Dell declined my credit card- difficulties buying from Dell business when not actually registered as a business?

I was attempting to buy a Dell Vostro 1510 yesterday, but Dell sent me an email saying they have declined my debit card due to incorrect details. Apparently this is something they've done to quite a few people.

It may be due to my having to supply a company name because I was buying through Dell business, and them expecting the company name I gave to be part of my official debit card address, which it is obviously not. I don't have an officially registered business.

In any case they are not being very helpful about it. I updated my details on my account on the website and removed my 'company' name and have asked them to try and redo the payment, but so far getting no response. I'm considering phoning them but I doubt that they will understand what I'm talking about and of course I will have to deal with the tricky aspect of my not really being a business, but ordering through dell business.

I'm concerned that they will ask me to repeat my order now that the special offer on the laptop is expired.

Anyone else here had any problems with declined payment, or with ordering through Dell business when they are not a business?

 

Hi Morgoth,

I tried to order a Dell Studio 17 twice last week using my Debit Card, and it was rejected on both occasions. I ended up having to use a Credit Card instead. Called my bank and queried why it had been rejected, and the lady on the phone read from her 'script' about how certain companies may be refused for security reasons and then hung up on me.

Never did find out why, or what the security reasons were, or why Dell was refused in particular - I have used the same card online for years, with never a problem

 

Thanks for the response. Oh dear, I hope it's not due to its being a debit card, because I don't have a credit card! Like you I've never had a problem with my debit card for online purchases. They keep calling it a 'credit card' on the site right enough.

I can use the credit card of someone else in my family maybe, but in that case would need to change name details, etc, etc.

 

I phoned up my bank and they said it's not even coming up as having been declined, no sign of the attempt at payment at all. Not sure what that means.

 

Sounds like Dell is not very nice Sounds as if they just sent it back as it was a debit card and then followed that by lying to you

 

Yeah...come to think of it, now that you mention it, my bank never did actually confirm that an attempt had been made to charge the card - just 'certain companies may be refused for security reasons...' etc.

I think it must be something to do with Debit Cards. I am frequently told that you shouldn't use them online, credit cards are safer and offer more protection. So when ordering something as expensive as a laptop you're probably better to use a credit card if you can.

 

Probably because no business would buy a notebook with a debit card just use a credit card...

 

I have bought a few things from Dell business without being a business. I would say don't use the debit card link when paying and just run it as credit.

 

I just bought a Vostro 1310 from Dell - I am not a business, and I used my Visa debit card....I am typing this from my Vostro right now..

Sounds a bit odd for Dell to do that?!

 

If you are ordering the computer from the business division, and the credit card is in your name, you should use your name as the name of the business for the billing address. You should have no problems. As to whether they accept debit cards for business purchases, I'm not sure.

 

I always thought that we had to make up a business name to order from Dell business?

 

I have now been on hold with Dell credit card resolution for 1 hr and 20 minutes and still holding. My CC company noticed "unusual" CC activity and declined a Dell online purchase Fri evening until I contacted the CC company (not that unusal of a purchase, stellar credit score, and virtually no balance kept on the card). Did that and agreed to the purchase but Dell wants me to contact them to clear it up. Now 1 hr 22 min on hold with Dell CC resolution. Thinking of cancelling the purchase.

 

It turns out the transaction was also declined by my bank for being 'unusual'- even though they'd previously said they couldn't see any evidence of its being declined. I found out when my *next* online purchase with this debit card also was declined. Apparently actually buying expensive things with my debit card has become evidence of fraud. *rolls eyes*. I managed to get the other online purchase to go through after telling them it was ok, but the Dell one's still on hold as far as I know.

Meanwhile, Dell still haven't, as far as I know, cancelled my order, despite my asking them to.

I'm not trying again now until I find out whether or not the laptop expenses will be covered by funding I might get. Seems I will have to tell my stupid bank that yes, I do mean to buy the thing I'm trying to buy, before buying.

 

Strange, if my cards have ever had a problem i would get a call from them to confirm that i made the purchase. Weird your bank just denied it without contacting you. Maybe its time for a new one?

 

I didn't have a problem with my Amex Blue Card, I had to agree to pay sales tax since I didn't have a business but my purchase went through just like buying from Dell's Home Office division.

 

The only way you can not pay sales tax is if you are going to resell it and charge the sales tax.