You should always check the accuracy of transactions appearing on your statements and in Online, Mobile and Tablet Banking. This will help you identify any unusual activity or transactions you do not agree with.
Keeping vouchers and transaction records from merchants, financial institutions, or by electronic terminals such as ATMs will help you to reconcile your transactions.
Here are some common issues and what to do to try to resolve them.
You don’t recognise the business name or the transaction that appears on your statement or in Online Banking
Check receipts issued to you or your additional cardholder for that date to see if you can reconcile the transaction. Be aware also that many businesses have a trading name that differs from the billing name. More details on the business can often be found by conducting a quick internet search on the name appearing on your statement.
If it is an Australian Business you may be able to obtain more details, such as their trading name by using the Australian Business Register.
You can search Google and look up the merchant ABN using Online Banking and Mobile Banking.
- Sign in to Westpac Online Banking or Mobile Banking
- Click the account where the transaction occurred
- Click on the transaction
- Complete a Google search or an ABN lookup to find more details on the Merchant
- Click Don’t recognise this transaction – when you do this, please note in some instances you may be asked to contact us directly, so that we can help you progress your enquiry.
You cancelled a regular payment but were still charged
Businesses usually have contractual terms and conditions that specify cut-off dates for cancelling regular payments. Check with the business directly to clarify this.
You haven’t received goods you have purchased
Often you can check the tracking number of the goods to see how the delivery of your purchase is progressing. The first step is to call the business to discuss the reason for the delay.
Duplicated transaction
If a transaction is incorrectly shown twice on your statement, the first step is to call the business to query the duplicated transaction.
Other issues
Other issues which may come up when checking your statements include:
- You cancelled a reservation within a business or retailer’s cancellation period, but were still charged
- Transaction amount differs to what your receipt states
- Services have not rendered
- Merchandise is defective
- You suspect fraud.
Remember, the first step in rectifying any issue is to contact the business that processed the transaction – this will help ensure your card and account details have not been compromised.
When and how to contact us
If you’ve contacted the business that processed the transaction (especially if you have an account with them), checked everything and you still have a concern about a transaction, let us know and we’ll help you to investigate further.
- Sign in to Westpac Online Banking or Mobile Banking
- Click the account where the transaction occurred
- Click on the transaction
- Complete a Google search or an ABN lookup to find more details on the Merchant
- Click Don’t recognise this transaction – when you do this, please note in some instances you may be asked to contact us directly, so that we can help you progress your enquiry.
Call us
If you are not registered for Online Banking or Mobile Banking, or you wish to dispute a pending transaction or a transaction over 90 days old, please call us:
- 132 032
8am - 8pm, 7 days - +61 2 9155 7700 (outside Australia)
Please note, pending transactions cannot be disputed, please allow 24-48 hours for the transaction to complete. You will then be able to dispute the transaction online or by calling us.
How does Westpac handle your dispute?
We’ll keep you informed in writing while the investigation is underway. As part of this process, we may place a temporary increase to your available funds (for credit card transactions), or a temporary credit on your linked account (for Debit Mastercard® transactions). You must still make at least the minimum repayment amount to avoid charges such as late payment fees and additional interest. We’ll act as a liaison between you and the merchant's financial institution. We may request information and evidence to progress investigation of the dispute.
- If we receive merchant documentation, we will send it to you via mail
- On receipt of the documentation, you’ll need to either accept it or further dispute the transaction
- If you accept the transaction, any temporary increase to your available funds will be reversed
- If you wish to continue the dispute, we’ll require you to provide a written reply to the documentation we sent to you
- Upon receipt of a written reply, further investigation will be carried out by us and a decision reached
- If the decision is in your favour, the transaction may be charged back to the merchant’s account and the funds permanently credited to your account.