Express Replacement Service - Continuing issues with my iPhone 16e

My last post was deleted by the administrators -- hopefully this question respects their rules. For those of you who have used Apple's Express Replacement Service to replace a faulty device, has it been your experience that Apple will release the charge on the credit card if the item is backlogged? If that is their normal approach, do they just reissue the charge when the items is finally available to ship? Or do I have to fill out a form again for them to process the shipment? And if a new form is needed, do I have to initiate this? I have been on the phone and chat with Apple for 4 hours today trying to find out when the item will ship and what to expect next (status has not changed since the service was authorized by Apple -- I learned of the backlog only by being persistent with the calls/chats today). After the call ended, I noticed that the charge which had been showing on my card since the Express Replacement Service was initiated last week was no longer there. My credit card company verified that Apple canceled the pending charge. I have chatted back about this with Apple but my trust has been truly tested on this entire mess and all they can see is that the replacement is in process. They do not have an answer about this mysterious cancellation of the credit card charge and its potential impact on not-so-express replacement service. Any advice?