Small charges clobber credit card

Mike L · 10-30-2009, 11:37 AM

Just came across this interesting article: Maybe Amazon and Visa should talk?.

In summary, the writer had his credit card declined because of numerous very small charges appearing on it. The charges werethe fifteen-cents fees imposed by Amazon for PDF and DOC conversions for his Kindle. The credit card company were suspicious, and suspended the card.

Yet another little hassle to keep us on our toes.

kennyc · 10-30-2009, 11:41 AM

Great.....

KlondikeGeoff · 10-30-2009, 02:34 PM

I can feel his pain.

For a long time, Amazon never did charge for these, but when they started, I just gave up transferring by Whispernet, and used the free email system. Takes a few minutes longer, but avoids the aggrivation of all those little charges on my statement.

RobbieClarken · 10-30-2009, 03:24 PM

About 30 seconds after I turned my Kindle on for the first time I got a phone call from my bank asking whether I had authorised a $2 transaction lately. I was a little confused until I realised it was the wireless fee for an Amazon book that had automatically been downloaded to my Kindle.

Pushka · 10-30-2009, 08:23 PM

This is happening a lot as mentioned on the Amazon forum too - buy yourself a gift card - it saves the hassle of the small charges. We must be driving the banks crazy at the moment!

slm · 10-30-2009, 10:01 PM

of course, it Amazon had any sense, they would copy Apple. ITunes would have the same problem, but Apple often doesn't charge through until it gets a reasonable sized transaction.

(I'm told that, typically, the Visa fee for a $.15 transaction will eliminate payment itself.)

Mike L · 11-01-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

of course, it Amazon had any sense, they would copy Apple.

The writer of the article (James Fallows) made the same point.

By the way, I emailed Mr Fallows to suggest he use the gift certificate route (although I wasn't certain that the 15-cent charges would be applied to the gift cert rather than the credit card). He wrote back to say that several people had made the same suggestion, and he would give it a try.

10-30-2009, 11:37 AM	#1
Mike L Evangelist Posts: 424 Karma: 1043 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 2	Small charges clobber credit card Just came across this interesting article: Maybe Amazon and Visa should talk?. In summary, the writer had his credit card declined because of numerous very small charges appearing on it. The charges werethe fifteen-cents fees imposed by Amazon for PDF and DOC conversions for his Kindle. The credit card company were suspicious, and suspended the card. Yet another little hassle to keep us on our toes. __________________ Mike (Kindle 2 user since April 2009)

10-30-2009, 11:41 AM	#2
kennyc Grand Wizard Posts: 5,074 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Sony PRS-900,PRS-505; Kindle2	Great..... __________________ Kenny A. Chaffin Art Gallery - Photo Gallery - Poetry

10-30-2009, 03:24 PM	#4
RobbieClarken Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 1808 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Device: iRex DR1000S, iPhone 3GS, Kindle 2i	About 30 seconds after I turned my Kindle on for the first time I got a phone call from my bank asking whether I had authorised a $2 transaction lately. I was a little confused until I realised it was the wireless fee for an Amazon book that had automatically been downloaded to my Kindle. __________________ Currently reading: From Poverty to Prosperity by Arnold Kling & Nick Schulz Reinventing the Bazaar by John McMillan Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

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10-30-2009, 02:34 PM	#3
KlondikeGeoff Wombat Aficionado Posts: 383 Karma: 733 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle1, Sony PRS-500 Reader, Rocket 1100 eBook	I can feel his pain. For a long time, Amazon never did charge for these, but when they started, I just gave up transferring by Whispernet, and used the free email system. Takes a few minutes longer, but avoids the aggrivation of all those little charges on my statement.

10-30-2009, 08:23 PM	#5
Pushka Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 826 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wherever I want Device: kindle	This is happening a lot as mentioned on the Amazon forum too - buy yourself a gift card - it saves the hassle of the small charges. We must be driving the banks crazy at the moment!

10-30-2009, 10:01 PM	#6
slm Useless Posts: 123 Karma: 236 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle1, Kindle 2, Jetbook, EZ Reader EZ pocket pro and ipod touch	of course, it Amazon had any sense, they would copy Apple. ITunes would have the same problem, but Apple often doesn't charge through until it gets a reasonable sized transaction. (I'm told that, typically, the Visa fee for a $.15 transaction will eliminate payment itself.)