Summer brings chaos to personal finances. You are buying patio furniture. I’m booking a plane ticket. A bank statement is like a grave of events. Amidst the noise, it’s easy to overlook small but important mistakes.
Double charging.
It happens. Click on the card. Your device is flashing red. Then it flashes green again. I walk away thinking this is okay. After 2 days, the charge will appear twice. The immediate reaction was panic. You thought the money would run out forever.
Don’t panic.
We have time. Most people don’t know this, but European banking regulations provide a huge safety net. We cannot do anything about billing errors. If the bank cannot prove the validity of the charge, there are legal mechanisms to force the bank to investigate and return your money.
13 months protection for European events
The EU has strict payment service regulations. The purpose of these laws is to protect consumers from unauthorized or incorrect transactions. The most important thing for your wallet is your schedule.
If a double charge occurs in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have 13 months from the date of the transaction to dispute it.
This is not advice. This is a regulatory requirement. The banks should look into the matter. You must prove that you have authorized the transaction. If you cannot provide concrete evidence that you agreed to pay the amount in question twice, you must reverse the charge. This includes any overdraft fees or interest incurred as a result of an error.
The logic is simple. The burden of proof is on the bank, not you. They have the information. They do the accounting. Only the final numbers are shown.
70 day international payment trap
Summer is also a time for tourism. The rules change if you travel to the US or buy from a non-European website.
In transactions outside the European Economic Area, the 13-month period disappears. Instead, stricter deadlines were set. Generally, you only have 70 days to dispute a charge.
This distinction is very important. Many travelers believe that their rights are the same everywhere. it is not. If you pay for a hotel in Mexico and get charged again six months later, it’s probably too late. The conditions for cross-border transactions are stricter.
International spending must be monitored more closely. Don’t wait until the end of the quarter to verify your account. In Japan, you won’t be charged twice until you remember your password.
How to submit a dispute correctly
Verbal complaints are ineffective. Even if you tell the bank teller that the charge was incorrect, it is unlikely that you will get a refund right away. Written records are required. Documents are required.
This is the process.
Gather the evidence first. Take out your bank statement. Highlight overlapping events. Note the date. Note the exact amount. Pay attention to the company name. If you have the original receipt, keep it. If not, this statement is your primary evidence.
Second, put your claim in writing. Don’t call. Use the secure communication system of our online banking portal or send us a registered letter with a return receipt. Typing creates a timestamp. It made a record. This prevents the bank from claiming that it has not received your complaint.
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