8 spine-tingling money horror stories from the N26 team
From financial fraud to sneaky fees, these real-life tales will make you laugh, cringe, and double-check your bank balance.
5 min read
Forget haunted houses and jump scares. This Halloween, we’re diving into something truly terrifying: real-life money nightmares. From financial fraud to high-priced dinner disasters, members of the N26 team share some truly ghoulish financial moments. Whether it’s sneaky friends, surprise tax bills, or a magnum of wine no one asked for, these tales will give you chills — and maybe make you double-check your bank balance.
Thieves among friends: a sneaky ATM heist
When I was an international student, I noticed something off in my bank account — money was missing. A quick look at my statement showed several withdrawals I hadn’t made. At first, I thought it had to be a glitch. After all, I still had my ATM card with me, so how could anyone else access my account? But when I contacted the bank, they dropped a bombshell: It wasn’t a glitch. Someone had used my card to withdraw cash from an ATM right next to my college. The strangest part? I never even realized my card was missing. I had a large group of friends at the time, and it dawned on me that one of them must have swiped my card, taken the money, and then sneaked it back into my wallet without me suspecting a thing.
From @FriendsAndFrauds
My $720 iTunes nostalgia nightmare
When I got my first debit card, I wasn’t great at tracking my balance. I figured if I ran out of money, my card would just … decline? Turns out the bank charged a $35 overdraft fee per transaction. I found this out the hard way after a late-night iTunes nostalgia spree — 20 songs at 99 cents each. When I finally checked my account, I was horrified to see I was over $720 in the red, each track costing me $35.99!
From @MusicallyChallenged
Security at N26
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I recently went to dinner with a group of friends of friends and walked straight into the ultimate "split the bill" nightmare. One of the group was an heiress with zero concept of everyday people’s budgets. We’d all agreed on a €40 bottle of wine — simple enough — until she decided to “take a quick peek” into the restaurant’s wine cellar. Fast forward 20 minutes, and she’s back with a magnum older than our server. At first, she claimed it’d be her treat since she had to have it. But when the bill came, our organizer pulled a fast one, suggesting we split the entire thing evenly because it’s “easier.” Easier for her, maybe, but that vintage bottle (which tasted like a mid-shelf grocery store bottle) more than doubled the cost of the whole night.
From @PriceyPour
The pair of crab legs that left us shell-shocked
My husband and I decided to have a cozy date night at home, so we hit the fish market and spotted some crab legs — perfect for something special. We ordered two, thinking, "How pricey could they be? Maybe €20–30 tops." Then the fishmonger handed us the receipt: nearly €100! We took the bag with the most awkward fake confidence, like, “Ah yes, of course, we totally knew crab legs cost this much,” and scurried away in pure shame. Lesson learned: If there's no price tag at the market, always ask before you order!
From @CrabLegs
The refund that almost ruined my year
This year, I was feeling pretty good about filing my taxes. I was expecting a nice little refund, maybe a couple hundred euros — nothing too exciting, but enough to treat myself. So you can imagine my shock when I got a letter from the tax authorities saying I didn’t just owe a little … I owed THOUSANDS. Not only did they want it paid in installments over the rest of the year, but they also demanded advance payments for the following year.Fortunately, after an eternity on the phone with them, I learned it was all a computer error. Just like that, my financial nightmare turned out to be a glitch.
From @GlitchInTheMatrix
When I paid rent … twice!
When I moved to Germany for my Erasmus, I couldn’t pay my first rent because of the landlord’s German IBAN, so I asked my bank advisor to handle it for me. Big mistake. He accidentally sent double the deposit and double the rent, draining my account in 24 hours! When I asked him to fix it, he said the money was already gone and I’d have to sort it out myself. So, there I was, calling the landlord, practically begging to get my money back.
From @LandlordPlea
The knock at the door that cost my sister €6,000
Back in my home country, I’d just moved to a new city and ended up living just a door down from my sister’s old apartment. One day, there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and someone asked for my sister. Without thinking, I explained that I wasn’t her but her sister. That little bit of extra information turned out to be a big mistake. The person handed me an envelope addressed to her, saying that since we were related, it was OK to give it to me. Inside was an official letter demanding payment for unpaid parking tickets — totaling €6,000! If I had just kept quiet, the letter might have never reached her, but thanks to my unintentional honesty, she was now on the hook for a hefty bill.
From @SorrySis
The stipend surprise that wrecked my budget
A few years ago, I got a new job and was thrilled to receive a €3,000 relocation stipend. Feeling excited, I decided to treat myself to a new phone, thinking I’d still have plenty left for the move. The problem? The government took half, leaving me with just €1,500 — barely enough to cover the phone. I ended up broke, in a new city, and living off my overdraft for months. Lesson learned: Always double-check what you’re actually going to get before splurging!
From @NewCityNoCash
Fright-free banking with N26
Avoid writing your own financial horror story with N26. All N26 Mastercards come with 3D Secure technology, plus, with real-time push notifications, you’ll always know what’s happening in your account — keeping your balance safe and giving you total peace of mind.
