While looking over my credit card expenses for the month, I was jolted by a lack of symmetry. All my expenses were from New York State, but one expense was from Utah. I haven't been in Utah for over 10 years, so I called the number on the card.

The speaker on the other end was wary of giving me any information about the company she was representing. It was a "fuel company" according to the name. I had seen it on previous bills, but I always assumed it was a gasoline station that I had filled up with somewhere along my travels. Wrong! It had nothing to do with fuel or gasoline.

When I rechecked my bills for the previous six months, I was shocked to learn I had paid this mysterious company $39.95 for the last six months.

I was floored to realize that this bill came in "under the radar" and I was a steady customer of something I knew nothing about.

I informed my credit card company and they sent me a document titled "Affidavit of Unauthorized Use." It had to be notarized and it stated that "I have reason to believe the following individual(s) utilized the credit card(s) described above or had access to my account number without my authorization." I signed it, had it notarized and faxed it back to my credit card company.

Will I get reimbursed? I do not know at this time.

I am writing this column as a warning to my readers to be more observant when scrutinizing your monthly credit card statements.

Check every line and pounce on any unusual entries that catch your eye. You are not being a "pain" when you call your company and demand more information. You are certainly within your rights.

Advertisement: I will be speaking at the Jericho Pulic Library on Wednesday, July 25 at 7 p.m. I would love to see you there.