't seem to ever get it right or want to improve.

Yes, surfers sometimes get pissed. It is also infinitely more profitable than only preauthing $1 and then paying your affiliates PPS on that.

What pisses me off more than anything is when I buy gas and they auth $50 but I only buy $10 and it takes 30 days to clear that auth. So if I buy gas 10 times a month Im down 500 bucks. :mad: