Credit Card... Le Weirdnezz...

Katsunami · 05-07-2014, 05:00 PM

Some time ago I took advantage of the re-usable 75-90% codes Kobo had handed out, and bought 108 books. Now, I was looking through my credit card transactions and noticed something strange regarding one of the bills. Normally it works like this:

REPORT OF APRIL 2014
Transaction 1: €10
Transaction 2: €10
Transaction 3: €10
PAYMENT, LAST REPORT: -€78 <- This would be the total of the report of March

So, the total of a month will be billed in the month thereafter; this month, the deduction would be €78, next month it would be €30. So far so good.

Now, I see this:

PAYMENT, LAST REPORT: -€193

Deduction of €193. So, I go back one report, to the one that should add up to €193. Hey. The Kobo spree month. That wasn't €193, more like €60 or so.

*count, count, count* 108 Kobo transactions... all are €0.44 or €0.50... two other transactions... looks good. Total: €64.

Maybe I missed something.
*Scan all the lines... all amounts are like €0.45-50, except for one of about €10*
*count, count, count* -> €64

Damnation. Check all months after, and all months before.

*count, count, count* -> report adds up to X, and X was deducted the month after. Correct.
* Rinse, repeat. Count my fracking brains out *

Result: everything correct, but the Kobo month was billed for €193, while there is €64 on the report.

I'm going to take a look into this at the bank tomorrow, but is there something I could be missing; some sort of hidden fee that is not in the report but added afterward or something?

Any ideas?

gabby98 · 05-07-2014, 05:28 PM

could be that your bank is charging you a foreign transaction fee for each of the transactions. That's why i stopped using my card and always use PP with Kobo transactions. I was getting charged an extra dollar per

Katsunami · 05-07-2014, 05:41 PM

I expect such a charge to be on the report. Also, ALL of my transactions with the credit card are foreign; mostly Germany, UK or US, either direct (Amazon, Feedbooks) or through PayPal (everything else, basically).

Katsunami · 05-08-2014, 08:30 AM

It's fixed.

I forgot some Delphi books and two presents I bought, and the report on the internet was not complete. It seems to stop at 120 entries. (Of which 108 were Kobo books already

) I called the bank, and they were able to tell me the transactions; the two biggest ones (which I did do) account for over 90% of the 'missing' money.

Incomplete reports. Mèèh.

Jessica Lares · 05-08-2014, 09:27 AM

This is why I do finances the ol' school way... With an app that I fill out manually on my iDevices.

It helps when stuff like this comes up.

gabby98 · 05-08-2014, 10:59 AM

Glad to hear it was actually something you did and not some random using your info.

i just had to file a complaint because someone used 'my card' (which is still in my wallet by the way) to buy $94 (USD) of gas 5 states away. My co-worker had two random charges (from the same state mind you) on his card a week earlier as it turns out. His card is also still in his wallet. Things is I never even use that card online, save once on amazon (i think it was) and months ago at that.

pdurrant · 05-08-2014, 11:30 AM

Many years ago (good grief, 30 years ago!), when I was a student, I was unwittingly the cause of some 'phantom withdrawls'.

My bank card got damaged, so I got a new one from my bank. It had a different number on it, but had my full name. My balance when I checked it at a cash machine seemed a little bit different than I expected, but not enormously. However, after a couple of weeks using the card, making the small withdrawls I needed as a student, I did raise the issue with my bank.

It turns out they'd issued me with a card in my name and with my PIN but with someone else's bank account details on the card....

The balances got adjusted and I got a new card. With the proper details.

Whether they fixed the systems to stop something like that happening again, I don't know.

HarryT · 05-08-2014, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It turns out they'd issued me with a card in my name and with my PIN but with someone else's bank account details on the card....

A card that takes money out of someone else's account seems ideal to me!

gabby98 · 05-08-2014, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A card that takes money out of someone else's account seems ideal to me!

Yea, unless it's your account or you get caught and have to pay it back to someone else.

calvin-c · 05-08-2014, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabby98

i just had to file a complaint because someone used 'my card' (which is still in my wallet by the way) to buy $94 (USD) of gas 5 states away. My co-worker had two random charges (from the same state mind you) on his card a week earlier as it turns out. His card is also still in his wallet. Things is I never even use that card online, save once on amazon (i think it was) and months ago at that.

Some banks will contact you over such 'remote' usages. And if they can't contact you they'll put out a 'seize & destroy' order on the card. Happened to me a number of years back. Strangely it never seemed to occur to the bank that the same circumstances (usage in 'remote' areas, unable to reach the card holder via phone) fit someone on vacation at least as well as someone who's card (or card #) has been stolen.

eschwartz · 05-08-2014, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin-c

Some banks will contact you over such 'remote' usages. And if they can't contact you they'll put out a 'seize & destroy' order on the card. Happened to me a number of years back. Strangely it never seemed to occur to the bank that the same circumstances (usage in 'remote' areas, unable to reach the card holder via phone) fit someone on vacation at least as well as someone who's card (or card #) has been stolen.

I would assume that is why they call you to check. And surely it is better to temporarily lose access so that in other situations you don't lose all your money...

I am pretty sure you can call them in advance to say you will be in _____ on vacation and any charges from there should be cleared.

Purple Lady · 05-08-2014, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I would assume that is why they call you to check. And surely it is better to temporarily lose access so that in other situations you don't lose all your money...

I am pretty sure you can call them in advance to say you will be in _____ on vacation and any charges from there should be cleared.

With a credit card you can't lose all your money, not in the U.S. anyway. You're only liable for $50. That's why I only use credit cards for any charges, not debit cards. I get cash back too so I make money by charging everything. You just need to make sure you don't spend more than you can afford.

FizzyWater · 05-08-2014, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabby98

i just had to file a complaint because someone used 'my card' (which is still in my wallet by the way) to buy $94 (USD) of gas 5 states away. My co-worker had two random charges (from the same state mind you) on his card a week earlier as it turns out. His card is also still in his wallet. Things is I never even use that card online, save once on amazon (i think it was) and months ago at that.

Did you shop at Target last winter? Or Michael's (craft store)? Or Neiman Marcus? All those brick-and-mortar stores had credit card breaches - and I think they all happened last year.

gabby98 · 05-08-2014, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Did you shop at Target last winter? Or Michael's (craft store)? Or Neiman Marcus? All those brick-and-mortar stores had credit card breaches - and I think they all happened last year.

Huh...didn't know that about Michael's (I don't think). Another place both myself and co-worker frequent is Meijer's, but I can't remember hearing anything about them either.

AnemicOak · 05-08-2014, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabby98

Things is I never even use that card online, save once on amazon (i think it was) and months ago at that.

There are of course a bunch of ways to have your number compromised without using it online.

05-07-2014, 05:00 PM	#1
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Credit Card... Le Weirdnezz... Some time ago I took advantage of the re-usable 75-90% codes Kobo had handed out, and bought 108 books. Now, I was looking through my credit card transactions and noticed something strange regarding one of the bills. Normally it works like this: REPORT OF APRIL 2014 Transaction 1: €10 Transaction 2: €10 Transaction 3: €10 PAYMENT, LAST REPORT: -€78 <- This would be the total of the report of March So, the total of a month will be billed in the month thereafter; this month, the deduction would be €78, next month it would be €30. So far so good. Now, I see this: PAYMENT, LAST REPORT: -€193 Deduction of €193. So, I go back one report, to the one that should add up to €193. Hey. The Kobo spree month. That wasn't €193, more like €60 or so. count, count, count 108 Kobo transactions... all are €0.44 or €0.50... two other transactions... looks good. Total: €64. Maybe I missed something. Scan all the lines... all amounts are like €0.45-50, except for one of about €10 count, count, count -> €64 Damnation. Check all months after, and all months before. count, count, count -> report adds up to X, and X was deducted the month after. Correct. * Rinse, repeat. Count my fracking brains out * Result: everything correct, but the Kobo month was billed for €193, while there is €64 on the report. I'm going to take a look into this at the bank tomorrow, but is there something I could be missing; some sort of hidden fee that is not in the report but added afterward or something? Any ideas? Last edited by Katsunami; 05-07-2014 at 05:06 PM.

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05-07-2014, 05:28 PM	#2
gabby98 Wizard Posts: 1,751 Karma: 2667650 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Android, Nook Simple Touch, Nook Color, ..., Glo	could be that your bank is charging you a foreign transaction fee for each of the transactions. That's why i stopped using my card and always use PP with Kobo transactions. I was getting charged an extra dollar per

05-07-2014, 05:41 PM	#3
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	I expect such a charge to be on the report. Also, ALL of my transactions with the credit card are foreign; mostly Germany, UK or US, either direct (Amazon, Feedbooks) or through PayPal (everything else, basically).

05-08-2014, 08:30 AM	#4
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	It's fixed. I forgot some Delphi books and two presents I bought, and the report on the internet was not complete. It seems to stop at 120 entries. (Of which 108 were Kobo books already ) I called the bank, and they were able to tell me the transactions; the two biggest ones (which I did do) account for over 90% of the 'missing' money. Incomplete reports. Mèèh.

05-08-2014, 09:27 AM	#5
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	This is why I do finances the ol' school way... With an app that I fill out manually on my iDevices. It helps when stuff like this comes up.

05-08-2014, 10:59 AM	#6
gabby98 Wizard Posts: 1,751 Karma: 2667650 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Android, Nook Simple Touch, Nook Color, ..., Glo	Glad to hear it was actually something you did and not some random using your info. i just had to file a complaint because someone used 'my card' (which is still in my wallet by the way) to buy $94 (USD) of gas 5 states away. My co-worker had two random charges (from the same state mind you) on his card a week earlier as it turns out. His card is also still in his wallet. Things is I never even use that card online, save once on amazon (i think it was) and months ago at that.

05-08-2014, 11:30 AM	#7
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,511 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	Many years ago (good grief, 30 years ago!), when I was a student, I was unwittingly the cause of some 'phantom withdrawls'. My bank card got damaged, so I got a new one from my bank. It had a different number on it, but had my full name. My balance when I checked it at a cash machine seemed a little bit different than I expected, but not enormously. However, after a couple of weeks using the card, making the small withdrawls I needed as a student, I did raise the issue with my bank. It turns out they'd issued me with a card in my name and with my PIN but with someone else's bank account details on the card.... The balances got adjusted and I got a new card. With the proper details. Whether they fixed the systems to stop something like that happening again, I don't know.

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