Amazon.co.uk Address Verification?

[Richard Hammond]

Trying to order some high value stuff from Amazon and i just got the email:

  Quote

Dear Customer,

Your Amazon account including order (#xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx) has been placed on hold as we require further verification to allow us to process your order in a timely and secure manner.

For us to process and complete your order you will need to fax us the information below relating to the card used to place this order, as we are unable to verify your address as your card issuer has declined our request citing legal and privacy reasons.

To ensure your fax is handled in a timely manner, please send the following information:

• A copy of your bank or card statement for the card used, including billing address

• The last 4 digits of the payment card

• Your name, e-mail address, phone number and order number (#xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx).

Please note that this information must be sent via fax as we are unable to accept attachments via email. For ease of processing, please write your order number and e-mail address clearly at the top of the fax.

===========================================

Fax – 0208 636 9326(UK only)

International Fax - +44 208 636 9326 (outside the UK)

===========================================

Any password information is not required.

Please do not place a new order as this may result in additional delays and you may not receive further notification. Be advised your order will be on hold for a maximum of 4 days after which time it will be cancelled.

Thank you for your patience with our security measures.

Sincerely,

Account Specialist

Amazon.co.uk

==================

Is this legit?

  Quote

from address-verification@amazon.co.uk <address-verification@amazon.co.uk>

to "xxxxxx@googlemail.com" <xxxxxx@googlemail.com>

cc "orders@amazon.co.uk" <orders@amazon.co.uk>

date 23 September 2010 03:05

subject Important notice, response required: Your order cannot be dispatched.

mailed-by bounces.amazon.com

Signed by amazon.co.uk

[Mr. Gibs]

  Quote

as we are unable to verify your address as your card issuer has declined our request citing legal and privacy reasons.

That bit struck me as odd =/ Everytime you buy something online using your credit card, the billing address should be checked. Not all retailers do that but I've never heard of a credit card company / bank denying access to your billing address if needed.

But, just incase, give them a call and ask before faxing them your information.

[Richard Hammond]

Yeah thats what threw me, the header info "looks" legit, i will give them a call.

[DanLeto]

Seems legit, that number is on the Amazon UK website.

[Richard Hammond]

Yeah just spoke to customer service, dunno why they have to do this no other site ive ordered off for higher value than im trying to buy from Amazon holds my account and my orders till they can verify my address, bloody inconvience.

[MikeChipshop Member]

Something similer happened to me when Barclays froze my account due to unusual spending... i bought a pizza which believe me was hardly unusual for me.

It wasn't Amazon but another company that asked for address verification.

So it turned out to be more a problem with the bank than the vendor.

[Richard Hammond]

Funny you say that my bank is Barclays :/

I dont want to brag but im going to be spending a lot over next week and they are going to block all the high value stuff and make me ring them to verify the transaction so they can unblock my card, thats going to be really embarassing stood at the front of the queue trying to pay......

[Nicholas-c Veteran]

i bought some pricey stuff about 2 years ago just after i came back off holiday and my bank blocked my account until i phoned them, It's annoying but saves your arse from someone overspending on your behalf i guess.

[shaun05]

barclays always phone me whenever i try and spend a few hundred ? on stuff online. Bit of an inconvenience but it keeps me from worrying about some one stealing my card details and spending all my money as they will phone me. but i dont think they have ever stopped a transaction going through from a real shop

[Richard Hammond]

Amazon are a joke, i faxed all my information across and they are still taking the ****, every shop i order from is fine, i spend £3k on another online shop and they verified my information without having to block my account or my order.

When i try and ring them i get some foreign call center who cant understand what im saying, i asked them if my order was cancelled (because there were only 2 in stock when i ordered and i ordered both and i wanted to know so i could order elsewhere) and the woman on the phone told me that she would email the account specialist because i wanted to cancel my order?

Idiots.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

My bank did this to me a while back, they flagged my card when I bought a new PC. Pain in the arse.