The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: montmil on August 17, 2009, 08:14:41 AM
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OK. The ordeal took ninety days+ but it has been properly resolved.
Early summer, I ordered some R65 parts from a well-known vendor in England using my credit card. And, as has been my prior experiences, the parts arrived in quick time and 100% correct. Perfect transaction.
In due time, the credit card statement arrived and my wife, as is her habit, went over the charge list with her proverbial fine toothed comb.
'alf a mo'... What's this? Besides the expected charge from the English supplier, there was another much larger charge from the same vendor; one I had not made nor authorized.
Emails flew trans-Atlantic and the English assured me they had no such charge from me on their books. Next step was a letter to the card company along with the completed disputed charge form on the back of the monthly statement.
I was soon advised that the questioned charge would be investigated and I was not required to pay the amount unless it was proven that I had actually made the purchase/charge. Fair enough. wait, wait, waiting...
Ultimately, the charge was removed from my account and I was satisfied with the results on this side of the Atlantic. Across the Pond, things were playing out differently.
It's only a strong suspicion on my part, but very soon after I contacted the English vendor, their website posted a notice for an Immediate Opening in their spares department. Hummm...
Perhaps there are folks who pay their monthly charge card bill without even briefly scanning the list of charges; I know I've been guilty of such back in my financially casual bachelor days, but no more.
Check 'em over closely. Someone was betting a Colonist would not.
Monte
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I had a problem with having a clutch rebuilt, and transmission overhauled on my '81 R65 about 2 years ago, and found out a little bit about how far a credit card issuer would go to protect you .
To make the story short, Citibank will not let you dispute charges for services, that were not performed in your state of residence, or more than 200 miles from your residence, regardless if it was still in your state of residence .
So if you break down on a road trip, far from home, you have no recourse if the work performed is unsatisfactory .
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For what it is worth, I have heard several warnings in the past couple of months to carefully scrutinize all credit card statements if you have engaged in any credit card transactions in Europe (and never to use a debit card in any such transactions). It seems that there has been a great increase in the extent to which the numbers are getting pilfered and used over there. Their internal security may not be up to the standards that we expect here in the US.
k_enn
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To make the story short, Citibank will not let you dispute charges for services, that were not performed in your state of residence, or more than 200 miles from your residence, regardless if it was still in your state of residence .
In other words, research your credit card issuer carefully. Most treat the federal statute as the most they have to do to protect their cardholders; a select few go considerably beyond the statutory requirement.
For that reason, there is one major credit card (no names mentioned for my own protection) that I will not use, even though I've held the card since 1986. The reason: a well-documented story about a thirsty American tourist who walked into a European establishment in mid-afternoon, ordered a glass of orange juice, and was charged several thousand US $$ on his statement long after his return home. The credit card company refused to reject the charge. I think the tourist might have finally succeeded in deleting the charge, but if he did, it took months of constant effort.
The sad thing about Monte's experience is that the vendor in question has an excellent reputation for both price and service. Alas, the same cannot be said about Bob's credit card issuer. (There's a scatalogical rhyming nickname for that company that comes to mind as being particularly appropriate.)
There are reputable credit card companies. But like Diogenes looking for an honest man, to find one requires carrying a lighted lantern at midday.
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same thing happened to me, bought rear shocks for my GSX1400 from Aussie supplier, they took 4 weeks to arrive (he had to bring them in from overseas) when they arrived i was happy...but when i got my credit card statement at the end of the month he charged me twice (but the second charge was a lesser amount), so i rang him straight away, & as it turned out he charged me for someone's else's rear shocks. He credited the amount to me with no hassle, BUT someone in aussie had received a FREE pair of shocks, well until the supplier traced him down.
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After my debacle with Citibank, I contacted the Airheads Beemer Club, and BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, and gave them the story about two of their advertisers (Southland Clutch and Motorworks, both in the San Diego, CA. area), and never received any kind of response from either of them .
I had to file complaints with the local Better Business Bureau, before any return contact was made by either business about resolving the issues I had with the work performed by both of these shops .
I have since let my membership in the ABC expire, and plan on doing the same to BMW MOA, when my subscription expires next July .
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For what it is worth, I have heard several warnings in the past couple of months to carefully scrutinize all credit card statements if you have engaged in any credit card transactions in Europe (and never to use a debit card in any such transactions). It seems that there has been a great increase in the extent to which the numbers are getting pilfered and used over there. Their internal security may not be up to the standards that we expect here in the US.
k_enn
We've just been warned to check all transactions with America apparently they've found a scam in a processing company which has been going on for years the claimed that 150 million cards had been cloned and sold on......back to bartering for me.
My wife checks all our stuff and once found that the transactions on our statement didn't add up they were about 25 pounds out i contacted the bank and they said don't worry about it as its in your favour !! that was not the point if there computer cannot add up were all in the s""t
Lou
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Credit cards are evil, I have had a few circumstances over the years that have left me with a very bad taste in my mouth.
There is too little control on the the side of the user and for that matter on the side of the merchant but crooks seem to have no problem navigating the financial systems of the world.
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There is too little control on the the side of the user and for that matter on the side of the merchant but crooks seem to have no problem navigating the financial systems of the world.
Thats because the financial system is run by crooks
Lou [smiley=shoot.gif]
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There is too little control on the the side of the user and for that matter on the side of the merchant but crooks seem to have no problem navigating the financial systems of the world.
Thats because the financial system is run by crooks
Lou [smiley=shoot.gif]
I think your on to somethin' there!
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I recently begun to use PayPal for more and more online purchases. So far I'm very satisfied wit the security of the program and ease of use.
Monte
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I check my credit card and bank accounts every two days, just to be on the safe side .
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I had a problem with having a clutch rebuilt, and transmission overhauled on my '81 R65 about 2 years ago, and found out a little bit about how far a credit card issuer would go to protect you .
To make the story short, Citibank will not let you dispute charges for services, that were not performed in your state of residence, or more than 200 miles from your residence, regardless if it was still in your state of residence .
So if you break down on a road trip, far from home, you have no recourse if the work performed is unsatisfactory .
So basically, I - living in the good first state of Delaware- would be totally screwed as there isn't a BMW dealer here?
Good thing I:
1. Have done all my own work to date.
2. Have a capital one card.
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So basically, I - living in the good first state of Delaware- would be totally screwed as there isn't a BMW dealer here?
Well think of it like this Missile, it doesn't really matter because even if there were a BMW dealer in Delaware they still wouldn't work on an R65. We have two "full service" dealerships in this market and they won't touch a bike more than 10 years old. That seems to be the trend driven by BMW Motorrad, they want to sell more new bikes. [smiley=furious3.gif]
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I recently begun to use PayPal for more and more online purchases. So far I'm very satisfied wit the security of the program and ease of use.
Monte
Paypal used to take my payments from my credit card now theve changed to direct debit from my bank account is this the same in the USA?
Lou
ps Monte is that a label round your neck in the new avatar?? does it say return to sender?
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Lou
ps Monte is that a label round your neck in the new avatar?? does it say return to sender?
You funny, Lou. And the answer is no. It's the mandatory 1981 R65 centerstand booster; 3/4-inch bit of plywood goes under the rear tire and makes it easier to grunt the bike up on the stand. [smiley=beer.gif]
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Lou
ps Monte is that a label round your neck in the new avatar?? does it say return to sender?
You funny, Lou. And the answer is no. It's the mandatory 1981 R65 centerstand booster; 3/4-inch bit of plywood goes under the rear tire and makes it easier to grunt the bike up on the stand. [smiley=beer.gif]
mmmmm gonna git me one o them bet it could be used under the stand on soft ground too...no flys on you guys.
Lou [smiley=idea2.gif] [smiley=idea2.gif]
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Well think of it like this Missile, it doesn't really matter because even if there were a BMW dealer in Delaware they still wouldn't work on an R65. We have two "full service" dealerships in this market and they won't touch a bike more than 10 years old. That seems to be the trend driven by BMW Motorrad, they want to sell more new bikes.
[Sigh] How sad! That used to be BMW's distinctive competence, the willingness and ability of dealers to work on older bikes (plus the availability of parts for them). By contrast, in my geographic area (Virginia suburbs of DC) I used to hear rice mill jockeys lament that there's no advantage to riding a bike with a reputation for superior dependability and durability when (1) dealers refuse to work on a bike that's >5-6 years old, and (2) parts become difficult or impossible to obtain for bikes of the same age.
Makes me want to drown my sorrows.
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So basically, I - living in the good first state of Delaware- would be totally screwed as there isn't a BMW dealer here?
Well think of it like this Missile, it doesn't really matter because even if there were a BMW dealer in Delaware they still wouldn't work on an R65. We have two "full service" dealerships in this market and they won't touch a bike more than 10 years old. That seems to be the trend driven by BMW Motorrad, they want to sell more new bikes. [smiley=furious3.gif]
Oh I actually have a great BMW dealer fairly close that would be very happy to work on my LS, they are located in Jessup Maryland about 65 miles South of here; Bobs BMW. They claim to have the largest inventory of airhead spares in the US and to date I haven't needed a part which they didn't have in stock. Bobs has this promise of "Heritage Service" though I have been told they do try to avoid larger resto type jobs during the busier summer months.
Altritter- you haven't ever worked with Bobs? The shop is likely about the same distance North of you as it is South of me.
That said I prefer to do my own tinkering; though its good to have them nearby, just in case.
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As far as spares sources and availability, I feel we Airhead aficionados are still much more fortunate than our brethren whom worship in the Chapel of St. Lucas, the Lord of Darkness.
Monte
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Altritter- you haven't ever worked with Bobs?
Yes, I have. In fact, I bought my bike there a couple years ago. Both Bob's (Jessup/Fort Meade, MD) and Morton's (just south of Fredericksburg, VA, on US 1) service airheads & have good reputations. So does Battley Cycle (Gaithersburg, MD), though I don't know how much airhead work they do now. I'm pretty much equidistant (50 miles) from Bob's and Morton's. Problem with Bob's is that I haven't found a comfortable route to and from. It's either the insanity of I-495 around DC, or the Balt-Wash Parkway (which would be a good way, but for having to go through DC's nightmare of cycling hazards to reach it—steel plates, wheel traps, potholes, and literally tons of loose gravel on the streets).
I tend to favor an indie shop in Alexandria, VA, EuBMW (it sells a lot of mail-order parts, too). The current owner, who has a master's degree in engineering, took over the shop when his father died. (It was formerly Lap's Quality Cycle, a favorite of Washington-area BMW riders for decades). He currently has a number of vintage airheads on display or in for repair. Also, he has a to-die-for BMW/Isetta 650 in the shop for a rebuild. Cosmetically, it's gorgeous.
So, I think we're fortunate in this area in having a relatively large number of repair facilities available. I monitor the BMWMOA Airhead Forum, and from what I read, airhead riders in several other parts of the country don't have it nearly as good.