How to Save $421 with 3 Qwik Phone Calls!
Image sourced by Vitaly Gariev @silverkblack
In April, I attended a business conference and met this amazing woman Becky.
We went on three dates and at her request we even held hands. Been a long while since I did that.
She ran an advertising agency.
The connection was Amazing!
She wrote a blog on Substack, which I subscribed to for $8 a month.
I wanted to read her writing but hadn’t actually intended to pay. But the webpage layout seemed to require subscribing to read the blog posts. Maybe it was “browser jacking” or user error.
$8 wasn’t too expensive. But nonetheless. . .
Crazy enough, four amazing weeks later, out of the blue Becky said her ex-boyfriend turned up out of the blue and she had to put us on hold.
“Unfinished business” I guess. Better on her dime than mine.
Would have been easier if she had said we weren’t a good match. Oh well! Ouch!
Now and again, The Universe does some seemingly crazy things.
Turning back to Budget and Grow Rich®, I thought I had canceled the subscription but alas, another $8 appeared on my American Express® statement.
American Express customer service told me they would Not reverse the charge since I had subscribed to the blog. User error.
$8 multiplied by 12 months equals $96 per year, after-tax.
Sure glad I check my American Express® statements, Visa® credit card statements, checking account statements and bank statements every month!
Actually, I was the victim of identity theft ~20 years ago, so I check all my financial accounts at least once a week.
Who knows what’s lurking in there, especially given all the cybercrime and fraudulent charges.
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Example #2
Last May, I attended a business conference in Austin, Texas and stayed at a Hilton Hotel.
For some reason, the Front Desk failed to check me out and they charged me for an extra night, even though my reservation ended on that morning.
I called the hotel and spoke with the controller who reversed the charge.
I saved $275.
Example #3
A few years ago, I celebrated my neighbor’s son’s wedding.
I gave the newlyweds a check for $300.
For some reason, Wells Fargo cleared the check for $350.
Good thing I check my checking account statements carefully.
I called customer service and they credited my account $50.
Problem solved; money saved – $50.
With three quick telephone calls and one click, I unsubscribed to Becky’s e-newsletter; Hilton reversed the erroneous charge; and Wells Fargo credited my checking account for $50.
By monitoring my checking account and checking my credit card statements, I identified three erroneous charges and saved $421, after-tax.
Implement these 5 ways to make sure you are being charged the correct amounts and no fraudulent charges were made to your accounts:
Check your credit card statements; checking account statements; bank statements; brokerage account statements; and retirement plan account statements (401k plan, 403b plan, etc .); or web portals, Regularly.
Analyze each charge and transaction Carefully.
When you notice an incorrect charge, error, fraudulent charge or a fraudulent payment, call customer service Immediately. And take appropriate steps to protect yourself.
With some companies, you can still send a snail mail letter to the CEO and get positive results. But we’ll cover that in another blog post. But it’s better to call customer service immediately to address the issue.
Print your account statements at least every few months – yes hard copy. Old school. Or download the account statements. In the event your bank, brokerage house, retirement plan administrator, or credit card company’s systems crash, you can provide proof of your account – your money. With all the cybercrime and hacking, better safe than sorry.
By monitoring your money, you’ll protect your money, save money and in addition get a better handle on your spending.
See you next week. . .
Arthur VanDam, CPA MBA
P.S. To Build More Wealth Right Now Click here.
Budget and Grow Rich® – ISSN: 2992-9296 – USA International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
Disclaimer: OH and Please Remember, we are Not financial advisors, financial planners, attorneys or accountants and are Not providing any specific financial, tax, accounting or legal advice here. Be sure to conduct your own due diligence and consult your own professional advisors to get sound professional advice that’s specific to your financial and personal circumstances, risk tolerance, time horizon and investment goals and objectives among other key factors!
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