BE VERY CAREFUL AT THIS LOCATION -- DOUBLE CHARGE & VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE…read more
If you are a tourist or using a foreign credit card, especially an American or Canadian card, check your account immediately after paying.
I strongly recommend being careful at this Zara location in Naples.
On July 27, I went to Zara to purchase one item for €9.95. I used the self-checkout, but the payment appeared not to go through. I specifically asked the employee if tapping my card again would result in being charged twice. She told me: "Do not worry, you will not be charged."
I tapped my card again -- and my credit card was charged twice.
The employee assured me that one of the charges would be automatically reimbursed within two business days. It was not.
After 15 days, I returned to the store and asked for help. The manager checked Zara's system and said I had only been charged once. I showed her a screenshot from my credit card clearly showing two separate €9.95 charges, but she did not offer any meaningful assistance and did not even apologize.
She gave me Zara Italy customer service's number, 800 924 600. Unfortunately, customer service was just as frustrating. You cannot actually call them; communication is through WhatsApp. I provided the official Zara receipt, proof of the double charge, and my personal information. Instead of resolving the issue, they repeatedly requested additional information that I could not reasonably provide.
Their chat system is extremely frustrating. If you do not respond within a short period, you are disconnected and assigned to another representative, who asks for the same information all over again. After repeatedly explaining the situation, I eventually gave up.
I also asked customer service where I could leave a review about my experience, but they refused to provide me with a link or any way to submit a review.
Eventually, I contacted my credit card company. Thankfully, they took the situation seriously and treated the second charge as a DUPLICATE/FRAUDULENT transaction, telling me that I would be reimbursed.
The amount was only €9.95, but the issue is the way Zara handled the situation. The employee gave me incorrect information, the store could not resolve the issue despite seeing proof of two charges, and Zara Italy customer service made a very simple problem unnecessarily difficult to resolve.
I expected much better from a company with Zara's reputation.