MrHard - 9:05 am on Feb 24, 2010 (gmt 0)

Got to put yourself in the place of your customer. Would you want to be charged for a purchase a week before the item is shipped?

There are many people out there who watch their statements online and know exactly when a charge is made. They sit on the computer waiting. They call in and want shipping info, and will sometimes complain if the card is charged early.

Actually it's a pretty obscure regulation that is in the banks fine print and I always find it strange that people will complain when there is a 30 day window until before you have to pay a credit card bill anyhow. Some people just need ammunition to hold against you if something is not shipped as soon as they would like.

Have had several times when this resulted in losing orders and having to credit back the amount due to irate phone calls and arguments over exactly when the card was charged.

I believe you can get around the regulation by stating in your policy exactly when cards are charged, if you want to play a legal game.

Better answer is, if you don't want to be charged, don't order it. If you want to complain about your card being charged, then we cancel your order, and you get a refund.