Dealing with a Declined CC: Tips and Strategies for Successful Orders

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses experiences and challenges faced by participants regarding declined credit card transactions during order processing. Participants share personal anecdotes about handling such situations and the implications for both consultants and customers.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a situation where a declined credit card led to confusion about the customer's bank balance and communication difficulties.
  • Another participant expresses frustration with customers who struggle to provide accurate credit card information, suggesting that it's not the consultant's fault if issues arise.
  • Several users mention the importance of not having customers email credit card information due to security concerns.
  • One participant shares their experience of resolving a declined transaction by confirming details with the customer, highlighting the need for clear communication.
  • Another participant notes that they prefer to receive credit card numbers over the phone or in person, but respect the customer's choice if they prefer to email it.
  • One participant humorously recounts their method of encouraging customers to ensure their handwriting is legible on order forms to avoid errors.
  • Another participant shares that they had a successful resolution after initially facing a declined transaction.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best practices for handling declined credit card transactions and the security of sharing credit card information. No clear consensus emerges regarding the responsibility of consultants versus customers in these situations.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and strategies related to declined credit card transactions, reflecting a range of approaches and attitudes towards customer communication and order processing.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants who encounter similar issues with declined credit card transactions may find the shared experiences and strategies relevant to their own practices.

C
cincychef
Messages
592
Ok, I have a show on hold it was held on 4/10 and I closed with the host on the 18th, I ran all weekend and didn't close it until Sunday night, since it was the weekend it didn't make a huge difference anyway.
So there was a declined cc, I got the notice Tues and called the girl, but I only have an eve #. Late afternoon she emails me a number with one digit different. I call HO and it is an invalid #. Then I call her # and email her back. Since I didn't hear from her I called her again and went over the # and it was the original # I had on file. I asked her if it was a debit card, she said yes, but oh it could be a close call if there was enough money in the bank because she subtracted it when she sent in the order (it was an online order) and thought the money had already cleared the bank ??? Which I don't quite get because if she had already subtracted it shouldn't money be in there? I do online banking though and it didn't sound like she did.
So she says oh well I get paid Fri! I asked her for another # and she said this is all she has. So I told her that I was going to call home office again and ask them to rerun it. She said that it was close but she thinks there should be enough in the bank.
She said she could call the bank tomorrow and have them transfer money from another account but with her work schedule she didn't know if she could get to it and by then it would be almost Fri anyway.
So HO is running the card manually, but I am worried it won't clear. Will she get a bounced fee for this? I told her if it didn't clear I would have them run it again on Fri. She didn't seem to realize the whole show was on hold for her. So I sorta said that the show would ship once her card cleared.
Anyway, I went ahead and called the host and let her know the show was on hold as of right now. I usually don't do this but I was worried about her wondering where the orders were. I didn't tell her whose card just that there was one on hold and until it cleared the show wouldn't ship.
What would you have done?
 
You did fine... you are not a miracle worker and some people are just dumb (oops did I say that?) I would not wory if she gets an overdraft fee. It is not your fault she can not figure uot a checking account. At least it was a debit card and you aren't getting burned on a bad check. Now that really sucks!
Good job calling the host but keeping the persons identity quiet.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Thanks for the comment, I know I handled it the best I could I just hate it when you feel like the bad guy all around, not that anyone was mad at me.
 
Two things:
1. NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER have customers email cc #s to you. It's not secure
2. No reason to involve the host. I tell all hosts that show orders will arrive in about two weeks just in case things like this happen.
 
OKay so if I remember correctly there have been 2 threads about this issue in the past few days and guess what!?!? It Happened To Me this morning! argh...lol! :-)

Okay so is it really HO issues or is it more of customer/consultant errors in giving 'good' numbers & typing them in???
Of course its only 810am here so I can't call my customer yet (I don't do calls til 9am and she's prego and has a little one so I'm praying she gets to sleep in. hee hee)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #6
DebbieJ said:
Two things:
1. NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER have customers email cc #s to you. It's not secure
2. No reason to involve the host. I tell all hosts that show orders will arrive in about two weeks just in case things like this happen.
Click to expand...
I do know this but this is the second time I have had a customer not willing to give me the info over the phone but instead want to email it to me. I didn't ask her to email it she just did. I had one lady that was not comfortable leaving information on the answering machine but wanted to email all of it to me. At that point I figure if that is what makes them comfortable then that's up to them.
 
I also had a customer once not want to give me a CC# on a cell phone. I would definitely think email would be even LESS secure!
 
cincychef said:
I didn't ask her to email it she just did. I had one lady that was not comfortable leaving information on the answering machine but wanted to email all of it to me. At that point I figure if that is what makes them comfortable then that's up to them.
Click to expand...

In a business law class I took in college the instructor stated that e-mail communication between a client and his lawyer is not protected by confidentiality because of how unsecure email is.

If a customer doesn't want to give you the information over the phone, I would suggest they submit the order through your PWS. If necessary, just go in and bump the closing date so they can still access it. This way, they are using a secure website.
 
I prefer to get the CC number over the phone or in person, but if the person giving out the number wants to email it, then IMHO then that is their call and not mine to make - it is their security they are risking and they are the one making the decisio not me.

Hope you get your situation resolved! Thankfully, I have had only this happen once and the 2nd time it ran, enough money was in it.

I do not understand why people spend money they do not have!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
[QUOTE=jrstephens]I prefer to get the CC number over the phone or in person, but if the person giving out the number wants to email it, then IMHO then that is their call and not mine to make - it is their security they are risking and they are the one making the decisio not me.

Hope you get your situation resolved! Thankfully, I have had only this happen once and the 2nd time it ran, enough money was in it.

I do not understand why people spend money they do not have![/QUOTE]
Thanks, this is how I see it too!
No PC called me today and it was declined again! So I wait until tomorrow and call her again!
 
I was able to resolve my issue. It was my stupid mistake. I called the customer told her I thought I wrote something down wrong and wanted to confirm. She was ok with that and I did- the exp. date was wrong, once I said it out loud to her I knew it was wrong! Just goes to show i really need to repeat everything over the phone. :-)
 
I have had a customer do a CC# over email but the way she did it someone would just think it was a bunch of #'s unless they were smart
 
jbdowd0798 said:
OKay so if I remember correctly there have been 2 threads about this issue in the past few days and guess what!?!? It Happened To Me this morning! argh...lol! :-)

Okay so is it really HO issues or is it more of customer/consultant errors in giving 'good' numbers & typing them in???
Of course its only 810am here so I can't call my customer yet (I don't do calls til 9am and she's prego and has a little one so I'm praying she gets to sleep in. hee hee)
Click to expand...


When I handed out the order forms I told people the following: "If you have the been told that you should have been a doctor based on your unique penmanship, please pass your orderform to the person on your left and ask them to fill it out for you...clearly printed order forms ensure a smooth closing of a show, and ensure that everyone here will get their product sooner rather than later.

I also tell them that if they want to fill in their own CC # to at least have their card out so I can see it to ensure that I can read their numbers. Some people's ones look like sevens, and fours look like nines, etc... it worked wonders for me and I NEVER had any issues, and people normally laughed pretty hard at my "If your handwriting stinks, pleaase, I beg of you, have someone else fill out your contact info and payment info on your order form, for you.

Best of luck!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
The Number went through this time! Now I have to wait for Tues for the show to ship.
 
Kacey~ THANKS!! I had to laugh at what you tell people but it is so true. Of course this time I took the info over the phone and I wrote the exp wrong. But I agree about people being in person and poor hand writing. :-)
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if a customer's credit card is declined during a Pampered Chef order?

If a customer's credit card is declined, first inform them politely and ask if they would like to provide a different payment method. It's important to reassure them that this happens sometimes and to maintain a positive attitude. You can also check if there are any issues with the payment processor or if the customer needs to contact their bank for clarification.

How can I help a customer resolve a declined credit card issue?

Encourage the customer to check their card details for any errors, such as incorrect numbers or expiration dates. Suggest they contact their bank or credit card issuer to find out why the transaction was declined. Additionally, offer alternative payment options, such as PayPal or another credit card, to facilitate the order process.

What are some common reasons for a declined credit card?

Common reasons for a declined credit card include insufficient funds, expired cards, incorrect billing information, or the card being flagged for suspicious activity. It's also possible that the customer has reached their credit limit or that the card issuer has blocked the transaction for security reasons.

How can I prevent declined credit card issues in the future?

To minimize declined credit card issues, encourage customers to double-check their payment information before submitting their orders. You can also remind them to ensure their payment method is valid and has sufficient funds. Additionally, consider following up with customers before the order date to confirm their payment details.

What should I do if a customer is upset about their credit card being declined?

If a customer is upset about a declined credit card, listen to their concerns empathetically and reassure them that you are there to help. Offer solutions, such as alternative payment methods, and provide clear instructions on how to resolve the issue. Maintaining a calm and supportive demeanor can help alleviate their frustration and keep the relationship positive.

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