Subscription fee withdrawn before due date.
By
Aggelakis,
Posted on: 2011-12-12 23:46 in Player Questions
Well considering this forum is for players asking players questions about the game, you're not likely to get someone to give you the answer you want. I recommend contacting support to ensure this doesn't happen to you again.
How early? Was you billing date on the weekend? There might be a clause or something in the contract that allows them to run their billing on the business day before billing is due. Which if they withdrew the money on Friday would make sense.
If you mean more like 5 to 10 days early, then I have no idea. It might be useful to go through support, explain the issue ("I was almost charged for an overdraft.") and ask for clarification on the billing date. Remember the person you are talking probably has nothing to do with billing, they're just some working schmuck, so be as polite as possible.
My subscription is set to be renewed on the 13th of every month, but payment was taken out yesterday morning, and has already been applied to my account.
I was going to let my account lapse for a day since I work overnight shifts. Then, when I leave work, I'd stop by the bank to make my deposit.
The outcome was avoided, but this kind of unexpected "surprise" is the exact reason why I miss having the option of direct deposit...
How were you going to let your account "lapse?" The only way to do that is cancel it. Which you waited to do less than 24 hours before the payment was due.
No not a lot of sympathy. Gotta get stuff done early, be proactive. Waiting until the last minute is exactly why stuff like this happens. Even a completely computerized system might need 24 hours to synch up with other systems and process a request or change in account status.
Frankly 5 business days is a common courtesy, minimum, when giving someone some sort of notice.
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That's unusual. Normally with systems that do not debit on weekends, they will take the amount on the business day that follows said weekend. At least in my experience.|
Originally Posted by gameboy1234
How early? Was you billing date on the weekend? There might be a clause or something in the contract that allows them to run their billing on the business day before billing is due. Which if they withdrew the money on Friday would make sense.
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In terms of NCSoft, I can confirm they do take payment on weekends. My billing date is the 14th. In August, the 14th was a Sunday, and my subscription was debited on that date.
My subscription was also taken out one day early this month:
Interestingly enough, it shows tomorrow's date as the date of payment. I suffered no ill effect, (nor close calls, as in Mr. DJ's case). It's just unusual that it was taken a day early, despite the date showing tomorrow.
Thank you, Champion.
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First, I'm sorry this happened to you. Overdraft fees are heinous and should really be reined in by some governing body. Most folks don't bounce checks because they're rolling in cash, and those fees certainly don't improve the situation. |
Originally Posted by Mr. DJ
So, I'd like to know which geniuses over at billing decided to do this and nearly caused me to suffer three overdraft fees before I could deposit my paycheck.
First time I've had this happen, since it's always been either taken out the day it's actually due or at least processed the next day. |
As someone who is intimate with the workings of banks, I would strongly urge you to first- pay the fees, and secondly, make an appointment with your branch manager. They have a lot of latitude with those fees. They can waive them if they wish. Most of the time, all that's needed is a compelling reason to do so. It is Christmas season, and who better than a bank manager to know that times are hard.
However, times are hard for the bank, too. Although I sympathize, CoH could not pull those funds from your account without your authority. I would also speak with someone on the 1-800 number and ask them to mail you a letter that you can show your bank manager; something that shows why things went bump in the night, so to speak.
I'm fairly certain that the most you'll get from CoH is an apology for pulling the funds early, but I do think given the circumstances that they would write a letter on your behalf. It might take them until well after January, but one can never be sure until you ask.
In my case, when I renewed my sub, I was hoping they'd take it at the point in time I renewed it, so that if things went short with me, it would be the silly fee my bank charges instead. Heh, the banks always seem to get paid first.
And remember, although this was an accident, it certainly isn't the banks fault. Although the fees are high, the bank is also charged by the fed for insufficient funds. Certainly not as much, but they will always want to cover their costs, as they typically have shareholders to worry about.
Again, sorry to hear of your misfortune, hope the negotiations go well.
As for the rest of you, this is a good time to realize that taking baked goodies to your banker is ALWAYS a good idea. Build relationships with your banker! You'll likely need them long before they need you. Despite what you may hear, they always have some latitude with loans.
"Most people that have no idea what they are doing have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese
@Ukase
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yes...something I have done before.|
Originally Posted by gameboy1234
How were you going to let your account "lapse?" The only way to do that is cancel it.
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| No not a lot of sympathy. Gotta get stuff done early, be proactive. Waiting until the last minute is exactly why stuff like this happens. Even a completely computerized system might need 24 hours to synch up with other systems and process a request or change in account status. |
But,I digress...everything is fine now, but I'm still annoyed that it happened in the first place.
Agreed upon dates on subject to perspective. My account is due on the 17th of the month, it shows at 12:01 am as a pending transaction with my bank. You said that you work overnight and something like this could of been what really happened. Not really a day early but earlier than expected. Did you contact customer service yet? I would love to hear what they had to say.
Given that this was taken during the day before you expected it could this be a time zone issue.
They take it out at 12:00:01 am 13 Dec 2011 their time but that is 16:00:01 pm 12 Dec 2011 your time.
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Since you have been around for 6+ years and have quite a few posts to your credit.. I am sure you are aware this is the forum where players ask players questions. If you have a billing question you may want to seek out... the billing department.
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Originally Posted by Paladiamors
I love you, I Burnt the Toast!
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And a lot of banks are flat-out slimy about it. If you have $100 in the account and write checks for $90, $30 and $15, most banks will apply the $90 one first so that they can hit you with 2 fees instead of just 1 if they applied the smaller checks first.|
Originally Posted by Ukaserex
First, I'm sorry this happened to you. Overdraft fees are heinous and should really be reined in by some governing body.
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| As someone who is intimate with the workings of banks, I would strongly urge you to first- pay the fees, and secondly, |
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| and nearly caused me to suffer three overdraft fees |
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Thanks for the correction.
"Most people that have no idea what they are doing have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese
@Ukase
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Perhaps...but to flip it around, oftentimes the larger debits (there are FAR more Automated Clearinghouse, or ACH, debits these days) are often for more important expenses -- mortgages, insurance premiums, etc. So yes, there are certainly institutions who engage in paying the largest debits first because they can generate more fee income that way, there are also some who may choose that method as a service (I know that I'd prefer to have my mortgage paid before ANYTHING else).|
Originally Posted by Ironblade
And a lot of banks are flat-out slimy about it. If you have $100 in the account and write checks for $90, $30 and $15, most banks will apply the $90 one first so that they can hit you with 2 fees instead of just 1 if they applied the smaller checks first.
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Then again, if people would just have sufficient available funds present in their account at the time they authorize the ACH debit/write the check/withdraw cash from the ATM this wouldn't be an issue (not applicable to the OP of course, since his account was apparently debited earlier than the agreed-upon debit date).
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Maybe they are pulling a day earlier due to the Salute to Statesman thing? Imagine if a problem cost you a day of VIP status and losing that?
Im not sure the way it is but do we pay for 30 actual days or 1 actual month? Could be out a day or two depending on the month?
Plus you should have cancelled your billing a long time ago.
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When you pay for a month's subscription (either one-time payment or multi-month blocks of sub), you pay for one month from X day to the day before the next X day; e.g. Jan 1 is your sub date then Feb 1 will be your next, then March 1, April 1, etc. So you technically pay the most "daily" to play in Feb and less "daily" for months that are 30 days and even less "daily" for months that are 31 days.|
Originally Posted by Seek_Trouble
Im not sure the way it is but do we pay for 30 actual days or 1 actual month? Could be out a day or two depending on the month?
Plus you should have cancelled your billing a long time ago. |
If you apply an X day time card (I think these only exist in 30 and 60 days now, but at one point there was a 15 day card as well), you are paying for X days. You need to put another card in when X days comes up. You'll no longer have a sub on X day + 1.
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Originally Posted by Dispari
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3 suggestions for you.
1) As soon as Paragon takes your monthly payment, cancel your account. Then reup only when you have made sure the money is in your bank account. Do this each month. This way Paragon can't get into your account except in the short window that you allow them too.
2) Find Time cards, this way they aren't messing with your account at all.
3) If you can't find time cards, get a prepaid/refillable Visa/MasterCard. Set your billing to this card. If there is a delay at least there won't be an overdraft.
Lastly since Pargon isn't able to fix Reward Tokens, Paragon Points, or Transfer Tokens; all of which are tied to billing and active accounts. It is no surprise that pulling money from bank accounts would be off 1 or 2 days of billing also.
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(shrug) A big transaction could be a mortgage payment or a 55" television.
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Originally Posted by Eric Nelson
Perhaps...but to flip it around, oftentimes the larger debits (there are FAR more Automated Clearinghouse, or ACH, debits these days) are often for more important expenses -- mortgages, insurance premiums, etc. So yes, there are certainly institutions who engage in paying the largest debits first because they can generate more fee income that way, there are also some who may choose that method as a service (I know that I'd prefer to have my mortgage paid before ANYTHING else).
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Possible...but statistically speaking, large ACH debit transactions have an overwhelming chance to be a mortgage or insurance premium payment. I'm not excusing predatory business practices, only trying to explain that there is, as always, another side to the story.
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Originally Posted by Ironblade
(shrug) A big transaction could be a mortgage payment or a 55" television.
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Avatar detail taken from full-size piece by Douglas Shuler here
So, I'd like to know which geniuses over at billing decided to do this and nearly caused me to suffer three overdraft fees before I could deposit my paycheck.
First time I've had this happen, since it's always been either taken out the day it's actually due or at least processed the next day.