Authorization Fee?

from WinCustomize Forums

Every time I get a Master Skin from here there also allows on my Pre-paid debt card (Mastercard) account an authorization fee of between $2.60 to $2.70 for each time. This can add up. WinCustomize says that the money isn't really taken out of my account, but the account total still list less the amounts. It usually takes several weeks before the money reappears in my account as a positive and I can use it again. In some cases I look to see if the author offers the skin at their site and I make the purchase from there instead to avoid the extra expense since I don't get that much altogether being on a disability pension.(I don't smoke or drink, and my medications are covered by my pension so I have some small mad money each month.)

Now I'm a subscriber to Wincustomize and suppose to get a 20% discount on Masterskins and would like to use it. I was wondering if everyone else got charged this fee and how long before you get your money back, or is this just charged to foreign members?

12,409 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm using a Debit Card from my bank against my checking account and don't see any charges like that. 

It may have something to do with a Pre-paid Debit Card.  You may need to read up on how it is used/charged in order to determine that.  It may not make a difference where you buy the Master Skin from.  I don't know since I have never used a Pre-paid Debit Card.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm using a Debit Card from my bank against my checking account and don't see any charges like that.

It may have something to do with a Pre-paid Debit Card. You may need to read up on how it is used/charged in order to determine that. It may not make a difference where you buy the Master Skin from. I don't know since I have never used a Pre-paid Debit Card.
End of quote

100% Ditto.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:sun:

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

tazgecko from what scharchuk wrote it's a Pre-paid Debit Card and not  a Bank Debit Card. :sun:

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 4
tazgecko from what scharchuk wrote it's a Pre-paid Debit Card and not  a Bank Debit Card.
End of Philly0381's quote

8C   and here I was thinking a debit card is just a debit card (I have two of them).

Maybe we call them something else down here, thanks Philly.  |-)

Its still a lot of money.

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have a Green Dot Mastercard. It costs $4.95 to add any money to it and they charge another $4.95 per month service charge if there is money left on it at the end of the billing cycle. I used it once to purchase WB, then ODNT and never again. I kept it in case I need to make a major online purchase, but it would have to be a necessity with no other way to acquire it. 

In other words, buying a Master skin would cost me $4.95 + $4.95 plus another $4.95 at the end of the month. OUCH!!!X(

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting tazgecko, reply 5



Quoting Philly0381,
reply 4
tazgecko from what scharchuk wrote it's a Pre-paid Debit Card and not  a Bank Debit Card.


  and here I was thinking a debit card is just a debit card (I have two of them).

Maybe we call them something else down here, thanks Philly. 

Its still a lot of money.

 
End of tazgecko's quote

They do that just to give us headaches.  :sun:

A Bank Debit Card is issued by a Bank to it's customers on request. You can use it like a Credit Card but it is tied directly to your account which makes it pretty much like writing a check.  A Pre-paid Debit Card is one you purchase from places like Walmart and you put a given amount on it.  You use it like a Bank Debit Card or Credit Card but it looks like the charges against them are handled differently from what Wizard posted.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm using a Debit Card from my bank against my checking account and don't see any charges like that.

It may have something to do with a Pre-paid Debit Card. You may need to read up on how it is used/charged in order to determine that. It may not make a difference where you buy the Master Skin from. I don't know since I have never used a Pre-paid Debit Card.

100% Ditto.
End of quote

Ditto; I use Mastercard credit card and never have any extra charges.

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I forgot to add that it also cost $4.95 to buy the card in the first place. I don't recall if there was a per-use fee as well but I wouldn't doubt it. At the time I was in South Carolina and still had money in savings.

 After using the trial less than a day,I had to have WindowBlinds so cost meant nothing.(worse than crack,lol)

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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 7
A Pre-paid Debit Card is one you purchase from places like Walmart and you put a given amount on it.  You use it like a Bank Debit Card or Credit Card but it looks like the charges against them are handled differently from what Wizard posted.
End of Philly0381's quote

Ah there you go. We don't have them. The cost must be for the use of the card.

Like Cavan my Mastercard credit card and Visa debit card has no extra charge for a skin.

Master skins, for me, are cheap. Love supporting good talent :grin:

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 1
I'm using a Debit Card from my bank against my checking account and don't see any charges like that. 

It may have something to do with a Pre-paid Debit Card.  You may need to read up on how it is used/charged in order to determine that.  It may not make a difference where you buy the Master Skin from.  I don't know since I have never used a Pre-paid Debit Card.
End of Philly0381's quote

 

I don't get this charge at any other place I purchase a Master skin, and I mention this.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 4
tazgecko from what scharchuk wrote it's a Pre-paid Debit Card and not  a Bank Debit Card.
End of Philly0381's quote

 

Yes. Its everything like a credit card except you have to have the proper amount on the card beforehand.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 6
I have a Green Dot Mastercard. It costs $4.95 to add any money to it and they charge another $4.95 per month service charge if there is money left on it at the end of the billing cycle. I used it once to purchase WB, then ODNT and never again. I kept it in case I need to make a major online purchase, but it would have to be a necessity with no other way to acquire it. 

In other words, buying a Master skin would cost me $4.95 + $4.95 plus another $4.95 at the end of the month. OUCH!!!

End of Wizard1956's quote

 

Mine's not nearly as bad as that. It cost $2.50 to "load" each month and a monthly fee of $6.95. plus, $0.50 per retail purchase (Like a cred card). I got the card through a rent to own store called Easy Home and the card is called Epic from MasterCard.

 

BTW, the amount of the Authorization fee just switched to the positive this morning. Time for one of the newer Master skins. :)

 

After using the trial less than a day,I had to have WindowBlinds so cost meant nothing.(worse than crack,lol)
End of quote

 

Yes, much worse than crack. :cylon:

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Just to be clear, WinCustomize does not charge any type of authorization fee when making a purchase.  This is something initiated by the bank or pre-paid service.

 

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 14
Just to be clear, WinCustomize does not charge any type of authorization fee when making a purchase.  This is something initiated by the bank or pre-paid service.

 
End of Island's quote

Maybe, but its only here that I get it when I purchase Master Skins. It could be the service that Wincustomize uses for its purchase transfers?

 

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

My VISA doesn't do that, scharchuk.... I think you need to look at the terms of the debit card you use. IF your eyes can read print that small. :\

Wiz...get rid of that Green Dot thing you have... sounds like a MAJOR rip off, old friend.  :typo:

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

My VISA doesn't do that, scharchuk.... I think you need to look at the terms of the debit card you use. IF your eyes can read print that small.
End of quote

Or [shudder] you might need to call them and ask them specifically what one of those charges is.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 16
My VISA doesn't do that, scharchuk.... I think you need to look at the terms of the debit card you use. IF your eyes can read print that small.

Wiz...get rid of that Green Dot thing you have... sounds like a MAJOR rip off, old friend. 
End of DrJBHL's quote

 

As I had said, it only charges this fee of $2,60 to $2.70 HERE.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting scharchuk, reply 18



Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 16
My VISA doesn't do that, scharchuk.... I think you need to look at the terms of the debit card you use. IF your eyes can read print that small.

Wiz...get rid of that Green Dot thing you have... sounds like a MAJOR rip off, old friend. 


 

As I had said, it only charges this fee of $2,60 to $2.70 HERE.
End of scharchuk's quote

Quoting Island, reply 14
Just to be clear, WinCustomize does not charge any type of authorization fee when making a purchase.  This is something initiated by the bank or pre-paid service.

 
End of Island's quote

Based upon Island Dog's reply it seems you need to open up a discussion with the Issuer of the the Debit Card if you haven't yet.  :sun:

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i use a Visa debit card. This card works just like a credit card except it is linked to my savings account. My bank and most other australian banks offer this and there is no service charges or extra charges for using it. My only bank charges are the standard monthly account keeping fee which adds up to the grand total of $5 a month. I would be charged this regardless if i just had a debit card or Visa debit card. Pre Paid visa.mastercards and the like are a scam introduced by banks to enable them to charge outrageous fess and other "hidden" charges. Might be worthwhile speaking to your bank to see if they off a visa debit service.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 19



Based upon Island Dog's reply it seems you need to open up a discussion with the Issuer of the the Debit Card if you haven't yet. 
End of Philly0381's quote

 

Why would they only apply it HERE instead EVERYWHERE else I go as I've been saying over and over and over again?  :banhammer: I go to other user's Master Skin sites and buy something with the pre-paid debit card and guess what? No Authorization fee of $2.60 to $2.70 deducted from my account each time. Please, follow along now.

 

The original purpose of this thread to was to see if this happened to anyone else and how long it took for the amount to switch back to a positive.

 

Here is what I get. The $3.90 is the Master Skin I just bought (Elemental:Water). The $2.63 is what we are talking about and that stays there for a couple of weeks or so before switching to a positive.

 

 

Authorization Detail  
Date Details Amount
09/11/2010 07:13:45  STARDOCK SYSTEMS-MI 734-927-0677 MI $-3.90 
09/11/2010 07:13:37  STARDOCK SYSTEMS-MI 734-927-0677 MI $-2.63 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This is as close as I can get to an explanation from their site;

 

Some car rental companies may choose not to accept prepaid cards at the time of rental. When using your card with a car rental company they will authorize a specific dollar amount at the counter. MasterCard allows car rental companies to settle the transaction for $250.00 over the authorized amount. To ensure available funds, there will be an additional $250.00 added to all car rental authorizations.

Example: If you rent a car for three days the car rental company may run a $300.00 authorization, which will appear as a $550.00 authorization in your transaction history. When you return the car and close the rental contract, the actual amount of the rental will be displayed in the transaction history and the difference will become available on your balance. Car rental companies may also choose to run multiple authorizations during the car rental contract. All car rental authorizations will remain on your Card for 45 days.