Quite the Scare

Here's a little story for you... Monday evening after work, the gas needle was on empty. Like any other time I fill up for gas, I choose "pay outside with debit." It tells me to see cashier so I go inside and the lady says to go ahead and pump my gas then come in an pay with my card. That is precisly what I did but when I came back to pay she told me the register says "insuficient funds." I however knew that is quite impossible. I was wrong. After I called Mom and Dad to give her their card number so I didn't have to steal the gas, I called the my bank, "Your balance is $2.34," it says. "Oh my gosh, what is going on?" I thought through tears. After a sleepless night and a long discussion with the parental units about keeping my checkbook in order and where all my money could have gone, we realize something other than my bad balancing habits must have happened. A visit to the bank the next morning revealed that about 10 debits had been made in the LA area using my debit card number. Nearly $1800 were gone. I could not stop shaking as I went though the trasaction sheet, until I found out that I can infact get my money back by disputing the charges to the bank. I don't know how long this will take but it's the little adventure I'm on right now. My lesson, set up online banking and check it as much as I check my Facebook! Keep my checkbook balanced! Shop around for a credit card so if faced with a situation remotly close to this, I can pay for my own gas. This was by far one of the most sureal things that as happened to me but I believe I have learned a little more about handling adult situations. Please keep me and my money in your prayers. Thanks!