Overcharged by $0.01

Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:17 pm

I bought something from a large textbook publisher, and they overcharged my credit card by $0.01. Earlier today I wrote a cordial letter giving them the options of a) posting a $0.01 refund to my card, b) letting me return the book for a full refund plus return shipping, or c) doing nothing, in which case I would file a chargeback claim with American Express for the $0.01.

I’m not so poor that this penny matters to me, and yes, my time is worth more than a cent. However, the company charged my credit card for more than I authorized. It’s the principle of the thing.

What would you have done? If a penny’s not enough to care, what amount is?

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:45 am

I'd just let them know about it, in case it's a problem with their system and that it could error out for bigger amounts at some point, but I'd tell them to not worry about that particular incident.

Though you could also do the American thing and sue for 1.5 million dollars, be all over the news, and retire off that money.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:11 am

Red Squirrel wrote: I'd just let them know about it, in case it's a problem with their system and that it could error out for bigger amounts at some point, but I'd tell them to not worry about that particular incident.

My gut feeling says that most people share your indifference. Call me a cynic, but I don’t think some companies would even bother investigating the problem unless enough people said that they did care about it.

Red Squirrel wrote: Though you could also do the American thing and sue for 1.5 million dollars, be all over the news, and retire off that money.

Seventy years of retirement with just $1.5 million?

(It took me forever to find that emoticon. Anybody remember Domel?)

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manadren · Post by **manadren** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:04 pm

I applaud your persistence and principled stance. However, for $.01, it's just not worth it for me. The time and effort it would take me to raise a fuss is worth much more to me than that.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:06 am

manadren wrote: The time and effort it would take me to raise a fuss is worth much more to me than that.

Well, I’m unemployed and on holiday from school, so all my “time and effort” so far has been spent reading Debian mailing lists in my underwear.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:32 pm

I will get my refund in three to five business days.

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