FedEx rant

[Guest]

Monday night, I set up my FedEx account online for use with the Multi Vendor Shipping.

 

Part of the registration process was to add a credit card. Well, I figured since I won't be actually using FedEx myself, but just the module for pricing reasons because my vendor will be doing the actual shipping, I didn't have a problem with adding my credit card details.

 

At no time during the process was it mentioned that any charges would be applied to the card for verification purposes. Trust me, I read the screens carefully. I don't have any money to work with so I look for any charges beforehand.

 

Well, I first put in my PayPal debit card. It's a good card, I use it frequently online and in person. Yet FedEx kept saying it was a bad number. Go figure. So I put in my bank's debit card, it took it.

 

Today, I am in my PayPal account checking on another person's verification and went to my account. There are a total of 3 $10.00 charges! One is pending and the other two are denied - which corresponds to how many times I tried to input the card. There is sufficient funds to cover the $10.

 

So, I wandered very quickly over to my bank account and there are two $10.00 charges! And my checking account is now negative! These charges are in Pending status, but Bank of America is very quick to slap on $34.00 bounce check fees without thought.

 

So, I quickly called FedEx, got through quickly and spoke with a great rep who explained that these are not physical charges and they will drop off. What these $10.00 charges do is just verify that your card on file is a correct one - which we did on the phone. He said that the bank should be able to tell, because the transaction is coded as such, that these are not actual charges but verification "charges" and the bank shouldn't treat them as actual purchases and thus not charge the bounce check fees. *SHOULD* We'll see!

 

I'm holding my breathe and praying. I'm starting my business on a shoestring budget, and doing well at that. I can not afford fees and the like. Without going into my life story to explain why, right now this business is my only way to make money. We barely make the utilities each month on hubby's salary.

 

So basically - for those just starting out and going to create a FedEx account - whether you are doing your own shipping or having your vendor do the shipping (drop shipping) - just be aware they charge $10.00 to your card JUST FOR VERIFICATION purposes - these are NOT actual charges, but still affect your account's balance for the duration they are showing. I have no clue why there wasn't a statement stating that the card would be charged (temporarily) this fee when imputting the card number during registration. I would have then waited to register until I had more funds in my account and thus not give me coronary in the meantime.

 

I hope this gets straightened out soon because as it stands, since my accounts read in the negative, I can't pay for my hosting for the month! ARGH!

 

*whew* Thanks for listening.