•  I know I have plenty of funds in my account, but my card keeps getting rejected.
Why?

There are many reasons why a card may be rejected. The common reasons are:

[ ] The 3 or 4 digit security code supplied doesn't match the one on file at your bank
[ ] Your funds may be on hold, and not available at this time
[ ] Your bank may have a limit on how much you can charge in a day or a week
[ ] Your bank may require additional authorization to accept web-based transactions
[ ] The name on the card may not match what you typed in

We only check for matching name, card number, security code, expiration date and card type.
It does not matter what your current billing or shipping address is on file –
we don't match on that information.

If your card keeps getting rejected, contact your bank and ask them about the transaction.

•  My card was declined, but when I checked my bank, you're taking my funds!

There's no need to panic. Yes, the funds appear to be "on hold" for us, but we're not going to
take them at this time. This "on hold" condition is temporary, and will go away by itself after
a few days – or if you instruct your bank to release the funds and cancel the hold.

This event happens once in a while, and can be unnerving. But here's how it happens:

[ ] You place an order online, and submit the credit card information with your order
[ ] The credit card information is electronically encrypted and sent securely to our credit card
processor (Authorize.net), who is our clearing house for on-line orders
[ ] Authorize.net contacts your bank, and verifies that the funds are available and that the account is valid
[ ] If the account is valid and there's enough funds, a “hold” is put on the account – “Pending Settlement”
[ ] Your bank sends back secure information to Authorize.net, which then does an
additional security check and confirmation
[ ] If everything is good, the transaction is approved and all is well – but…
[ ] If Authorize.net declines the transaction, you'll see the message on the order screen
[ ] Finally, Authorize.net will send a message to your bank to “drop the hold” and release the funds –
but this can take anywhere from 2 to 5 business days!

Most of the time, the hold is released before you check it – but sometimes, there is a delay
in the processing of the request at your bank, giving the impression that we are
taking your funds when we shouldn't.