Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald
In the USA, it varies from vendor to vendor. Amazon does not charge a credit card until an item ships (something I find inconvenient because I have to keep track of what I ordered so I do not overspend). Some retailers wait until the transaction has cleared before shipping. Some (gasoline stations especially), will make a "test charge" to supposedly assure that the account will be able to pay for the pending transaction (it's an imperfect system that can cause problems at both ends). Still others require the use of a third party "card" that is essentially prepaid and will not "bounce" on the retailer, such as PayPal. Since Denmark legally requires that payment not be taken until the item ships, you have no choice (even if you prefer that system, you still have no choice). At least where I live, if I do not like the way a company handles payment, I usually have the freedom to go somewhere else and, frequently, do. Many brick and mortar retailers here have adopted the practice of charging a fee for using plastic (usually debit cards). I have the option of not patronizing those retailers, an option I take.
I'm sure there are other ramifications behind Denmark's law that may favorably weigh more than the disadvantge of loing the option to choose one form of payment over an other so I'm not attempting to condemn nor praise the law. I'm merely pointing out the differences we have. Keep in mind we Yanks tend to be a fiercely independent lot although, sadly, government control has been slowly encroaching on our freedoms, allegedly for our protection.
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In the USA, Federal Mail order regulations prohibit any charges to credit cards until ready to ship.
There is an exception for deposits on customized work.
Amazon complies with the law.
Also Note: That items that are on prepaid orders (check, money-order,cash), that are back-ordered , they must send you a notice every 30 days advising of the ETA and giving you the option to Cancel the remaining order). that