Dell Charged my Credit Card without Auth

[windingmeup]

I bought a new computer from Dell earlier this month. I prices the whole system, and paid online with a credit card. The price was $1115.

When I checked my credit card statement there was a charge for $1115 and another charge entry for $77 (both from Dell). I could not figure out why they charged me $77. It turns out that they added on state tax after the fact but never told me. The original email I received from Dell showing the charge detail shows that they charged me $8 for tax which turn out was for the shipping. I did not expect to have that $77 charge.

I think they should be upfront about the actual cost. In the terms and conditions in small print they say they will charge tax for purchased in the state of California but it does not say it will come as a separate charge..

I am going to dispute the charge on my Credit Card but do I have a case?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

Are you nuts, or what?

When you buy something at WalMart, do you ever see a price sign with a little notation "plus tax"? No, of course not. You only find out there's a charge for State tax when you check out at the register.

Should you fight that with WalMart too?

Oh, please. You don't have anything except complete "ignorance".


IAAL

 

[mykoleary]

I am going to dispute the charge on my Credit Card but do I have a case?

It's dunderheads like you that raise cosumer credit card rates for the rest of us.

Who cares if it's one charge or two?? Tax is tax, pay it and get on with your life.

BTW - try visiting www.fatwallet.com sometime, that $1115 system you got probably cost someone there about $700...

 

[windingmeup]

You both made good points and my only concern was that on my final bill it was listed as $1,115. On this bill were line items for tax ($8) and shipping ( $99). However instead of charging me $8 for tax they decided to charge me an additional $77 without my knowledge. They never sent me any notification they just charged my card. I am only assuming it was for tax since in hindsight the $8 seems too low.

If you went to Wal-Mart and spent $1000 (which included tax) and then found out later they charged your account $77 more for tax (because they didn't charge you enough the first time) would you not have a problem with that? Especially if they never contact you.

Just to make my point. I just bought another Dell system this weekend for a friend of mine. This time the correct amount for tax showed up on the bill during checkout.

Originally only being charged $8 tax didn't phase me because my purchase was in Texas and since I am in California I thought there would be no state tax (only on the shipping). Later after reading Dells fine print they indicate there will be state tax in California. Since I supplied them with a California address while completing the sale they should have been able to figure tax correctly the first time.

 

[ShyCat]

Look, someone made a mistake and promptly corrected it. Yes, it would have been nice if they'd given you some notice (a phone call, an email, whatever), but their lapse in "corporate manners" does not mean you get out of paying what you owe. It is not the intent of any contract law to allow either party to profit from a clerical error. You won't get anyone here to tell you what you want to hear.