Just a real quick update for everyone who is currently having issues with their Switch 2 Pre-Order through Walmart.
Walmart seems to be charging customers around 11:30 PM (your local time), and many credit and debit cards are instantly rejecting the charge as fraud. Walmart will issue an email letting you know you need to update your payment method, or else you will lose your Switch 2.
So, this is how you fix it!
Related: Walmart Re-Adding Cancelled Switch 2 Orders For Some Users
Step 1: Contact your Bank or Credit Card Company ASAP
Many Credit Cards and Banks allow you to use apps or text messages to approve possible fraud charges. Simply follow your own procedure, and get things cleared up. If the issue is not fixed on the bank or credit card's end, then you will lose your pre-order.
Before continuing, it is important to note that Step 1 is the most important part, with step 2 and 3 being optional, and based on the issues you are facing. If you do not follow Step 2 and Step 3, a Walmart customer service rep stated that they will attempt to charge your card again once the Switch 2 is about to ship out. With Switch 2 consoles now shipping out, we have now confirmed this to be true; however, some customers continue to have issues without following steps 2 and 3. So those of you who simply fix your card, in theory, you should be safe, but following the additional steps will result in you being charged right now.
It is up to you if you want to take the risk or not, but we just wanted to give everyone a heads up before it is too late.
Step 2: Remove Your Card and Re-Add It to Walmart
Once you have fixed the issue on your end, the next thing Walmart recommends you do is remove your card from your Walmart account and re-add it. In my personal case I am a Walmart + member, so I had to add a second debit card to my account, just so I could remove my primary payment method. Once I did this I simply went back into my account, clicked add "new" payment, and re-entered my original card.
Step 3: Update Your Payment Method On Your Switch 2 Order
The final step is to open up your Switch 2 pre-order, click Edit Payment Methods (they allow you to only do this once), and select your freshly added card. The moment you do this you will be charged, and your order will be secured.
Additionally, if your order as a Truck icon next to it, it means the order will be shipped to you from a distribution center. If your order has a Bag icon, then it will be delivered via your local Walmart.
Related: Our Recommended Switch Games to Play on the Switch 2
Why Does Walmart Have a Temporary Hold and Not a Full Payment?
Please note that all charges when using Walmart.com will be a Temporary Hold before becoming a Final Payment. This is not a Switch 2 Pre-Order deal, and is completely standard for all orders set for delivery.
When making an order, a Temporary Hold will be charged to your Bank or Credit Card, and it will remain "temporary" until some time after your order is delivered. This can take hours, or even days for it to switch over to a "final payment." When this does happen, Walmart will keep the majority of the hold amount, and will refund any extra they might've initially charged.
For example, if an order is $140, Walmart may put an initial hold of $150 instead (to cover any additional expenses that may arise based on your location and local store pricing/tax differences). Once the order is delivered, and the payment is switched over to a final payment, they would refund the $10 difference they originally took out.
This applies to both pre-orders and standard Walmart delivery orders, and applies to the Switch 2 as well.
In short, if your payment states it is only a Temporary Hold, do not fear as this is 100% normal.
Why did Walmart Charge Me Twice!?
Some customers are reporting a second temporary hold is being placed when the console ships. If this is the case, your credit card or bank will have two holds placed. The first hold will be canceled and credited back to you typically within a week or two, while the second hold will be used for your purchase. To avoid issues, ensure you have the funds available for the second hold! Do not cancel the first hold, as this may cancel your Switch 2 order; wait for the hold to expire.
Unfortunately this seems to be an issue with Walmart's pre-order system. The first hold may also be canceled once the Switch 2 is delivered, so customers may not need to wait too long for their "refund." We will know more on this tomorrow once the Switch 2 is released, and we will revised this article once we know more.
Update: After delivery both charges appear to still be pending. Again we will make a revision once something changes. Our Switch 2 was delivered roughly at 6:30 AM, so be on the lookout if you live near a store.
Why did I get Pringles and a Drink?
Not really related to the Switch 2 directly, but some Walmart orders are coming with complementary Pringles and a drink! Enjoy! (We got Hot Ones and Avery's Coke!)
IT WORKED
ReplyDeleteThese steps work and you're an effing hero! You should edit the article to note that Walmart customer support will tell you that there's nothing wrong with your order - I contacted them twice prior to contacting my credit card company and both times I was told that there were no issues with the order, yet I still continued to receive emails from Walmart telling me that there's an issue with my payment. I contacted the credit card company and they confirm that my account had no issues, so I went ahead and removed/re-added the card on Walmart.com, updated the payment method on my order and voila - I was immediately charged in full. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteReally happy to hear everything went okay for you! Hope you enjoy the Switch 2!
DeleteOn another note, some users are getting a second hold placed on their order, so I've revised the article to include the information I was provided. In cases like these the first hold will be returned to you, but it is especially annoying for those who used a bank account. Credit cards? Not a big deal (unless your limit is an issue), but a bank is going to keep hold of your physical funds until the hold expires.
Hopefully you aren't hit with this issue as well!
Hello! Followed your guide on getting the fraud charge situated, and as you stated, the charge went through (at least I'm assuming, since the money did leave my account..)
ReplyDeleteHowever, this morning, I received an email stated to please update your payment method. Panicked, I looked over my preorder, and it's been moved from "placed" to "preparing, arriving June 5th by 10PM" and I looked at my bank statements, and there hasn't been an attempted secondary charge on the statements, just the pending charge that occurred the day I fixed my fraud flag charge.(which should and I hope was the actual charge and not just a second hold) I really hope it's nothing to worry about, as I also heard contacting customer service gets your order cancelled...
If your order now says preparing then everything should be good! It shouldn’t move onto that status if there was an issue
DeletePost a Comment