do you double check your cards?
Aug 30, 2014, 6:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 352
do you double check your cards?
so I was doing some cleaning and found my disorganized box of store receipts, MO receipts, spent VRs' and spent VGCs'. I just throw them into the box when I'm done with them, but it occurred to me today, what if I forgot to unload one?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Aug 30, 2014, 7:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
I have a basic system. I write down when I buy a card and when I use it. For example, I might visit a grocery store and get $2,500 worth of VGCs. I write that down. Then, when I get $2,500 worth of MOs, I write that down too. If the numbers do not add up, I know that something is up.
Aug 30, 2014, 7:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
so I was doing some cleaning and found my disorganized box of store receipts, MO receipts, spent VRs' and spent VGCs'. I just throw them into the box when I'm done with them, but it occurred to me today, what if I forgot to unload one?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Aug 30, 2014, 8:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 245
I keep cards with money in my wallet and then once drained I put them in my back left pocket. When I empty my pockets everyday the empty cards go into a file folder which every month I bag up and label with the month/year (I keep a separate file folder and bags for receipts but use the same process).
I also keep a spreadsheet and track purchase details and make sure the CC spend equals the cash out methods +/- fees and cashback.
If you are organized, double checking your cards shouldn't be necessary.
I also keep a spreadsheet and track purchase details and make sure the CC spend equals the cash out methods +/- fees and cashback.
If you are organized, double checking your cards shouldn't be necessary.
Aug 30, 2014, 8:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 584
Nope. I don't double check. I don't have the interest. In the off chance I've made a mistake, I'll never know.
Drained cards go in a different pocket. Then they go to the trash. If at any point I'm not 100% sure on what's been used, I put it in a different place and check it ASAP.
I'm more worried about losing a money order than a card. This is not a business for people that are overly cautious.
Drained cards go in a different pocket. Then they go to the trash. If at any point I'm not 100% sure on what's been used, I put it in a different place and check it ASAP.
I'm more worried about losing a money order than a card. This is not a business for people that are overly cautious.
Aug 30, 2014, 9:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 144
so I was doing some cleaning and found my disorganized box of store receipts, MO receipts, spent VRs' and spent VGCs'. I just throw them into the box when I'm done with them, but it occurred to me today, what if I forgot to unload one?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Even with a seemingly bulletproof process, things slip through - think about it, if you have 300 spent cards, all you need is an error rate of .3% to have one card laying around with $500 on it...
My question is, do any of you double check the balance on your cards to make sure it's indeed drained?
Aug 30, 2014, 10:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
It's not that hard to lose track of a card. I came home after a long work day with some unloaded VGCs and a single loaded one. They were in separate pockets, but I set everything down in a heap and when I cleaned it up later, I was stupid. A card with $500 on it ended up with the unloaded cards. Took me a bit of time to realize I was short, and then the hunt began.
I do keep records, and I keep all receipts, which do have all the necessary information. But I find my memory isn't what it used to be.
After that, I got in the habit of checking each card when I get the opportunity, just to be sure the balance is $0.00 before I throw it in with the spent ones.
I do keep records, and I keep all receipts, which do have all the necessary information. But I find my memory isn't what it used to be.
After that, I got in the habit of checking each card when I get the opportunity, just to be sure the balance is $0.00 before I throw it in with the spent ones.
Aug 31, 2014, 7:27 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
I always check balances before putting away in a shoebox.
I've caught errors on the part of the merchant (charge billed and then reversed or card not charged for the MO) on about $2,000 in cards now. For you people who just chuck them after use, you'd never know.
I've also caught one or two that I missed charging.
Frankly I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't check. It isn't that difficult.
I've caught errors on the part of the merchant (charge billed and then reversed or card not charged for the MO) on about $2,000 in cards now. For you people who just chuck them after use, you'd never know.
I've also caught one or two that I missed charging.
Frankly I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't check. It isn't that difficult.
Aug 31, 2014, 7:38 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I usually drain GCs soon as I buy them and during those times I experience a roadblock, I keep them in money bags given by local banks. I only transfer them to shoe boxes with corresponding receipts and packaging once I zeroed them out. I also keep a record of where/what/how many I buy and what I do with them and whether I've deposited them to any of my accounts. So far, so good.
Although I have never experienced buying inactivated cards, I have made a habit of writing the last 4 digits of the GC to the package and to the receipt that came with it, just in case I have to ask for assistance.
Although I have never experienced buying inactivated cards, I have made a habit of writing the last 4 digits of the GC to the package and to the receipt that came with it, just in case I have to ask for assistance.
Aug 31, 2014, 7:46 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 225
I am guilty of not keeping good records anymore as I've ramped up my spending to close to 6 figures a month. Recently, I tried to open my glove compartment and it was locked. When opening I found $2K worth of cards I had forgotten about. Kind of like finding a dollar in an old pair of pants ---but on a much larger scale. I do, however, mark the cards with a sharpie once spent. I just don't usually check online to verify.