Ontario man accidentally overpays credit card bill by $16,000 due to typo
An Ontario man who overpaid his credit card bill by $16,000 because of a typo said he was shocked to learn it would be weeks before he got his money back.
"I can honestly say I'm not blaming anyone but myself," Peterborough man James Murray told CTV News Toronto.
The 78-year-old was paying his Capital One credit card bill in early August and owed about $1,800 for his car and home insurance.
Murray paid the bill through a bank machine and accidentally paid a lot more than he should have.
"I meant to give them $1,800 and I inadvertently pressed an extra zero and I gave them $18,000. I didn't know this until the next day when I was looking at my receipts," Murray said.
When the senior realized his mistake he contacted Capital One right away and he was shocked when he was told he would not get his money back for 30 to 60 days.
His next credit card statement showed he had a minus balance with a credit of $16,055, but Murray said he needed the money back sooner to pay other bills that were also due.
"They must realize they have money that belongs to me," said Murray. "This has been pretty tough on me. A lot of anxiety and sleepless nights wondering when I'm going to get my money back."
When CTV News Toronto contacted Capital One Canada a spokesperson said, "We apologize for any inconvenience and sincerely regret that Mr. Murray was dissatisfied with his experience. We have addressed Mr. Murray’s request and appreciate his business.”
"While we have established policies pertaining to credit card overpayment, we recognize the frustrations specific to this situation and are evaluating opportunities to communicate our policies with greater clarity to ensure our customers understand their options," Capital One added.
Murray was sent a cheque for the $16,055 that he overpaid Capital One and was relieved to get the money back.
"I just received the cheque from Capital One,” Murray told CTV News Toronto. "It's such a relief because that’s a large amount of money."
Paying utility bills and credit card statements has never been easier using online banking or bank machines.
But when you're paying those bills be careful you don't make a mistake, because if you do overpay you could have to wait months for a refund.
It's a good reminder to be careful when paying bills online or at a bank machine.
If you catch the mistake right away, it can usually be corrected the same day. After that it becomes more difficult to get your money back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.