Want to know how to find out about credit card purchases? Here's everything you need to know.
We've all been there when a quick balance check turns into an investigation.
"I didn't make that transaction" comes to mind when you find a strange-looking account in your transaction history. Whether it's the name, the price or the date that looks a little different, it's something that can be easily checked.
We've put together a few things to consider the next time you find yourself in this situation. If you're not sure whether a transaction is suspicious or not, you may want to take the following steps.
And if you know that a transaction is suspicious, contact your provider immediately. Here's how to find out about credit card purchases.
How to discover purchases made on credit card
Go online and search for the account name/number
If you can't find out about a transaction based on the date, fee or receipt, you can always search for the name of the account debiting the funds online and find out about them that way.
Several companies have registered business names that are different from the store or website URL, and a quick web search can clear this up in an instant.
Compare your receipts
This may seem obvious, but it can save you a lot of trouble by cross-referencing the transaction history on your account with your receipts.
Compare the numbers on the bills, check the price and note the company name on the receipt, as some traders appear by their registered business name or parent company name instead of the name on the shop window or business name.
Double-check transaction dates
One that applies more to online transactions, but can still apply to in-store purchases, is the date on which a transaction is processed on your card.
Depending on factors such as the location of the receiving company, time of day of purchase and transaction clearances, funds may take a while to leave your account after a transaction is confirmed. Online purchases can take at least 24 hours to appear.
If, after all this, you're still not sure about a particular transaction in your account history, your credit card company is only a phone call away!
How to find proof of purchase for an item bought with a credit card
Using a credit card is an efficient way to keep track of your purchases. Whether you pay by credit card in person at a store, online, by phone or by mail from a catalog, proof of your purchase is easy to locate.
You may lose or throw away your receipt because you don't think you'll need it, but then you need proof of purchase to exchange the item or receive a refund.
Step 1
Look at your credit card statement every month when you receive it. It will have your proof of purchase in the list of transactions, with reference number, date of purchase, store and total amount charged to your account.
Purchased items are not listed separately on your statement, only the total sales figures. However, this will give you a reference of when the item was purchased.
Step 2
Search your credit card company's website for your online statement. Once you've found the statement you need, you can print it out as proof of purchase.
Step 3
Call your credit card company if you don't have an online account or if you never look at your statements and throw them in the trash.
Ask for copies of the statements to be sent to you. There may be a minimum charge assessed, so ask your credit card company before making your request.
Step 4
Send an e-mail to your credit card company and explain what proof of purchase you need. They can review the statements and send them to you in a return e-mail.
Step 5
Ask the store where you bought the product to scan the credit card you used and see if your purchase can be picked up. Some stores have systems that show the proof of purchase attached to the card, in case you don't have the receipt.
Now that you know how to find out about credit card purchases, if you liked our tips above, leave a comment on our post and tell us about your experience.
