Ok. So on 8/19 I ordered a washing machine from Home Depot since the one we had suddenly quit. Chose the Paypal payment method with Pay in 4 option, applied, got approved and got redirected to the HD website where I added the service to haul away the old washer for $50. I was then redirected to the payment page where I chose the same Paypal method of payment and then redirected back to the HD site for the shipping address. Since I live in a different zip code than the Home Depot I chose as "My Store", I was redirected yet again to the payment page and yet again chose Paypal and pay in 4 and FINALLY completed my order with Home Depot. I was good to go for my new washing machine with a delivery date of 8/23 or so I thought...
After the ordeal of ordering I checked my bank account and saw THREE separate pending charges totaling nearly $700! Checked Home Depot to make sure I didn't inadvertently order 3 washing machines and luckily I hadn't. Then I checked my email and saw that I had a new pay in 4 plan that factored in shipping charges incurred when I completed my purchase with HD. Even though I was low in funds with my bank for now I wasn't too worried about the extra pending charges in my bank account since they should disappear in a few days. THEN I get an email yesterday 8/21 from Paypal saying "Your Paypal Pay in 4 plan payment didn't go through". WTF?!?!? This was for a payment for the adjusted bi-weekly payment because of the shipping charges tacked on at the last minute by Home Depot. I would love to make the payment but I can't because of the insufficient funds in my bank account due to multiple pending hold authorizations and I fully intend to make the payment as soon as the pending charges fall away.
I'm just wondering why Paypal charges before a transaction with a merchant is complete and final? Why put the consumer at risk of being late on payments because of authorization charges? And will my ability to use Pay in 4 be affected in the future because of a late payment to Paypal was a direct result of Paypal sucking my bank account dry for the same exact purchase?
