watch your statements

I tend to keep a pretty close eye on my bank accounts, this month I’m relieved I do. A couple of weeks ago, having logged onto my account, I found I was a poorer than I expected.

I drilled down into the details and found someone had been on a shopping spree to the tune of £400 in a London supermarket and record store using my current account.

Very strange I thought; the card had been in my wallet all day, I wasn’t working in London, and I only use credit cards for internet / mail order type purchases.

I called the bank explained the situation double checking it wasn’t a head office of a store I had shopped in. It wasn’t so I cancelled the card and logged a call with the disputed transactions team.

I have to admit I was expecting it to be a long haul to get my money back but was pleasantly surprised.

5 stars and an A+ to LloydsTSB - within a couple of days forms arrived for me to sign confirming the transactions were not authorised and a new card arrived. A couple of days later my account was credited by the disputed amounts, whilst it is being investigated.

It’s still going to be some time before the case is closed, but still it’s worth keeping a regular eye on your statements and alerting your bank to anything you don’t recognise early on.

Watch your statements