So I finally pulled the trigger Thursday evening and ordered my new imac (first ever). I used my wife's credit card to get the edu discount, since she is a teacher. Friday I get home from work to find 3 messages from the fraud department of her cc company, asking to call back to verify some charges. Shouldn't be an issue, as it's obviously the $2000 charge for the imac, I thought.
Not knowing if the messages were a scam, I retrieved the cc company's number directly from a past statement and called that one instead. Sure enough, there were charges from a source listed as "computer software stores." However, the amounts were odd: $214.53, $128.29, $342.82, $1.00. I called Apple to ask if they charges could be from them, as it occured to me that the card shouldn't get charged until the items ship. As it turns out, apparently Apple runs some "test" charges to make sure there's enough credit on the card, and then charges the card when the items ship (although I don't understand how running a bunch of test charges totaling $686.64 is representative of a $2000 purchase). The $214 is the ipod nano plus tax...the $128 is the protection plan plus tax...$342 is the two previous charges combined...and the $1 I guess is just to make sure the account is valid. As a result, I called the cc company back and authorized the "test" charges.
Well, I get up this morning to check when to expect the imac to be shipped, and I get a message saying "Action Required...we are unable to obtain an authorization for the credit card you provided."
Do I need to call Apple, or do you think the message just hasn't been updated since the charges were authorized.
Obviously it's good to have the cc company looking out for possible fraud, but it's just frustrating when it holds up the new imac!!!
Not knowing if the messages were a scam, I retrieved the cc company's number directly from a past statement and called that one instead. Sure enough, there were charges from a source listed as "computer software stores." However, the amounts were odd: $214.53, $128.29, $342.82, $1.00. I called Apple to ask if they charges could be from them, as it occured to me that the card shouldn't get charged until the items ship. As it turns out, apparently Apple runs some "test" charges to make sure there's enough credit on the card, and then charges the card when the items ship (although I don't understand how running a bunch of test charges totaling $686.64 is representative of a $2000 purchase). The $214 is the ipod nano plus tax...the $128 is the protection plan plus tax...$342 is the two previous charges combined...and the $1 I guess is just to make sure the account is valid. As a result, I called the cc company back and authorized the "test" charges.
Well, I get up this morning to check when to expect the imac to be shipped, and I get a message saying "Action Required...we are unable to obtain an authorization for the credit card you provided."
Do I need to call Apple, or do you think the message just hasn't been updated since the charges were authorized.
Obviously it's good to have the cc company looking out for possible fraud, but it's just frustrating when it holds up the new imac!!!
