Home > Blogs > Sharon Young > Living in the Philadelphia suburbs

Do You Check Your Credit Card Statements?

By Sharon Young

Real Estate Agent with Ivy League Mortgage Philadelphia, Pa

June 23, 2008 09:16 AM

Do you check your credit card statements, every item on every statement, every time? Do you check your credit cards?

I'll admit, I'm not very diligent with this chore, but that's because I know that hubby will do it. He is the type that checks every receipt in every store (before he leaves) and probably 80% of the time, he finds a mistake. Just yesterday, in a drugstore, he found a $4.00 mistake. Hey! That's almost a gallon of gas for goodness sake!

While the DH was going over my last statement he noticed $14.95 being charged every month for the last 6 months! It was a "Rewards Program" from an online printing company. In addition, there was ANOTHER $14.95 a month for ANOTHER (but different) Rewards Program from the same online printing company.

$30.00 a month! For what?!?!? I have no idea what this was. I have never received any "rewards" either in the mail or online. I was furious to say the least.

So, when I called, I was VERY polite ans asked just exactly what this "program" was and how did I get lucky enough to be part of it? Well, it seems that I must have "clicked on something at some point" that registered me. Well! There you go. That explains it! Are you kidding me?

When I asked why I have never received or heard of any of these elusive "rewards"... I was told that that is "very odd".

Ok ... enough. Cancel immediately and give me my money back. The fight that I was prepared for never came. No problem, sorry for the inconvenience. I'll have a full refund in 3 to 5 days, so says Sue.

How easy it was to get my money back just proves to me what a scam this. Just throw these charges out there and hope that no one notices? Is this even legal?

I had a similar experience with my cell phone carrier because supposedly at one time or another I texted 34569872**** (or some such crap) and was now being billed ten bucks a month because they felt like it. I got my money back on that one too.

Sheesh ... now I am paranoid. CHECK your statements.

Photo: Steve Woods

Comments(12)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD

A doctor who makes house calls.

I had a $500 charge from google on my card. I had never bought anything. When we investigated further they said I bought a firewall from somewhere in Texas (I live in MD). I have never bought anything for the computer in my life. When we tried calling them the number was disconnected. We had to change my cards and call in the fraud squad and everything so definitely check your statements.

Jun 23, 2008 09:20 AM

Chuck Christensen

Your Financial Coach - Bellingham, WA

I can't even count the amount of times the credit card companies have added "credit protection" to my cards without my permission. Then when I call them they say "because you need to protect your credit" and "we did call you and you authorized it" But when I ask them for proof, they say that they can easily change it if I don't want it....without even an arguement.

I wonder how many times it gets paid without question...obviously alot if they are still trying it.

Jun 23, 2008 09:27 AM

L. Wayne Denton

Denton Properties, Inc. - Loganville, GA

I have a handle on your market!!!

Try playing games like that with AOL and you will know you have been to war. Glad to see the new you and know you are out there. Good post but, should I ask what DH means? Not sure I want to know. Hopefully it's for Dearest Hubby or something like that.

Jun 23, 2008 09:28 AM

Sharon Young

Ivy League Mortgage Philadelphia, Pa - Southampton, PA

Wayne - exactly! DH = darling hubby! yes he is ;-)

Stacey-Ann ... I *hope* you got your money back!

Chuck - "I wonder how many times it gets paid without question" - EXACTLY! What a scam

Jun 23, 2008 09:36 AM

I thought "DH" was for Designated Hitter! or designated Husband...same...lol

Jun 23, 2008 10:08 AM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thanks for the info. I will make sure I check every statement carefully.

Jun 23, 2008 10:11 AM

Lu Kalaj

Vision Realty Centers - Brighton Township, MI

Great advise... and it is something I do all the time. Thanks for commenting on my blog. Lu

Jun 25, 2008 12:48 PM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Great info!

I haven't had credit protection added to my bill, but once or twice a year I will find some billing that I didn't authorize, and need to get reversed.

Jul 05, 2008 10:38 AM

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

OMG - I'll bet it was Vista Print! I had the same problem and it took me two months to catch it. I wrote to them and asked for a refund, but they said absolutely not. I will never, ever ,ever use them again and I'll tell anyone who asks not to as well. Great PR, eh?

Jul 09, 2008 11:32 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments. We have to watch every little thing any more, don't we?

Jennifer .... BINGO! How many people never catch it .....

Jul 10, 2008 12:15 PM

Chuck Willman

Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT

NewHouseUtah.com

The other thing to look at is the change of due date. Some companies have been moving their due dates up a few days. Next thing you know you have a late payment and a rate increase.

Aug 03, 2008 04:29 AM

Pat Whitehouse

RE/MAX 1st Olympic Lynchburg Va - Lynchburg, VA

Broker/Owner

Sharon-Thank you for the wake-up call post. I checked mine right after reading this. It is amazing all the ways there is for people and companies to try to take our hard earned money. It feels like we all have to be on our guard all the time.

Aug 07, 2008 04:52 AM

Do You Check Your Credit Card Statements?

Comments(12)

Sharon Young

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information