A simple typo nearly sank Christos Kyriacou’s summer.
Kyriacou, owner of Angel’s Diner in Guelph, Ont., went to pay his internet bill in May. Instead of sending the $341.26 he owed Bell, he missed the decimal point and wired $34,126.
“Stupid me didn’t put the decimal,” he told CBC News. “Honest mistake, but a big one, and let me tell you, it’s never gonna happen again.”
The error triggered three months of stress as he tried to get the money back. Bell told him to contact his bank, CIBC. The bank told him to contact Bell. Fax requests went unanswered. Calls were dropped. At one point, CIBC closed his file.
During that time, Kyriacou said, his business felt the pinch. He passed up stocking deals and carefully rationed supplies.
“I don’t feel like I won anything,” he said after the money was finally returned in August. “I feel that I was ignored until [CBC] stepped in.”
While Bell called the case “highly unusual,” consumer advocates say errors like this are more common than people think. And in some cases, they can take months or years to fix. Kyriacou’s ordeal is a reminder that even the smallest slip can create outsized consequences.
When small errors create big headaches
Christos Kyriacou’s case may seem extreme, but Canadians across the country have found themselves in similar binds after small clerical mistakes went unchecked. The amounts at stake may differ, yet the stress and financial strain often feel the same.
Duplicate cheque nearly drained an Ontario man’s account
In 2023, David Heathfield from Ontario discovered that a cheque he had written was deposited twice. The second clearing nearly cost him $10,000. He flagged the issue with his bank but said it took weeks of persistence before it was corrected. The error, which came from processing rather than fraud, underscored how vulnerable consumers can be when systems fail.
Heathfield told CTV News he now checks his statements daily and urges others to do the same.
“If I hadn’t noticed, it could have been a disaster,” he said.
Costly mistakes aren’t always the customer’s fault
Sometimes the consumer does everything right, but weak systems or oversights leave them exposed. That was the case for one Alberta couple last year.
Alberta couple left short after cyber fraud
Brian and Jeanette DeBock saw $45,000 vanish from their ATB account in 2024. Fraudsters used correct login credentials and even a one-time password to transfer the funds. The bank eventually refunded $18,000 and waived $1,000 in fees, but the couple was left $26,000 out of pocket.
Though not caused by a typo, the case shows how easily technical or clerical oversights can expose people to huge losses.
“It was devastating,” Jeanette told Town and Country Today. The couple is now urging banks to add more safeguards and warning others to set lower transaction limits.
When technology misleads
Even automated systems can create costly errors. In 2022, B.C. resident Jake Moffatt relied on Air Canada’s chatbot for information about bereavement fare refunds. The chatbot incorrectly advised that he could claim a refund within 90 days of ticket issuance.
Trusting that guidance, Moffatt bought a full-price ticket to attend a family member’s funeral, only to have his refund denied later. After legal action, the airline was ordered to reimburse him $650.88 plus interest, acknowledging the chatbot’s misleading information.
This example highlights a key lesson for consumers: Even when you follow instructions carefully, errors in clerical systems or automated guidance can have costly consequences.
How to protect yourself
Experts say mistakes can’t always be prevented, but the fallout can be reduced:
- Check before you click: Always double-check amounts, account numbers and decimal points
- Monitor accounts closely: Review bank and credit card statements daily or set up text alerts for deposits and withdrawals
- Set transaction limits: Ask your bank to lower daily e-transfer and withdrawal caps to an amount you’re comfortable losing
- Document everything: Save receipts, screenshots and reference numbers. If something goes wrong, you’ll have proof
- Escalate early: If a bank or company stalls, escalate to higher management, the financial ombudsman or even the media
The bottom line
Canadian consumers are often learning the hard way that small errors can have outsized consequences. And while you may get your money back, you’ll never get back the time or undo the aggrivation of the entire ordeal. The best defence, say advocates, is vigilance. Whether you’re paying a bill, cashing a cheque or wiring a down payment, a few extra minutes of care could save months of stress and thousands of dollars.
Sources
1. CBC News: A typo cost this Guelph, Ont., business owner $34K. After 3 months, he finally got it back, by John Dalusong (August 28, 2025)
2. CTV News: Ontario man warns people to check bank statements after error nearly costs him $10K, by Phil Tsekouras (November 25, 2022)
3. Town and Country Today: Barrhead couple loses $45,000 in unauthorized e-transfers, by Sandy Doucet (April 8, 2025)
4. Wired: Air Canada Has to Honor a Refund Policy Its Chatbot Made Up, by Ashley Belanger (February 17, 2024)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.