Charged twice at the grocery store?

There are two different problems that both get called “charged twice”: an item scanned twice on the receipt, and the whole purchase showing up twice on your card. They're fixed in different places.

1. An item scanned twice on the receipt

This is the more common one. A bag goes over the scanner twice, or the cashier keys a quantity and scans as well. It shows up as the same line, at the same price, printed twice.

How to check

  • Look for two identical lines next to each other, or the same item further down.
  • Count what's in your bags. Two lines of yogurt is fine if you bought two.
  • Check for a quantity column: “2 @ $1.29” is one line for two items, not a double charge.

How to get it back

  1. Go to the customer service desk with the receipt. Most stores fix it on the spot.
  2. Bring the item if it's easy to. It isn't usually needed for an obvious double scan.
  3. Ask whether the store has a scanning guarantee. Some chains give the item free when it rings up wrong.

Sooner is easier. Keep receipts for at least a week.

2. The whole purchase on your card twice

First, check if it's a pending hold

When you pay, the store asks your bank to hold the amount. Sometimes a hold appears alongside the final charge, or a failed tap leaves a hold behind. Holds are marked “pending” and usually drop off by themselves within a few days. If one of the two is pending, wait for it to clear before doing anything.

If both charges have posted

  1. Find both on your statement: same store, same amount, same day.
  2. Take your receipt to the store first. They can refund the duplicate to your card, which is fastest.
  3. If the store can't or won't, dispute the duplicate with your card issuer. Under US law you generally have 60 days from the statement showing the error to report it, for both credit and debit cards. Don't leave it that long.

Make checking a habit

Scanning a receipt takes a few seconds, and catching one double charge a month pays for the time. Receipt Tree flags the same line printed twice at the same price on every receipt you scan, worded as a question, because sometimes you did buy two.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Card dispute rules and time limits are set by your card agreement and US law; check with your bank for the details that apply to you.