The Strangest Credit Card Issue I’ve Ever Had

 

I have a number of cards with American Express in the United States. I was recently approved for and given an SPG card. Once I received it, I used it for a week for a number of purchases, including a large purchase for laser eye surgery. However, I was noticing that the charges were never showing up on the account. I even called American Express and they couldn’t see the charges. Weird.

Today I did a test charge at a pharmacy for $1. It was approved. However, the receipt showed the last four digits as different from my card’s account number! What the heck!?

I called American Express. They continue to be unable to see any pending charges. I get transferred to a supervisor. He’s absolutely flabbergasted, and has no clue what’s going on. After an hour, he says he has  no clue where the charges are, and they will have to do an investigation (with a new card couriered to me).

I’m frightened that a different number could possibly be put on my chip. I feel horrible that it’s possible another person might have these large charges to deal with. I’m also embarrassed that I have to talk to my eye clinic about this, which just makes me sound sketchy. I’ve wasted an enormous amount of time on this, and it’s still not fixed. There’s also no way I will be able to meet the minimum spend for the bonus points.

Hopefully this gets fixed rather quickly. I don’t understand how this could happen, and makes me question card security. I guess I’ll hear back in a couple weeks once the investigation concludes.

6 Comments

  1. When I install credit card scanners at work (connected to a PC) I do a test swipe when in Notepad. There I can see the info on the card including credit card number. If you had such access it could give you a clue.

    I’d also be curious if you get the same result with swipe and bar scan.

    Are they in the process of sending you a replacement card? That would have seemed an obvious step.

  2. To me a phone call to the eye clinic would be less embarrassing than them getting a disputed charge kicked back (assuming it is hitting somebody else’s account).

  3. The card is coded wrong. I once had a bank- issued ATM card which accessed somebody else’s account. It took a month (until the statement arrived–pre internet) for me to realize that none of my deposits or withdrawals made at an ATM were on my statement. Eventually the bank sorted it out, but it was a mess. The first reaction of the bank was suspicion because this was “impossible” followed by flabbergasted apologies.
    call the clinic now, ask them to reverse the charges and use a different credit card. That wll be faster and easier than straightening it out. Trust me, I work in a doctor’s office, they won’t care a bit and embarrassment isn’t even on the radar screen. Somebody trying to make sure their bill gets paid correctly is not shameful, it’s admirable. Just say ‘Im having a problem with my credit card and I want to use a different one. can we reverse and recharge?”

  4. Actually, with the Amex cards, I’ve noticed that if I pay using the chip, the last 4 digits shown on the receipt is different than my card number. However, if I pay by swiping the card, the receipt will match the number on my card.

  5. Actually, with the Amex cards, I’ve noticed that if I pay using the chip, the last 4 digits shown on the receipt is different than my card number. However, if I pay by swiping the card, the receipt will match the number on my card.

    Addendum: However, whether I pay by chip or swipe, all the charges post correctly (and immediately show up as pending).

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