We are sorry this customer was frustrated, but we need to clarify the payment issue.
This matter involved Order 39285RW and related payment activity. The customer was notified that the original payment could not be processed through the normal checkout workflow, and Shopify provided a payment update link so the customer could update her card to process the order.
Before the order shipped, the customer advised us that dispute activity had been initiated with a financial institution. Once dispute activity was initiated, the order and related payment activity had to be handled through the appropriate bank, card issuer, and merchant processing channels rather than through normal order processing. Our policy is based on guidance from our payment processor, JP Morgan Chase Payment Solutions.
Identity Pet Nutrition has never stated that it intended to keep funds for an order that could not be processed or shipped. We also did not refuse to communicate with the customer. Our team spent several hours, late into the evening, responding to her emails, explaining the payment dispute process, and outlining the steps needed to review the order and related payment activity. We explained that while dispute activity remains active or unresolved, we cannot ship the order, void, refund, or otherwise adjust related payment activity outside of the applicable payment channels. We advised the customer that if all dispute activity was withdrawn, closed, or confirmed inactive by the applicable bank or card issuer, we could review the order and related payment activity through our normal process and issue a refund or ship the order.
Order 39285RW has been cancelled and will not ship. If all dispute activity associated with the order is fully withdrawn, closed, or confirmed inactive by the applicable bank or card issuer, we can review the order and related payment activity through our normal process, including any refund, void, or other payment options available through our merchant processor. Otherwise, because the customer advised us of chargeback activity related to the order, we must respond through the appropriate bank, card issuer, and merchant processing channels which is usually about 90 days.
We will continue to provide the relevant order and payment timeline through the appropriate bank, card issuer, merchant processor, BBB, and review platform channels. If the customer provides written confirmation from the applicable bank or card issuer showing that all dispute activity has been withdrawn, closed, or confirmed inactive, we can review the order and related payment activity through our normal process.
UPDATE: We are reviewing the updated information provided by the customer.
Order 39285RW has been cancelled and will not ship. Our records show conflicting payment status information between Shopify and the payment gateway, and we are reconciling the transaction records through Shopify, Authorize.net, and our merchant processor. The customer is in possession of records showing we cannot void/refund the transaction.
The customer has provided updated information regarding the status of the bank dispute activity, and we are reviewing that information as part of the dispute process.
To be clear, Identity Pet Nutrition does not intend to retain funds for an order that has been cancelled and will not ship. Any settled payment that has not already been reversed, refunded, or resolved through a bank dispute process will be addressed through the appropriate original payment channel once complete.
Once a customer elects to proceed through the bank dispute process, the merchant must also allow that process to run through the appropriate bank, card issuer, and merchant processing channels, and can take up to 90 days.
Because the customer has referenced bank dispute activity and legal action, we will continue handling the payment timeline through the appropriate bank, card issuer, merchant processor, BBB, review platform, and legal channels.