billed for putting in credit card info on free account?!

I just changed my credit card info because I wanted to buy some lindens and I needed to use a different card. Before I even bought anything I got a phone call that the credit card was used (I guess bc it is a charge from the UK?) and it said it was a $1 charge for something to do with second life. I don't know why it did that but I okayd it because otherwise they wanted to suspend it or something to make sure it wasn't a fraudulant charge. But I didn't buy anything for a dollar, all I did was add the credit card. (I did buy some lindens after) Please help!

ETA Got my answer through the phone I didn't realize I could call until now sorry. But if anyone has the same problem - they randomly charged some people by accident and can take the charge off of the account but I assume you have to call them.

There's probably a US$1 credit on there, too.

When you add a credit card, they poke it with a US$1 charge then reverse the charge, just to make sure that it works.

edit: Why was I charged $1.00 on my credit card?
This is not an actual charge, but an authorization that we request from your credit card company.

Once the authorization is received, which confirms the account is valid, we then rescind the authorization.

At no time is the US$1.00 actually charged, though the authorization may appear on a credit card statement as such.[/quote]">https://support.secondlife.com/ics/support/security.asp
[quote]Why was I charged $1.00 on my credit card?
This is not an actual charge, but an authorization that we request from your credit card company.

Once the authorization is received, which confirms the account is valid, we then rescind the authorization.

At no time is the US$1.00 actually charged, though the authorization may appear on a credit card statement as such.[/quote]

This is usually just a $1 authorization... it is usually put through in anticipation for a charge. In this case, there will be not corresponding charge following so the authorization will drop off.

i changed my card info, and my free basic account has been charged £11.95 which i believe is the premium membership charge? does this mean that free no longer means free?

Ok, now I have an even worse problem.

It says I owe them 9.95 USD for my free account! The only thing that I can figure is that I did buy lindens but once they went through I took off the credit card information bc it doesn't need it to stay up since it is a one time charge (plus was with 2 different credit cards) however, it wasn't a total of 9.95 to begin with it was 5 something and 5 something.

Please help!

Hmm that didn't show up in the edit, so this is the second attempt at editing. I will try again for anyone who ends up with the same question - they accidentily charged some random people with free accounts and they credited me back, I didn't realize you could call them for support.

Why would you remove your credit card?

Are you sure it was for lindens? Go to your Account, and click on history. Go back and see what you spent.

Are you an alt? Have they possibly started charging again ?

Even though it has been resolved I though I would answer what you asked, it was for USD and is my only account. And I don't like my credit card info being online if it doesn't need to be (I know it's secure but I'd rather not) and that way I also can't get charged accidentily for anything (ie I saw a negative 9.95 fee whereas I'm guessing if my card was in there I would have gotten charged that amount and not even realized it). Plus I couldn't keep the first up anyway because I ordered lindens on two different cards.

Thanks for your help anyway Didn't know I could get it fixed on the phone. I was just really worried since the online support for basic account doesnt have a choice for billing questions (which I don't understand thats an important thing)