$3,143.33 for Chinese food

[Jenny3]

Yes, you read that right! We were accidentally charged over $3,000 for Chinese food last Sunday

We paid with our Visa check card over the phone; my bank account showed the correct charge ($31.43) and the incorrect one ($3,143.33). I called the Chinese restaurant Monday and they said they noticed the mistake and cancelled it out of their system that day. But the funds are still on "hold" in my account, which is causing a TON of problems with my bills.

Our checking account has overdraft protection and is protected by our savings account. So now money is being pulled from there (along with the $10 overdraft fee each time) for bills/checks I already had scheduled or mailed.

Is there any way to recoup the cost of this mistake? My bank is aware of the issue. Do I have to contact Visa? The Chinese restaurant? Do I have any recourse here?

 

[MariDisney]

Yes, you read that right! We were accidentally charged over $3,000 for Chinese food last Sunday

We paid with our Visa check card over the phone; my bank account showed the correct charge ($31.43) and the incorrect one ($3,143.33). I called the Chinese restaurant Monday and they said they noticed the mistake and cancelled it out of their system that day. But the funds are still on "hold" in my account, which is causing a TON of problems with my bills.

Our checking account has overdraft protection and is protected by our savings account. So now money is being pulled from there (along with the $10 overdraft fee each time) for bills/checks I already had scheduled or mailed.

Is there any way to recoup the cost of this mistake? My bank is aware of the issue. Do I have to contact Visa? The Chinese restaurant? Do I have any recourse here?

What a nightmare!!! Can you temporarily move money from your savings to checking to cover what bills will hit the account for the next week or two so that you're not getting hit with that $10 every time?

 

[deserrai]

I would talk to my bank about the overdraft charges. My bank doesn't charge fees and doesn't even consider it an overdraft if there is a preauthorization on my account that causes the balance to be negative. They would only charge me fees when the preauthorized charge actually posted.

 

[kalc12345]

Call you bank they should be able to fix it. I had something similar happen and the bank was able to call the other bank and they took the charge off right then.

 

[Pooh2]

Yikes!! What a headache!

 

[pigletto]

If your bank won't fix it, then I feel the Chinese food place should have to. They made the mistake and should cover the fees that they caused because of it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Yes, you read that right! We were accidentally charged over $3,000 for Chinese food last Sunday

We paid with our Visa check card over the phone; my bank account showed the correct charge ($31.43) and the incorrect one ($3,143.33). I called the Chinese restaurant Monday and they said they noticed the mistake and cancelled it out of their system that day. But the funds are still on "hold" in my account, which is causing a TON of problems with my bills.

Our checking account has overdraft protection and is protected by our savings account. So now money is being pulled from there (along with the $10 overdraft fee each time) for bills/checks I already had scheduled or mailed.

Is there any way to recoup the cost of this mistake? My bank is aware of the issue. Do I have to contact Visa? The Chinese restaurant? Do I have any recourse here?

Contact the bank ASAP and see if they will waive the fees. Good Luck.

THIS is why I don't use a debit card.

 

[disneychic2]

Talk about Chinese food giving you indigestion!! But I think if you ask the fees to be waived, they will work with you on that since you made them aware of the problem from the get go. And having overdraft protection with your savings account should mean no fees, shouldn't it? After all, there is money to cover everything. Sorry this happened. Good luck to you!

 

[ljcraw555]

I know that with the overdraft protection from PNC Bank (which pulls from your savings) charges $10 each pull.

 

[Sagginit]

i would also find out from the bank if you get a letter faxed to them if they can release the funds early. if so contact the restaurant ASAP to write up the letter stating it was a voided transaction. compensation is also a tricky one. i think since they are at fault as they pushed through the transaction for the incorrect amount, not you, they are responsible but who knows if they will offer you anything. how much is it? if it is a lot then look into small claims court, if not try to bargain with them to see if they will give you anything (like a gift certificate would be better than nothing if it's like $50).

 

[JB2K]

Is there any way to recoup the cost of this mistake? My bank is aware of the issue. Do I have to contact Visa? The Chinese restaurant? Do I have any recourse here?

Did you save the sales draft (credit/debit card receipt)?

Communicate with both your bank and the Chinese restaurant -- I am sure the restaurant owner/manager doesn't sell over $3K in a single transcation (which should be sending-up red flags at your bank, given this being a small business).

No need to contact Visa, as they are only the payment network -- the main parties in this siutation are you/the Chinese restaurant/your bank.

Also, if your bank drags their feet and they are one of the "big ones", be sure and tell us about them, so we can all pay attention to that bank..

 

[jgreco]

Ugh, this is why I don't use my debit card anywhere. I had a similar thing happen at a Chinese restaurant also.

 

[Leajess99]

Yes, you read that right! We were accidentally charged over $3,000 for Chinese food last Sunday

We paid with our Visa check card over the phone; my bank account showed the correct charge ($31.43) and the incorrect one ($3,143.33). I called the Chinese restaurant Monday and they said they noticed the mistake and cancelled it out of their system that day. But the funds are still on "hold" in my account, which is causing a TON of problems with my bills.

Our checking account has overdraft protection and is protected by our savings account. So now money is being pulled from there (along with the $10 overdraft fee each time) for bills/checks I already had scheduled or mailed.

Is there any way to recoup the cost of this mistake? My bank is aware of the issue. Do I have to contact Visa? The Chinese restaurant? Do I have any recourse here?

Ref the bolded, I don't understand why your bank would charge you the $10 since you have the money in your savings. That is ridiculous. I would go into the bank and talk to the bank manager about the issue as they should give you back the money they are taking.

I am sorry you and your family are going through this.

 

[Colleen27]

I would talk to my bank about the overdraft charges. My bank doesn't charge fees and doesn't even consider it an overdraft if there is a preauthorization on my account that causes the balance to be negative. They would only charge me fees when the preauthorized charge actually posted.

This. I have checking accounts at 2 different banks (one national, one local) and that's the policy at both. Overdraft protection doesn't kick in based solely on a pre-authorization; it comes into play only when the charges post to the account.

 

[POOHsie]

Ugh, this is why I don't use my debit card anywhere. I had a similar thing happen at a Chinese restaurant also.

I mostly agree with you. The only place I use my debit card anymore is the grocery store/Walmart, and that's to get cash back. Everything else is paid with a CC, including internet purchases. I worry about card skimmers, other fraud, and errors, as OP experienced. There's more protection by using a CC instead of debit card. I use a CC from the same bank as my checking & savings for restaurant, gas, & other retail purchases. I can go online and see itemized postings to all 3 accounts at the same time, and move money around as needed.

 

[Swimalie]

Contact the bank ASAP and see if they will waive the fees. Good Luck.

THIS is why I don't use a debit card.

Amen! And why I don't have overdraft protection. Then they just refuse a check (no debit here) and don't use the overdraft as an excuse to pull money that they know is not there and charge you a fee each time.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Good luck.

My daughter had a similar experience...also with a Chinese Restaurant (Rang up a $6.00 bill as $600.00) Her debit card was also with a big bank.

Big bank waived some, but not all of the overdraft charges. ($30 per overdraft).

She was stuck paying $150 OOP.

We will not bank there anymore.

Chinese Restaurant was a chain in an airport. Called corporate office. Faxed them bank statements several times. Got nowhere.

We will not eat there anymore.

 

[Jenny3]

OP here... talked to the manager of my bank today; she attempted to get the $3k hold pulled off the account, but was not allowed because of the high dollar amount. I think it's a third party company that authorizes it. Thankfully, it is scheduled to expire at midnight tonight, so tomorrow it should be gone.

She is also going to reimburse me for the overdraft charges, which will be a total of $50-60

It was PNC Bank, btw.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Contact the bank ASAP and see if they will waive the fees. Good Luck.

THIS is why I don't use a debit card.

Exactly! You have so much more protection when using a credit card. (They can't get to your cash.)

 

[Leajess99]

OP here... talked to the manager of my bank today; she attempted to get the $3k hold pulled off the account, but was not allowed because of the high dollar amount. I think it's a third party company that authorizes it. Thankfully, it is scheduled to expire at midnight tonight, so tomorrow it should be gone.

She is also going to reimburse me for the overdraft charges, which will be a total of $50-60

It was PNC Bank, btw.

So glad that it will work out. Insane that PNC charges $10 to move your money from one of your accounts to the other. I used PNC once upon a time and ran into an issue with them so I moved my accounts to the Credit Union.