I am a merchant who accepts credit cards. On this end it's pretty cut and dry. I get a notice of a chargeback and I must produce my copy of the credit card receipt with their signature on it. It must be either imprinted or through a terminal. With online sales I must produce the hard copy of the order. I have 5 business days to either send or fax my copy proving the charge, or the money is automatically deducted from my bank. Plus a $25 fee. I get chargebacks because I'm an artist who does art and craft fairs throughout the northeast and there are times people in say, New Jersey see a charge from a company they never heard of in Vermont. "I've never been to Vermont!" So they challenge. I produce the receipt and a note they made a purchase at such and such craft fair, and it's done. Go to your credit Union in person and talk to someone who can actually help you. Have someone with some authority help you. You're finding out phone tag doesn't work. Go up the chain of command at the CU to get things done. You have 24 months from the date of the alleged charge to challenge it. The merchant has 5 business days to answer.

Everything I've seen/heard about this is not to cancel credit cards. Cancelling them does affect your credit scores. That said, at one point I had 3 separate credit cards issued by the same bank. I use only one and pay the balance in full every month. I have received letters from the bank requesting that I either use the cards or said cards would be cancelled effective 30 days of the receipt of said letter. I didn't use them, and those accounts have been cancelled. DH hates credit cards and prefers to pay cash for purchases. I did check with the 3 credit bureaus regarding whether the cancellation by the bank for lack of use of those two cards would affect our credit scores. All three claimed that it would not, and I did manage to obtain fax confirmation of that assurance. I did pull reports at 90 days after their cancellation, and our scores hadn't changed. Unless the card company contacts you about cancelling for lack of use, I wouldn't cancel.

Geez, what a nightmare. Why can't people just be honest and treat others like they'd like to be treated? I just don't get it, it's not that hard. I really wanted to bid on some beautiful RL bedding, a rare style, but I really had to read between the lines and push to get info. Apparently with the shams the seller mentioned although never used, she did launder one "by mistake", but it went right back in the package. Saw no logic in that whatsoever... Since it was cotton and lace (delicate), I wondered if she dried it (which would ruin it). I emailed her asking if the washed sham had been distorted or shrank as a result. No reply. I wait a few days, auction is nearing and end, and basically email her a 'hey, I'd really like to bid, but have not received a reply to my question so I'm giving it one more try here.' That generated a response from her, she admitted that the laundered sham was 'snug' and corners 'curled', but suggested ironing would make it fit properly again. Good grief. (She failed to include that significant detail in her description, even after I asked, she didn't post my question and her answer.) Very cat and mouse. I'm glad I took time to push it, because although it was a beautiful set I might well be out the $, and it would be worthless with only one good sham (and it garnered pretty high $$). I'm watching to see what kind of feedback occurs once the buyer receives it. Anyway, back to valinsv's guy. Clearly there are major issues with some items he sells. Is he too ignorant to realize that having integrity would only bolster his business that much more? That's the part I just don't get. Treat people right, they'll keep coming back. Treat them badly as a habit and sooner or later he's going to lose. Seems to me with the type of volume he does he'd be a lot further ahead if he'd just be honest. Just curious mona if you might know: if he does get kicked off, is his IP address banned, or just his ebay ID? He seems to have such a huge system set up and selling high volume, can't see him just walking away. Could he just come back under a new ID? (Although given his business and volume and listing style, it would be easy to recognize it might be him.)

"NO EXCUSES EVER." But you are now making an excuse. "I got neither the PAPER BILLING nor the CUSTOMARY EMAIL." Your excuse is that you didn't receive a paper bill or an e-mail. "I pride myself on never having paid a dime in interest (other than my mortgage) due to my fiscal responsibility, personal convictions from age 17 to now 72." But your fiscal responsibility failed you if you, with all your experience, failed to make a payment because you didn't get a reminder. Your fiscal responsibilty is what should have alerted you to the fact that you had a payment due. "NO EXCUSES EVER." Apparently not true. "One would not know about 'back up email alerts' etc, unless there had already been a problem." Not correct. I'm aware of the option to receive e-mailed alerts and text-to-cellphone alerts because I like to know when my payment has been received. I pay my bills through my regular bank's Online Bill Pay feature. I have it set to send me an e-mail when the payments have gone out of that bank, and I have the credit cards configured to send me a text to my cell when the payment has been credited to my account. In setting that up, both on my bank's web site as well as the web sites for my various Visa cards and MasterCard cards, as well as my Discover card, I saw all the options that are available for alerts. Being aware of the options/possibilities doesn't mean that there have been problems. Through my Online Bill Pay, I can also have my bank issue a check as payment to any company I choose, or any individual I choose. For example, our gardener -- I pay the lawncare company each month through the Online Bill Pay, but the bank sends the company a check. I receive an e-mail when the check has been sent, and I receive an e-mail when the check has been cashed. It doesn't mean that there has been a problem, nor does it mean that I anticipate a problem in the future. It's simply that I work in the technology field, and I think it's cool to take advantage of what technology has to offer.