just got off the phone with a CSR about paying off my outstanding orders [used a pair of orders with the bogo to hit my requirements] and they are splitting them up because i have paid with "bill me later"

was supposed to be an order of the American Pie 3 pack and Charlie and the Choclate Factory deluxe [used the box set to get the more expensive deluxe Charlie free] but they arent going to send charlie out until American Pie 3 pack is paid

I have a sneaking suspicion that my order with Dukes of Hazard and Not another Teen Movie will be similarly split up

anyone else run into this headache?

Split orders and delays have been widely reported here when using "bill me later". That's why I prefer to use a credit card on each account right up front.

It's worth it. I only use "bill me later" now because of them charging the wrong amount when using my card first. I know I'll only pay what I'm supposed to with "bill me later".

I think the ideal way is to pay for each order, but tell them to just use the credit card that time. That way, if, say, an order goes out that wasn't supposed to, it won't get charged to your credit card, but you won't have problems like the above because that order will go to your credit card.

They hold some titles back when the bill me later option is chosen. They will wait for payment before sending out the other selection. I suppose they'd rather be out only 1 dvd if someone never pays. This is a way for them assuring payment, if the other disc is desired. That way they only risk losing half or whatever amount of the total order.

Risk management at it's finest.

I really don't understand the fear of having a wrong charge. In the rare cases when that happened I just called them and had the charge fixed.

The concern I would have about having a wrong charge on a "bill me later" account is that if one didn't get it straightened out one could be flagged as a customer who doesn't pay. (The same would be true if one protested a charge with the credit card company without fixing it with CH first.) That might mean no more accounts. So, a mistake has to be fixed anyway. Whether it is on a credit card account or a bill me later account wouldn't seem to make much difference.

Once, several years ago, I had the wrong charge on my account. I spoke with a supervisor and she pulled up my credit card account — not CH account but the actual card account — on her screen, verified the wrong charge and fixed it. It wasn't a big deal. I doubt that I have had more than four or five mistakes in upwards of 75 accounts. So I don't get the fear of using credit cards with Columbia House. But it sure is a commonly repeated theme in these threads. Different Strokes for different folks, I guess.

The problem is that it hasn't been rare for me. And I use a debit card since I avoid credit cards like the plague. The wrong amount may be out at the wrong time and the next thing you know you have an overdraft. No thanks.

^Yes, a debit card would be a problem unless one kept a substantial balance in the account. Debit cards are riskier than credit cards since losing one can drain the underlying bank account, whereas credit card losses are limited to $50 by law (and most card companies will waive that $50 if the loss is promptly reported). In addition, credit card companies will do chargebacks in the case of errors in billing, not that it's a good idea to do a chargeback on a Columbia House bill.

Like many here, I use cash rebate credit cards. The one I use for most purchases, including those at CH, rebates 1.5% of each purchase. For supermarkets, gas stations, and pharmacies, I use a card that gives a 5% rebate on those purchases. Needless to say, one has to pay one's balance in full each month to make these rebate cards worthwhile. (But if one can't pay one's balance in full, one shouldn't be buying frivolous things like DVDs IMHO.)

Well, any debit card worth a damn has fraud protection, where your money will be replaced if stolen. I know mine does. I wouldn't use it otherwise. I have no problem getting Columbia House to correct errors (heck, I've even gotten further discounts so they sometimes work for the better), but I don't want that money out of my account in the meantime.