Fishy Check Card Expenditures

Septus

I'm going over my bank history online and I see an expenditure that looks really, really odd. Presumably, I'm supposed to have 100% "protection" against fraudulent expenditures. Any ideas as to the best way to check on an expenditure like this before trying to claim it was a mistake? It was at a restaurant, about three weeks ago, for about 5 times what I would ever spend there, especially since I don't ever go there with more than one other person. I could call the restaurant, but if they don't tell me what the purchase was on the receipt, would Visa have a copy of the receipt for records purposes?

grungebox

Septus wrote: »

I'm going over my bank history online and I see an expenditure that looks really, really odd. Presumably, I'm supposed to have 100% "protection" against fraudulent expenditures. Any ideas as to the best way to check on an expenditure like this before trying to claim it was a mistake? It was at a restaurant, about three weeks ago, for about 5 times what I would ever spend there, especially since I don't ever go there with more than one other person. I could call the restaurant, but if they don't tell me what the purchase was on the receipt, would Visa have a copy of the receipt for records purposes?

Most restaurants will tell you what was on there, especially if you tell them you're afraid it's a possible case of fraud. They usually keep those things in the computer for just such occasions, at least in my experience. But call them during non-peak hours, and make sure you get a manager.

Visa probably won't have the copy of the receipt. I think they only keep info such as time, place, amount, and so forth.

EDIT: If I had to guess, the restaurant typed in the amount incorrectly. They don't charge your card till later (so they can add the tip to the total).

Shogun

What the poster above me said, or your waiter got a bit creative on the tip line.

Call the restaurant.

blanknogo

Just call Visa. Visa will send out a receipt request (a charge-back, I believe) to the restaurant who will then have to send proof of the purchase (receipt, your signature, etc.) to Visa within a certain time frame. If they don't, or if the proof doesn't backup the charge, they'll refund you your money. If it was a legitimate charge, they won't refund your money. There's no need for you to handle it on your end, and you'll probably find it difficult to get any help anyways.

Septus

And what about the places that don't require you to sign?

Shogun

Septus wrote: »

And what about the places that don't require you to sign?

Wait you purchased something at a restaurant using a visa credit card or debit card?

Either way you should have to sign a receipt. Unless the restaurant offers punching in your pin number at the table or checkout or whatever you should've signed something.

grungebox

Septus wrote: »

And what about the places that don't require you to sign?

You have the date and amount based on your statement. They still have a receipt in their system, so they should be able to pull up the transaction.

MushroomStick

Shogun wrote: »

Septus wrote: »

And what about the places that don't require you to sign?

Wait you purchased something at a restaurant using a visa credit card or debit card?

Either way you should have to sign a receipt. Unless the restaurant offers punching in your pin number at the table or checkout or whatever you should've signed something.

Some fast food places will only have you sign receipts over a certain dollar amount because below whatever threshold they decide would cost more to research and dispute than it would to just eat the loss. Doesn't sound like this would apply to the opening post's situation though.

Iceman.USAF

This happened to me once. Apparently its not uncommon for the wait staff to mistakenly charge your card with someone elses bill. I would call the restaurant, explain the situation, show the receipt (if you have it) and ask to see their records of what you signed. The place that it happened to me at was a fairly upscale place which I had been having a few drinks at with friends, and I got charged like $50 (and I spent about $15). So yeah, it happens. Just be nice, ask to speak to the manager on duty and then the financial person if they don't understand what you're saying.