What to do if extra money was debited from the card

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

There is less and less cash in wallets because it is more convenient to use the card. But what if the money disappears from the card in an unknown direction? Why this happens and what to do, read in this article.

If extra money was debited from the card, this could happen for two reasons. The first reason is favorable - a technical failure or the peculiarities of working with foreign banks. In this case, a refund can be achieved, but you have to wait. The second reason, unpleasant - theft. Scammers and phishers are on the alert, and in this case, you will have to fight for the missing money.

You can return the money, but you need to hurry.

According to the law (No. 161-FZ, article 9), you must apply to the bank with a statement that the money was debited without your participation, immediately or the next day. If you are late, the bank will not be held liable for your missing funds.

Let's consider each of the options in more detail.

Charged off extra money when buying in an online store

It is possible that there was no debiting of funds from your card, and the store simply froze funds twice for the same order at checkout and at shipment. This does not speak in favor of the store, but you can cope with the problem.

Call the hotline, outline the situation and ask the operator to put you in touch with a specialist who is competent in this matter. Call-center employees do not always know the whole situation, but they are obliged to accept your verbal statement: when and in which store the purchase was made, when the funds were authorized and when the amount was re-blocked. Inform that you are asking to return access to the amount blocked by mistake. If the blocking was not canceled immediately, remind yourself with calls or wait for a month, the money must be returned.

Sometimes, when buying in foreign currency from a ruble card, the bank blocks more funds in order to cover the difference in fluctuations in the exchange rate, which may change during the time the operation is performed. Unused funds must be returned to your account. If this does not happen, call the operator and write a claim to the bank.

If the amount was nevertheless transferred, then the procedure will be greatly delayed. Take an account statement with all the transactions performed, checks and payment documents from the bank and contact the seller with a request to return the funds. At the same time, contact your bank with an application to challenge the operation in case the seller does not want to return the extra money.

We debited money for an offline purchase

Sometimes, when paying with a card in a store, failures occur. The payment does not go through, the seller asks to re-enter the code or pay in cash, you agree. A few minutes later, you receive a notification about the first payment made. How to be? First, keep receipts, even with a notification that the payment has not taken place. Second, go to the bank and dispute the transaction. The investigation will take time, but if you have the documents, the money will be returned. Thirdly, if you have not yet managed to leave the store, try to resolve the issue with the administrator or cashier.

ATM debited money, but did not issue cash

You inserted the card, the ATM processed the request, you did not see the money, but you received a notification about the withdrawal of funds. Rule number one: don't go anywhere. If the machine decides to give out money 3-4 minutes after you leave, someone else will receive it.

Without leaving the ATM, call the hotline and describe the situation. Ask a technician to be called in and take a picture of the ATM screen. If witnesses were present, write down their numbers.

If the bank employees could not resolve the issue on the spot, go to write pieces of paper, claims and statements. Be sure to ask to verify the collection data with the information stored on the ATM receipt tape. And indicate in the application the time of the call to the support service when you first informed the bank about the problem.

The bank must investigate and return the funds to you.

You did nothing and the money was gone

The most difficult option for obtaining funds is a banal theft. If you receive messages that funds are flowing from your card, or you suddenly find that the money has disappeared, call the bank and block the card. Then go write claims and dispute transactions. Remember: you have only one day in stock if you received a notification of the operation (if you did not receive it, the bank will be obliged to refund the funds).

At the same time, you need to go to the police station and also write a statement. In practice, it is difficult, to put it mildly, to achieve the initiation of a criminal case. But a copy of the statement with a note that it has been accepted must be attached to the application that you submit to the bank in order to indicate the seriousness of intentions. And if the amount was significant, you need to appeal the refusal order and reimburse the funds through the court.

Prepare for the fact that in case of theft of funds, you will have to fight for them. Banks do not like to make up for losses out of their own pockets. Therefore, they will prove that you violated the rules for using the card: you did not use antivirus software when you made purchases on the Internet, provided information to unknown people, or simply did not monitor the safety of information. So, if the bank refused to immediately reimburse the losses, contact lawyers and prepare the evidence base.

General safety rules

Follow a few tips if you want to protect your money. They will help you in any scenario.

1. Connect SMS notifications. This service costs a penny, but it gives you confidence.
2. Write down your bank's hotline number in the phone book. In an emergency, you don't have to look for it or waste time when the Internet connection is lost.
3. Get two cards. One is for storing funds, the other is for settlements. If you love shopping online, this advice is especially relevant. Transfer funds to the payment card only before the purchase and exactly in the amount that is required. So you will not be blocked double the amount for a long time.
4. Collect all receipts for completed transactions, even if the payment was unsuccessful. Keep proof of payment when you buy anything online.
5. Do not use ATM machines that seem suspicious to you.
6. Read in the agreement with the bank in what form you must report the withdrawal of funds. By law, if you do not follow the application form, the bank may not do anything.
7. Record conversations with hotline operators.
8. Observe the rules for storing cards.

All tips are suitable for both credit and debit card holders. Be careful and take care of your wallets!