7 ways to spot unwanted charges on your credit card

We talk a lot about monitoring your spending for your wallet’s sake—but it’s a security thing, too. Sometimes, errors happen by accident: the store clerk entered the wrong amount before swiping your card, for example. Other times, it’s flat out fraud by a thief who has gotten their hands on your credit card number. No matter how or why it happens, you-know-what does happen—so here are seven ways you can spot the charge and report it right away before it becomes a bigger headache.

Nicole Lapin is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary and personal finance expert appearing on the TODAY show and MSNBC, among others. She is the author of Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for Getting Your Financial Life Together. 

This content first appeared on Nicolelapin.com.

While it’s wise to check your transactions periodically, it’s impractical to do it constantly and still lead a normal productive life. So set a schedule to check your statements. Say it’s at a certain time every week: send a calendar invite to yourself. Keep a close eye on your statements. Work with your partner. If you see anything out of the ordinary, call your credit card company right away.

Before you jump on a plane or hit the road, call your credit card company to notify them of your travels and avoid any red flags. Calling in advance avoids the risk of cancellation as well.

Use your bank’s or other personal finance app to monitor your statements and check for duplicate charges or mistakes on the go.

It’s easy to sign up for a free trial and forget to cancel, ending up with recurring charges for subscription services. Make a note to yourself by marking it in your calendar when the free trial period for the app or magazine is up so that you aren’t hit with surprise charges when the real subscription kicks in. And I get that it’s all “hello, Captain Obvious!” but read the fine print so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

There are a lot of sketchy websites out there, so if something looks weird, check on it. The Better Business Bureau has easily accessible reports on almost half a million companies. Don’t get trapped as a member on a site that is untrustworthy and end up never getting anyone on the phone to dispute the charges.

Yes, there is a time and place for debit cards. But credit cards offer much more consumer protection. If you’re shopping online or buying something you have doubts about, always use a credit card!

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes waiters and restaurants unwillingly (or, sadly, willingly) mess up the charge on your bill. Watch your statements to make sure they have charged you the right amount, including the tip you actually left. A few extra dollars here and there can really add up.