Unhide the hidden fee
by AcidFaucet · in Torque Game Engine · 03/27/2006 (11:08 am) · 23 replies
Attempted to purchase a torque indie license today, of course I went through it before I bought anything to check and see how much it would cost. All the way to the end it said $100 even. So I went down to the bank, loaded up a prepaid visa card with a $100.00 balance. Came home, went to pay for torque, but oh no, the dreaded 1 dollar processing charge that was never even mentioned strikes, so then I'm at $99.00 on a card that I can't increase the balance on, and $99 isn't the price tag on torque. All because somebody didn't say there's a processing charge.
I've done this method before, and everytime I've bought something online, there either was no processing charge or it was stated either in bold or along with the price total that there was a 1 dollar processing charge.
It goes without saying that I wasn't very happy when it was rejected and then I checked my balance and transaction inquiry to find that $1 processing charge, that was never mentioned.
If I missed some fine print somewhere, point it out. But there's no way I'm going to spend another $3 to have the balance on this card drained so I can add some more to a new card that I wouldn't require had it been clearly stated that there was a $1 processing charge.
So please, say there's a $1 processing charge.
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Obviously the current online purchasing system doesn't allow it, but is there a way I can pay using 2 cards?
I won't send cash or check in the mail and I've made it through 22 years of existence without a credit card so that's out of the question.
I've done this method before, and everytime I've bought something online, there either was no processing charge or it was stated either in bold or along with the price total that there was a 1 dollar processing charge.
It goes without saying that I wasn't very happy when it was rejected and then I checked my balance and transaction inquiry to find that $1 processing charge, that was never mentioned.
If I missed some fine print somewhere, point it out. But there's no way I'm going to spend another $3 to have the balance on this card drained so I can add some more to a new card that I wouldn't require had it been clearly stated that there was a $1 processing charge.
So please, say there's a $1 processing charge.
=================================
Obviously the current online purchasing system doesn't allow it, but is there a way I can pay using 2 cards?
I won't send cash or check in the mail and I've made it through 22 years of existence without a credit card so that's out of the question.
About the author
#2
I would expect that if you were using a Credit card you would see on your statment only a $100 charge (after all the whacky stuff was sorted out that doesnt show up on the bill).
although... im just kinda guessing on how that stuff works.
03/27/2006 (11:39 am)
Im guessing they are proccessing cards the same way gas stations do. Kinda like pinging a card to make sure it will work when they do the full charge. But I would guess that most places either do the gas station thing or check to make sure the balance is there... not both for the above reasons.I would expect that if you were using a Credit card you would see on your statment only a $100 charge (after all the whacky stuff was sorted out that doesnt show up on the bill).
although... im just kinda guessing on how that stuff works.
#3
03/27/2006 (11:48 am)
Chris pretty much hit it right on. They charge a dollar to the card to make sure it's real. Then they go ahead with the transaction. The $1 won't normally show up on a bank statement, as it's not a real charge. But since Torque still costs $100, it's actually a $101 transaction, but that one dollar will get put back by the bank normally, transparent to the card holder. 
#4
Also..
Good luck living life. :)
Seriously though, its not too difficult to make to 22 without needing a credit card. You really should just bite the bullet and get yourself one. Even if you don't plan to use the card its good to have in case of emergencies, like expensive car repairs.
03/27/2006 (11:56 am)
Are you sure this isn't something you're bank is doing? I've never seen a processing charge on any of my bills.Also..
Quote:
I won't send cash or check in the mail and I've made it through 22 years of existence without a credit card so that's out of the question.
Good luck living life. :)
Seriously though, its not too difficult to make to 22 without needing a credit card. You really should just bite the bullet and get yourself one. Even if you don't plan to use the card its good to have in case of emergencies, like expensive car repairs.
#5
So, why didnt you just put a bit more on the card, if you knew there may have been a chance of some processing fee? Better to have too much than too little. The world isnt quite perfect yet, Trust no-one or is that X-files heh.
To curb my WOW addiction I use green dot cards, but I usually put a bit more then necessary on them so I know Blizz can get that .99 cents :) And leave my 5 I need to have lvl 60's alone :)
03/27/2006 (12:15 pm)
Quote:I've done this method before, and everytime I've bought something online, there either was no processing charge or it was stated either in bold or along with the price total that there was a 1 dollar processing charge.
So, why didnt you just put a bit more on the card, if you knew there may have been a chance of some processing fee? Better to have too much than too little. The world isnt quite perfect yet, Trust no-one or is that X-files heh.
To curb my WOW addiction I use green dot cards, but I usually put a bit more then necessary on them so I know Blizz can get that .99 cents :) And leave my 5 I need to have lvl 60's alone :)
#6
Normally the charge would be returned to the account, correct?
So in the case of a prepaid card (which is the case here) the balance can't be increased
so the ping charge never gets returned and the card is out $1 which then leaves a nonsufficient balance.
Ok, I think I got it. I've never had a problem with that before.
Guess I'll have to go back to the bank tomorrow and make another card and have them bill the 99 dollar card and then give them $2 plus $3 to make another card.
03/27/2006 (1:01 pm)
I see what you're saying with the ping thing.Normally the charge would be returned to the account, correct?
So in the case of a prepaid card (which is the case here) the balance can't be increased
so the ping charge never gets returned and the card is out $1 which then leaves a nonsufficient balance.
Ok, I think I got it. I've never had a problem with that before.
Guess I'll have to go back to the bank tomorrow and make another card and have them bill the 99 dollar card and then give them $2 plus $3 to make another card.
#7
03/27/2006 (1:18 pm)
I still think it best to contact garage games via email so you dont have to go to the trouble of going to the bank again. I'd bet they could figure out everything over the phone or via email and save you some trouble. 
#8
03/27/2006 (8:01 pm)
The powers that be here are really fast at responding to emails. I'd give that a go before spending another dollar. Not to menition, it will probably mess up their books having a stray dollar lying around unaccounted for. 
#9
reminds me of this old puzzle. it still gets me every time.
03/27/2006 (8:47 pm)
Heh - the case of the stray dollar !reminds me of this old puzzle. it still gets me every time.
Quote:
Three men go into a motel. The desk clerk said the room was $30, so each man paid $10 and went to the room. A while later, the desk clerk realized the room was only $25, so he sent the bellboy to the three guys' room with $5. On the way, the bellboy couldn't figure out how to split $5 evenly between three men, so he gave each man $1 and kept the other $2 for himself.
This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27. Add to that the $2 the bellboy kept and the total is $29.
Where is the other dollar?
#10
!!! where is it? im so confused. the first part all works out but when you get to the part about each man paid $9 the whole thing gets messed up. where is it!!?
03/27/2006 (9:32 pm)
@orion!!! where is it? im so confused. the first part all works out but when you get to the part about each man paid $9 the whole thing gets messed up. where is it!!?
#12
Integers versus floats.
03/27/2006 (9:42 pm)
Well, see here's the thing. The mistake was in giving five dollars back to each man, as 25 divided by three is 8.33333333333 (8 and one third). The bellboy takes 2, leaving three dollars. each man pays 9 getting you 27. Plus the two equals 29. Well, that extra dollar is lost in the three dollars and 33 cents the clerk should have refunded them. Integers versus floats.
#13
Put another way, the $2 should be taken away from the $27, not added to it, as only $25 was paid to the hotel.
03/27/2006 (9:50 pm)
Quote:This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27. Add to that the $2 the bellboy kept and the total is $29.The cost of the room was $25 plus the $2 the bellboy kept, which is a total of $27.
Put another way, the $2 should be taken away from the $27, not added to it, as only $25 was paid to the hotel.
#14
5 - (3 (1 to each man) +2 (bellboy))=0
I don't understand the confusion. What missing dollar?
03/28/2006 (5:45 am)
$30 - 5 = 255 - (3 (1 to each man) +2 (bellboy))=0
I don't understand the confusion. What missing dollar?
#15
Without reading that, there is no problem. :)
03/28/2006 (5:51 am)
There isn't any missing dollar, they make the confusion by stating a false:Quote:This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27. Add to that the $2 the bellboy kept and the total is $29.
Without reading that, there is no problem. :)
#16
there is no extra dollar. the trick is in the assumption that the total must add to $30 but $30 has no meaning at this point in the situation. the men paid $9 each and $2 to the bellboy for a total of $29. thats it. damn i hope i never go to that hotel. :)
03/28/2006 (8:09 am)
Oh yeah i get it now. that was kinda tricky wording there. Quote:This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27. Add to that the $2 the bellboy kept and the total is $29.
Where is the other dollar?
there is no extra dollar. the trick is in the assumption that the total must add to $30 but $30 has no meaning at this point in the situation. the men paid $9 each and $2 to the bellboy for a total of $29. thats it. damn i hope i never go to that hotel. :)
#17
You just spent about $ 10 for internet connection and you ain't ever noticed, but *that* single dollar is much more important, right?
Please, just charge $ 110 on the prepayd credit card next time you'll have to pay $ 100 and keep the remaining $ 9 for the next time.
However, at least here in Italy (in fact I don't know about US banks) every bank operation charges the customer requiring the transaction by a minimal .50 euros up to 2 euros (and above in certain banks or for certain transaction types, like international and so).
That said, Happy torquing.
The community is here to help.
Bye, Berserk.
.
03/28/2006 (9:07 am)
Seriously, man, you're bothering everyone for a mere dollar.You just spent about $ 10 for internet connection and you ain't ever noticed, but *that* single dollar is much more important, right?
Please, just charge $ 110 on the prepayd credit card next time you'll have to pay $ 100 and keep the remaining $ 9 for the next time.
However, at least here in Italy (in fact I don't know about US banks) every bank operation charges the customer requiring the transaction by a minimal .50 euros up to 2 euros (and above in certain banks or for certain transaction types, like international and so).
That said, Happy torquing.
The community is here to help.
Bye, Berserk.
.
#18
03/28/2006 (10:16 am)
One thing with this as well, maybe it's not really GarageGames, but their payment gateway. So it's not really anything GG could do about it.
#19
03/28/2006 (11:50 am)
They could say "oh... i see what happened there... here... give us the $99 and here is your game engine"... " happy torqueing".
#20
My bank is also looking at it to see if it's their fault or visa's fault.
So, I don't think this thread needs to continue but the moral of the story should remain:
ALWAYS PUT MORE THAN THE REQUIRED BALANCE ON A PREPAID CARD.
Just in case someone else should ever have a similar situation or be paying with a prepaid card.
03/28/2006 (12:32 pm)
Yes, I have already emailed them. And I have already received a reply that they would look into it on their end.My bank is also looking at it to see if it's their fault or visa's fault.
So, I don't think this thread needs to continue but the moral of the story should remain:
ALWAYS PUT MORE THAN THE REQUIRED BALANCE ON A PREPAID CARD.
Just in case someone else should ever have a similar situation or be paying with a prepaid card.
Torque 3D Owner Chris French