Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about years of unexpected charges on a credit card I had used for over five years, and how tracking every transaction each month finally stopped me paying interest. I have rewritten it into a guide to tracking a credit card so charges do not surprise you.
I had problems with both of the credit cards I used regularly. With the first, which I had used for more than five years, every attempt to avoid one charge seemed to end in another I had not expected. This happened almost every year. Eventually I decided to track every transaction on the card each month, and either close it or escalate with the bank if the charges continued. Tracking worked: I avoided interest charges for a long time.
Why do card charges keep surprising people?
Because statements are long, terms are spread across several documents, and some charges depend on timing, such as when a payment is credited compared with the due date. Small fees on wallet loads, fuel or foreign transactions also add up unnoticed.
How do you track a card simply?
- Turn on transaction alerts: by SMS and in the bank's app.
- Check the statement on the day it arrives: every line, not just the total.
- Pay the full balance: ideally by auto-debit a few days before the due date.
- Keep a list of recurring charges: subscriptions and standing instructions.
What should you do about a charge you do not understand?
Ask the bank to explain it in writing, and request a reversal if it is wrong. Banks often reverse first-time interest or fees for customers with a good record. If the answer is unsatisfactory, the bank's grievance process and, after that, the RBI's complaint system are available.
When should you close a card?
When its fees outweigh its benefits and the bank will not waive them. Pay the balance in full first, ask for written confirmation of closure, and check that the account shows as closed on your credit report. Closing an old card can slightly affect your credit history length, so weigh that too.
What did tracking teach me?
That most surprise charges come from not looking. A few minutes a month removed a problem I had lived with for years.