Why you should regularly check your statements

arealhighlander

Last night while tootling about on t'internet, I decided to update my Quicken (I use Quicken for all my banking, accounts, investments etc.) and I went onto the Post Office credit card site to update the transactions I'd done.

The Post Office card is the one I use when I go on holidays only because they do not charge for foreign transactions. When I went on, I found 5 or 6 transactions between 7 and 15 December for Amazon online, Marks & Spencer in Bournmouth, a place in Belfast, Institute of something or other in London, and various other purchases! About £1000'sworth.

We were in Thailand on holiday during that period. So, I was straight onto the stolen card line to get it cancelled. They said no problem, that was it cancelled and to speak to Customer Services who were open on the 27th.

Fine. 30 mins later I checked the account again and ALL of the bogus transactions had disappeared from the online statement. How bizarre, how did they know which ones were bogus and which ones weren't? As I had used the card in Thailand around the 15th for 3 purchases, and they were still there.

I'll monitor the statement over the next few weeks till I get the new card.
I'm not sure I know where the number was stolen. I first used the card on 1st December when I checked into the hotel in Thailand, to cover any charges during our stay, and didnt use the card next until the 15th when we were in Bangkok. But if it was stolen in Thailand, why were all the bogus purchases in the UK (and one in Belfast)?

I cant remember which onr I used, but I used a card when I checked into the Yotel in Gatwick on the 30th Nov on the way down, again, a swipe to cover any charges. Theres a good chance it was the Post Office card as I only had 2 credit cards with me on holiday and the PO one is the one I usually use for holidays. So it may have been there.

So a good lesson to all to regularly keep an eye on all of our credit card statements and dont just wait until the bill comes in once a month! Also another good reason why I use specific credit cards for specific purposes (e.g. one for holidays, one for Internet purchases) as some transactions are riskier than others and at least it narrows the damage down to one card!
I will speak to Post office CS on Thursday and let them know where I think the number got stolen from.