09.21.07 | Problems with Credit Card Billing? Call them up!
Has this happened to you? You just received your most recent credit card statement and are taking a gander through your monthly charges - Starbucks? Check. McDonalds? Uh huh. Best Buy? OK. Candy’s Candles of Cream? Hello? Um, never heard of it. Someone has your card number and this needs to stop.
Steps to take:
- Call your credit card - They’ll cancel your card and should have no problem negating the problematic charges.
- Edit your accounts - Does Amazon have this card number? Delete it. Same with your cell phone provider, Paypal, and anyone else.
- Get a new card…and be careful! - Feel free to get the same one, but you may be able to find something with a lower interest rate or better rewards. Take a look with our credit card finder.
How might this have happened? A few ways - someone stole it through an online purchase, an unscrupulous, undertipped waiter/waitress wrote it down, your wallet was “borrowed”, etc. So, keep your passwords private and your cards with you as much as possible.
One thing to keep in mind: if this was a debit card that was stolen, you may have a bigger fight on your hands. Since these charges come right of your account, it may be trickier to prove illicit charges. I’ve spoken about these cards before.
Now, instead, let’s say you were mischarged for a purchase. This certainly does happen. First, you could go to the place of business that took your card. If you have a receipt, you’re golden. If not, and your positive the bill was incorrect, it’s another opportunity to contact your card company. They usually need some type of proof, so hopefully you’ve got that receipt.