Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Pre-authorizing cards for something before tomorrow?

C

Cubsfan

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 19, 2007
116
146
I just got a text from AmEx's Fraud Department. Today, Apple charged $1 on the card I use for everything iPhone related. Apple doesn't sell anything that's exactly $1, so it can only be a pre-authorization check. Perhaps they are starting to pre-authorize cards for something tomorrow? Interestingly, my account doesn't show the charge yet (probably won't show up until tomorrow).

Of course, the obvious other answer is that someone stole my card number and is buying something from Apple. Hopefully it's not this :)
 
They shouldn't preauthorize your card if you haven't initiated a transaction
 
If Apple, or any company for that matter, were preemptively checking any card I may or may not have on file before I even thought about buying something then Apple, or whatever company, and I would have a very big problem.

What company do you think charges people, even a dollar, before they release a new product? Where in your book of "ok" does that idea even sit? Are you somehow ok with a charge appearing on your card by Apple because you believe they somehow know you want to buy a product that has not yet been announced? Are you somehow ok with a company authorizing a charge on your card because of something that will be announced say tomorrow but may not be available right away? If you are then I'd like to sell you some beach front property in Idaho.
 
Cubsfan said:
Perhaps they are starting to pre-authorize cards for something tomorrow? Interestingly, my account doesn't show the charge yet (probably won't show up until tomorrow).
Click to expand...


The people at Apple are smart, but I doubt they are clairvoyant. I suspect it's actually fraud or a computer glitch. Goes w/o saying, but keep an eye on future charges.
 
That's a common fraud technique ... someone has your card number ... I'd get a new number.
 
^ It sounds almost as though the OP dismissed it even though Amex Fraud Dept called.
 
jessica. said:
^ It sounds almost as though the OP dismissed it even though Amex Fraud Dept called.
Click to expand...

Not at all. Apple unfortunaly can't tell me anything about my account today, so I have no way to verify if they charged me or not. So, all I can do for right now is speculate until they get back to me. Obviously I'm going to keep an eye on my account, and take action if they didn't.
 
Cubsfan said:
Not at all. Apple unfortunaly can't tell me anything about my account today, so I have no way to verify if they charged me or not. So, all I can do for right now is speculate until they get back to me. Obviously I'm going to keep an eye on my account, and take action if they didn't.
Click to expand...

Speculate on a charge from Apple that you did not initiate? I'd be speculating after I got a new card from Amex. It's entirely up to you of course but to me I would not hesitate when it came to such a charge.
 
^ There's a sound thought actually. I've had stacked codes for 3 years so I wouldn't know, that and I don't store my card for that event to take place. However, that does make some sense.
 
Cubsfan said:
I just got a text from AmEx's Fraud Department. Today, Apple charged $1 on the card I use for everything iPhone related. Apple doesn't sell anything that's exactly $1, so it can only be a pre-authorization check. Perhaps they are starting to pre-authorize cards for something tomorrow? Interestingly, my account doesn't show the charge yet (probably won't show up until tomorrow).

Of course, the obvious other answer is that someone stole my card number and is buying something from Apple. Hopefully it's not this :)
Click to expand...

That is SO weird that you mention that! I just ordered the 3GS today (for data plan) and was charged like $210 and I see that on my credit card. But there is also a random $1 charge after it from Apple. Does this always happen when you buy an iPhone online?
 
I'm with Jessica on this one. Get new card, stop wondering if the old one has been compromised. The bank will be happy to avoid the headache of reversing bigger charges later if that UFO $1 pre-auth was a "test" hit before someone goes about making fraudulent charges. Plastic is cheap, processing fraud reversals is expensive.
 
I've gotten the random $1 charge from Apple as well. I don't really remember what happened with it, though. I was on the MobileMe trail and I think it was around that time, but I am not sure of the actual date.
 
grantsdale said:
The AmEx fraud department calls all the time, and its never anything.
Click to expand...

Yah a few different times, Citi called when I had ordered a bunch of stuff from Apple online store, most of which was in stock, and shipped on the same day from different warehouses, so my one order turned into multiple same-day transactions from Citi viewpoint I guess. All this for a bunch of little stuff like extra adapters, cases, cables or whatever. Apparently Citi thinks multiple "transactions" in one day means someone hocked your card? But they didn't call me the time someone decided to stick one fraudulent purchase for a couple hundred bucks onto one French website. So that one we later had to go through the paperwork and card cancellation gig. Go figure.
 
Maybe you were "sleep-ordering" last night on the Apple store? Getting that iPad you've always wanted before the AT&T unlimited wireless goes away?

And . . . go Astros.
 
You don't have to worry about the $1.00 charge as this is standard operating procedure for almost all companies pre-authorising your credit card and is not an indication that your credit card has been stolen or compromised. You will never actually see the amount on your credit card statement and the only reason you are seeing it now is because you are looking at your account on-line. In a day or so it will disappear from the on-line location never to be seen again. Don't take the bad advice of those telling you to close your account and get a new credit card number as this is totally unnecessary.

There are a number of reasons why Apple may be pre-authorising your credit card. Most likely, some subscription or the other that you have with them (eg: MobileMe, iTunes, service contract or whatever) is probably coming up for renewal. It may also be simply that they are testing your current expiration date or other information on file.

If it was someone stealing your information on your card they would more than likely try and charge a real item of low value for an odd amount (McDonalds is a favorite test vendor) and not a company like Apple for an even $1.00.
 
I just noticed that I have the same thing. I remember it being on there before (last weekend I believe) and I do not think anything happened. I have MobileMe, but it does not expire until December.

I will be calling my bank tomorrow because that article is scary!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back