Anybody else getting charged for 'free' books?

[AikiPen]

I just got my credit card statement and between May 17 and June 14 I have been charged between .01 and .03 cents for 16 various so called 'free' books. Now granted the total amount is less than a quarter, still an outstanding bargain for books, but I thought they were supposed to be free. When I purchased the books the confirmation said FREE. Why are they showing up on my credit card? I also keep a gift card on my account and they are still charging my credit card and not the gift card. If they are charging me a penny or so for each of my 'free' books what other things are they doing behind my back? Very disappointing.

[Sun_Cat]

I don't see anything like that on my statement covering approximately the same time period. I know I've "bought" a number of free books during that span.

[flyingtoastr Scribe]

To encode the DRM on ebooks BN will sometimes "ping" your CC with a tiny transaction and then rebate your card the same amount immediately. If it isn't happening call customer support (1-800-THE-BOOK) and they should be able to take care of it.

[MacMcK1957]

I've never seen pennies.  I've seen a $1.00 hold charge that shows on my account for a day or two then disappears again. In the end, I've never been charged for a free book.

[javabird]

I have not seen these charges on my CC..

[frantastk]

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javabird wrote:

I have not seen these charges on my CC..

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Not all CC companies show these charges. I know mine doesn't show them on the printed statement they send me, but they are listed on my account when I view it online. They don't always show up. For B&N (other places do it, too) it is $1 that is listed as pending, that will very quickly (always the same day) disappear from the online statement. Actually, if I don't log in to my bank right after I make the purchase I frequently don't even see the pending charge listed at all, it disappears that quickly from my bank. My bank has only recently even stated to show these.

For the record, I have never ever been charged for a free book at B&N and I have bought hundreds over the past 2 years. Maybe I've just been lucky, I don't know.

[AikiPen]

I've been buying Nook and free books for over 2 years also and this is the first time it has shown up on my CC. I always keep a gift card on my account so charges for books don't go to my CC. Nothing has changed over the past couple of years, it is the same credit card and everything. Don't know why I'm getting charged for 'free' books now.