He caught a $14,204 overcharge—this one habit could save you from the same mess
- Replies 13
Unexpected charges on a routine purchase can throw anyone into panic—especially when the numbers just don’t add up.
A recent incident at a major Australian petrol station chain has left customers stunned and scrambling for answers.
What began as a typical weekend transaction spiralled into a financial nightmare for some unsuspecting shoppers.
A bizarre payment glitch at a well-known petrol station chain left many Aussies stunned after routine purchases turned into jaw-dropping bank charges.
Several customers reported waking up to find their cards had been charged not just once or twice—but in some cases, more than 100 times—for the same transaction. The issue reportedly occurred on 31 May and affected multiple locations across the country.
One Sydney man, Steve, told Radio 2GB he was left reeling after a $106 payment multiplied unexpectedly.
He said he was charged 134 times—bringing the total to a staggering $14,204.
In another case, a man named Angelo said his daughter had made a small purchase, buying a drink and a chocolate, only to discover that same $6 transaction had repeated 104 times. He added that his daughter was due to travel overseas and was worried about whether her refund would arrive in time.
The petrol stations in question, once known as Coles Express, were rebranded as Reddy Express after their 2023 acquisition by Viva Energy. With more than 700 locations affected, concern spread quickly among those who had swiped their cards over the weekend.
Frustrated customers who tried to get help were met with a recorded voice message when they called the company’s helpline. The message confirmed that Reddy Express was aware of the issue and assured callers they would be reimbursed within two to seven days.
In a public statement, Reddy Express later said: ‘On Saturday (31/5) a technical issue led to intermittent EFTPOS errors affecting some guests paying by credit or debit card at Reddy Express stores.’
‘In some cases, this has resulted in guests being charged more than once for their transaction.
‘We are working to reverse any duplicate transactions as quickly as possible.’
‘In most cases, people should have seen the refund appear in their debit or credit card accounts by now.’
‘If you have not yet received a refund or have not yet contacted us, please contact us now via our customer service office at [email protected] or call 1800 656-055. Reddy Express sincerely apologises to any impacted guests.’
Customers who made a purchase at any Reddy Express store on 31 May were urged to check their transaction history for anomalies.
The saga mirrored a similar banking error from 2024, when Commonwealth Bank customers were hit by a ‘duplicate payments’ issue that saw funds disappear from accounts. That glitch caused significant disruption, with many left unable to access their money and some finding themselves overdrawn without warning.
Reddy Express was contacted for further comment.
Have you ever double-checked your bank statement and found something that didn’t add up? Let us know your experience in the comments.
A recent incident at a major Australian petrol station chain has left customers stunned and scrambling for answers.
What began as a typical weekend transaction spiralled into a financial nightmare for some unsuspecting shoppers.
A bizarre payment glitch at a well-known petrol station chain left many Aussies stunned after routine purchases turned into jaw-dropping bank charges.
Several customers reported waking up to find their cards had been charged not just once or twice—but in some cases, more than 100 times—for the same transaction. The issue reportedly occurred on 31 May and affected multiple locations across the country.
One Sydney man, Steve, told Radio 2GB he was left reeling after a $106 payment multiplied unexpectedly.
Sydney man hit with $14k petrol charge. Image source: Viva Energy Australia
He said he was charged 134 times—bringing the total to a staggering $14,204.
In another case, a man named Angelo said his daughter had made a small purchase, buying a drink and a chocolate, only to discover that same $6 transaction had repeated 104 times. He added that his daughter was due to travel overseas and was worried about whether her refund would arrive in time.
The petrol stations in question, once known as Coles Express, were rebranded as Reddy Express after their 2023 acquisition by Viva Energy. With more than 700 locations affected, concern spread quickly among those who had swiped their cards over the weekend.
Frustrated customers who tried to get help were met with a recorded voice message when they called the company’s helpline. The message confirmed that Reddy Express was aware of the issue and assured callers they would be reimbursed within two to seven days.
In a public statement, Reddy Express later said: ‘On Saturday (31/5) a technical issue led to intermittent EFTPOS errors affecting some guests paying by credit or debit card at Reddy Express stores.’
‘In some cases, this has resulted in guests being charged more than once for their transaction.
‘We are working to reverse any duplicate transactions as quickly as possible.’
‘In most cases, people should have seen the refund appear in their debit or credit card accounts by now.’
‘If you have not yet received a refund or have not yet contacted us, please contact us now via our customer service office at [email protected] or call 1800 656-055. Reddy Express sincerely apologises to any impacted guests.’
Customers who made a purchase at any Reddy Express store on 31 May were urged to check their transaction history for anomalies.
The saga mirrored a similar banking error from 2024, when Commonwealth Bank customers were hit by a ‘duplicate payments’ issue that saw funds disappear from accounts. That glitch caused significant disruption, with many left unable to access their money and some finding themselves overdrawn without warning.
Reddy Express was contacted for further comment.
Have you ever double-checked your bank statement and found something that didn’t add up? Let us know your experience in the comments.
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