Open, close, repeat
Amazon runaround irks reader
Dear John: I opened an Amazon account recently and added $2,050 in credit so that I could order without constantly getting billed. This was a large majority of the money I received in wedding gifts.
A few days after I filled it, my account was put on hold. This made me feel safe, as Amazon is really catching activity which I understand can be seen as fishy — I was just creating an account and filling it with a lot of money.
Amazon e-mailed me to explain how I could regain access to myaccount. I sent credit card statements and all of the other information requested, and my account was unlocked.
Since then, I never received one of the items I ordered, so I chatted online with customer service and received a refund. A few days later, Amazon closed my account.
I was very frustrated by this, as I did not feel that I did anything that should have deserved closing my account. Amazon had locked up my money and I had no information regarding how to retrieve it.
When I called Amazon, I was told that I should have received an e-mail about the closing of the account. I didn’t receive that e-mail until a few hours later — and it was not helpful at all, stating that myaccount was closed. I knew that. I wanted to know how I could fix it.
After much back and forth with Amazon, I was told to open a new account and that the representative would transfer the money over. So I did. It was closed again.
Then I received an e-mail from Amazon that my initial account was closed because I had multiple accounts. But it was closed long before the representative told me to open another account. Other than that, I had no other accounts.
I called again and again hoping that I would be able to find someone to help me. I spent hours trying to reach the highest point of escalation in hopes that someone could understand my issue. Instead, I wasted hours and found no help.
Please help me get my wedding money back. N.T.
Dear N.T.: Jeez, I’ve seen movie scripts with fewer twists and turns than this.
Spoiler alert for anyone waiting to see this movie: I called Amazon and the problem was solved with one (maybe two) e-mails in about 24 hours.
You got back to me saying: “My account was just unlocked!! I can’t believe this is real!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!”
OK, don’t get all emotional. I use Amazon all the time, and love it. The solution to the problem is, don’t let the company hold your money. Pay when you buy.
Amazon also apologized to N.T. for the inconvenience.
Dear John: I’m 93 going on 94, and a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. I am alone. My wife is gone and my children are all married, but help as often as they can.
I went to the Capital One office in Nutley, NJ, to cancel my account. The representative wanted to help me keep my credit card. I said “no,” but he kept putting words in my mouth. I said “cancel.”
I made no charges, and paid off the amount due prior to the visit. It keeps charging me interest, etc. L.K.
Dear L.K.: I contacted Capital One for you, and the company said it fixed all your problems.
I guess two wars didn’t prepare you for battle with corporate America. Anyway, thanks for fighting for us. It was my pleasure fighting for you. Stay well.