Carefully checking an unfamiliar bank charge | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: At a banking support desk, one adult asks about an unfamiliar statement charge and agrees to check receipts before opening a formal dispute..

EN → NL / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Carefully checking an unfamiliar bank charge to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik zag op mijn rekeningoverzicht een afschrijving die ik niet herken.

Ik ZAHKH op mine RAY-kuh-ning-oh-vur-ZIKHT un AF-skhrye-ving dee ik neet her-KHEN. I noticed a charge on my statement that I don't recognize.
B

We kunnen een geschil openen nadat we de omschrijving van de handelaar hebben gecontroleerd.

Vuh KUN-nun un KHESH-il OH-puh-nun NAH-dat vuh duh ohm-SKHREY-ving fan duh HAN-duh-lahr HEB-bun kuh-kon-troh-LEERT. We can open a dispute after we check the merchant description.
A

De omschrijving is vaag, dus ik kan niet zien waar die vandaan komt.

Duh OHM-skhrye-ving iz VAAKH, dus ik kan neet zeen vahr dee fan-DAHN komt. The description is vague, so I can't tell where it came from.
B

Sommige betalingsverwerkers gebruiken een naam die afwijkt van de winkelnaam die klanten zien.

SOM-muh-buh BAY-tuh-lings-fur-VEHR-kurs guh-BROY-kuh(n) un nahm dee AF-VAYKT fan duh VING-kul-nahm dee KLAHN-tun zeen. Some processors use a name that looks different from the shop customers see.
A

Ik controleer mijn recente kassabonnen voordat ik een formeel geschil indien.

Ik kun-troh-LEER mine ray-SEN-tuh KAH-suh-BON-nun vohr-DAHT ik un for-MAYL KHESH-il in-DEEN. I'll check my recent receipts before filing a formal dispute.
B

Dat kan vertraging voorkomen als u de afschrijving herkent.

DAHT kan vur-TRAH-khing vohr-KOH-mun ahls oo duh AF-skhrye-ving her-KHENT. That can prevent delays if you recognize the charge.
A

Als het dan nog steeds niet duidelijk is, wil ik dat de transactie wordt onderzocht.

AHLZ ut dahn nokh STAYTS neet DOW-duh-luk iz, vil ik daht duh trahn-ZAHK-tsee vort on-dur-ZOKHT. If it still isn't clear, I want the transaction investigated.
B

We leggen uw melding vast en starten de beoordeling.

Vuh LEKH-un oo MEL-ding vahst un STAR-tun duh buh-OHR-duh-ling. We'll document your concern and start the review.

Word by Word

Ik Ik means “I” as the speaker who noticed the charge. It is used as the subject before the verb, as in Ik zag. A reusable pattern is Ik + verb when describing your own action.
zag Zag means “saw” or “noticed” in Ik zag op mijn rekeningoverzicht. It refers here to noticing something listed on an account statement. A reusable pattern is Ik zag + object for something you noticed.
op Op means “on” in op mijn rekeningoverzicht, indicating where the charge appeared. It is used before the place or surface connected with the information. A reusable pattern is op + noun, such as op mijn rekeningoverzicht.
mijn Mijn means “my” and identifies the account statement as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before rekeningoverzicht in mijn rekeningoverzicht. A reusable pattern is mijn + noun when referring to something that belongs to you.
rekeningoverzicht Rekeningoverzicht means “account statement,” the document or view showing account activity. In op mijn rekeningoverzicht, it identifies where the charge was seen. A reusable expression is op mijn rekeningoverzicht when referring to information shown on your statement.
een Een means “a” or “an” in een afschrijving, introducing one unspecified charge. It comes before the singular noun afschrijving. A reusable pattern is een + singular noun when introducing something not yet specifically identified.
afschrijving Afschrijving means a charge or debit recorded on the account. In een afschrijving die ik niet herken, it is the bank entry that the speaker does not recognize. A reusable pattern is een afschrijving op een rekeningoverzicht.
die Die introduces the clause that describes the specific afschrijving: die ik niet herken. It links the noun to information about which charge is meant. A reusable pattern is noun + die + clause when adding a description of that noun.
niet Niet negates the recognition in ik niet herken, showing that the speaker does not recognize the charge. It appears with the verb herken in this clause. A reusable pattern is niet + verb or verb phrase when denying an action or state.
herken Herken means “recognize” in ik niet herken, referring to identifying the charge as familiar. The form is used with Ik as the subject. A reusable pattern is Ik herken + object when saying that you recognize something.
We We means “we,” referring to the banking support staff and the customer together. It is the subject of We kunnen een geschil openen. A reusable pattern is We + verb when describing an action taken jointly.
kunnen Kunnen means “can” or “are able to” in We kunnen een geschil openen. It expresses that opening a dispute is possible, and it is followed by the action openen. A reusable pattern is We kunnen + infinitive for an available or possible action.
geschil Geschil means “dispute,” here a formal disagreement about the charge. In een geschil openen, it names the case that can be initiated. A reusable expression is een geschil openen.
openen Openen means “open” in een geschil openen, meaning to initiate a dispute. It follows kunnen in We kunnen een geschil openen. A reusable pattern is kunnen + openen with the item being opened after the modal verb.
nadat Nadat means “after” and introduces the action that must be completed first: nadat we de omschrijving van de handelaar hebben gecontroleerd. It connects the timing of checking with the later opening of the dispute. A reusable pattern is nadat + clause for an action that happens after another one.
de De means “the” before omschrijving in de omschrijving van de handelaar. It identifies a specific description already relevant to the discussion. A reusable pattern is de + noun when referring to a particular item.
omschrijving Omschrijving means “description,” here the text identifying the charge or merchant. In de omschrijving van de handelaar, it is the merchant’s description that must be checked. A reusable expression is de omschrijving van de handelaar.
van Van means “of” in de omschrijving van de handelaar, showing whose description it is. It links omschrijving to handelaar. A reusable pattern is noun + van + noun to express a relationship such as ownership or association.
handelaar Handelaar means “merchant,” the business connected with the description of the charge. In van de handelaar, it identifies whose description is being checked. A reusable expression is de omschrijving van de handelaar.
hebben Hebben means “have” in hebben gecontroleerd, where it helps form the completed checking action. It follows we in nadat we de omschrijving van de handelaar hebben gecontroleerd. A reusable pattern is we hebben + completed action.
gecontroleerd Gecontroleerd means “checked” in hebben gecontroleerd. Together with hebben, it describes checking the merchant description before proceeding. A reusable pattern is hebben + object + gecontroleerd when reporting that something has been checked.
is Is means “is” in de omschrijving is vaag, linking the description with its quality. It introduces the description of the current state. A reusable pattern is noun + is + adjective.
vaag Vaag means “vague” or lacking enough detail to identify the charge. In de omschrijving is vaag, it explains why the speaker cannot determine the source. A reusable pattern is iets is vaag when information is unclear or nonspecific.
dus Dus means “so” or “therefore,” connecting the vague description with the consequence that the speaker cannot tell its source. It introduces the result of the preceding information. A reusable pattern is statement, dus + result.
kan Kan means “can” in ik kan niet zien waar die vandaan komt, expressing ability or inability. It is followed by the infinitive zien. A reusable pattern is ik kan + infinitive when describing what you are able to do.
zien Zien normally means “see,” but in ik kan niet zien waar die vandaan komt it means determine or tell where the charge came from. It follows kan as the action that is not possible. A reusable pattern is ik kan niet zien + clause when you cannot determine something.
waar Waar means “where” in waar die vandaan komt, introducing the place or source being determined. It begins the clause that explains the origin of the charge. A reusable pattern is waar + clause when asking or explaining where something comes from.
vandaan Vandaan contributes the meaning “from there” in waar die vandaan komt and marks the source or origin. It works together with waar and komt to express where something comes from. A reusable pattern is waar ... vandaan komt for identifying an origin.
komt Komt means “comes” in waar die vandaan komt, describing the source from which the charge originates. It appears at the end of the clause with vandaan. A reusable pattern is waar iets vandaan komt when asking or explaining its origin.
Sommige Sommige means “some,” referring to an unspecified part of a larger group. In Sommige betalingsverwerkers, it introduces certain payment processors rather than all of them. A reusable pattern is Sommige + plural noun.
betalingsverwerkers Betalingsverwerkers means “payment processors,” the companies or services handling payments. It is the subject of Sommige betalingsverwerkers gebruiken een naam. A reusable pattern is betalingsverwerkers gebruiken + object when describing what these services do.
gebruiken Gebruiken means “use” in betalingsverwerkers gebruiken een naam. It describes the processors applying a particular name in their payment information. A reusable pattern is subject + gebruiken + object.
naam Naam means “name,” here the name shown by a payment processor. In een naam die afwijkt van de winkelnaam, it is compared with the shop name customers know. A reusable pattern is een naam gebruiken when referring to a name that a service displays or applies.
afwijkt Afwijkt means “differs” in een naam die afwijkt van de winkelnaam. It describes the name as not matching the shop name customers see. A reusable pattern is iets dat afwijkt van + noun when saying that something differs from another thing.
winkelnaam Winkelnaam means “shop name,” the name customers see for the shop. In de winkelnaam die klanten zien, it is the name used by the shop itself. A reusable expression is afwijken van de winkelnaam.
klanten Klanten means “customers,” the people who see the shop name. It is the subject of klanten zien in the relative clause. A reusable pattern is klanten zien + object when describing information visible to customers.
controleer Controleer means “check” in Ik controleer mijn recente kassabonnen. It describes the speaker’s planned action of examining recent receipts. A reusable pattern is Ik controleer + object when saying that you will check something.
recente Recente means “recent” and describes the kassabonnen as belonging to the near past. It comes before recente kassabonnen. A reusable pattern is recente + noun when referring to something from a recent period.
kassabonnen Kassabonnen means “receipts,” specifically the receipts being checked against the unfamiliar charge. In mijn recente kassabonnen, they are the speaker’s recent purchase records. A reusable expression is recente kassabonnen controleren.
voordat Voordat means “before” and introduces the action that will happen before filing the dispute. In voordat ik een formeel geschil indien, it sets the order of the two actions. A reusable pattern is voordat + clause for saying what happens earlier.
formeel Formeel means “formal” in een formeel geschil, describing the dispute as an official or formal one. It comes before geschil. A reusable pattern is een formeel + noun when describing a formal process or matter.
indien Indien is used here for filing or submitting a formal dispute in een formeel geschil indien. It is the action placed after voordat ik in the time clause. A reusable pattern from the dialogue is voordat ik een formeel geschil indien.
Dat Dat means “that” or “it” and refers to checking the receipts before filing the dispute. As the subject of Dat kan vertraging voorkomen, it presents that earlier action as something that can have a result. A reusable pattern is Dat kan + infinitive when describing what an action can achieve.
vertraging Vertraging means “delay,” an unwanted wait in the dispute process. In vertraging voorkomen, it is the problem that can be avoided. A reusable expression is vertraging voorkomen.
voorkomen Voorkomen means “prevent” or “avoid” in vertraging voorkomen. It follows kan and expresses the possible result of recognizing the charge early. A reusable pattern is kan + object + voorkomen for saying that something can be prevented.
als Als means “if” and introduces the condition als u de afschrijving herkent. It also begins the later conditional sentence in the dialogue. A reusable pattern is als + clause when describing a condition.
u U means formal “you” in als u de afschrijving herkent. It addresses the customer respectfully as the subject of herkent. A reusable pattern is u + verb in formal communication.
herkent Herkent means “recognize” in als u de afschrijving herkent, referring to identifying the charge as familiar. It is used with the formal subject u. A reusable pattern is als u + object + herkent when describing recognition by a customer.
het Het means “it” in het dan nog steeds niet duidelijk is, referring to the situation or matter under discussion. It is used with duidelijk to describe whether the situation is clear. A reusable pattern is het is + adjective when describing a situation.
dan Dan means “then” in het dan nog steeds niet duidelijk is, marking the situation at that point in the process. It helps connect the unresolved result with the next request. A reusable pattern is als ..., dan ... when describing what follows a condition.
nog Nog contributes the meaning “still” in nog steeds niet duidelijk, showing that the lack of clarity continues. It works with steeds to emphasize an ongoing state. A reusable expression is nog steeds + adjective for something that remains so.
steeds Steeds reinforces the continuing meaning of nog steeds in nog steeds niet duidelijk. Together, nog steeds means “still,” indicating that the situation has not changed. A reusable pattern is nog steeds + adjective or state.
duidelijk Duidelijk means “clear” in niet duidelijk, describing whether the source of the transaction can be understood. With niet, it says that the matter is not clear. A reusable pattern is iets is duidelijk when information or a situation is clear.
wil Wil means “want” in wil ik dat de transactie wordt onderzocht. It expresses the speaker’s request for the transaction to be investigated. A reusable pattern is wil ik dat + clause when stating what you want to happen.
transactie Transactie means “transaction,” the specific banking event whose source is uncertain. In de transactie wordt onderzocht, it is the thing that will be investigated. A reusable expression is de transactie wordt onderzocht.
wordt Wordt is used with onderzocht to form the passive meaning “is investigated” in de transactie wordt onderzocht. It shows that the transaction receives the action rather than performing it. A reusable pattern is noun + wordt + past participle for a passive action.
onderzocht Onderzocht means “investigated” or “examined” in wordt onderzocht. Together with wordt, it describes the bank examining the transaction. A reusable expression is de transactie wordt onderzocht.
leggen Leggen is part of leggen ... vast in We leggen uw melding vast, meaning that the staff records the customer’s report. The verb and vast are separated in this sentence. A reusable pattern is subject + leggen + object + vast when recording something.
uw Uw means formal “your” and identifies the melding as belonging to the customer. It comes before uw melding in the support-desk context. A reusable pattern is uw + noun in formal communication.
melding Melding means “report” or “notification,” here the customer’s report about the unfamiliar charge. In uw melding vastleggen, it is the concern that the staff records. A reusable expression is uw melding vastleggen.
vast Vast completes leggen ... vast, which means recording the customer’s report or putting it on record. It appears later than leggen because the expression is split in this sentence. A reusable pattern is leggen + object + vast.
en En means “and” and links the two support actions in We leggen uw melding vast en starten de beoordeling. It connects actions of equal importance. A reusable pattern is clause en clause when joining two actions.
starten Starten means “start” or “begin” in starten de beoordeling. It describes beginning the review after recording the report. A reusable pattern is subject + starten + object when saying that someone begins a process.
beoordeling Beoordeling means “review” or “assessment,” here the examination of the reported charge. In de beoordeling starten, it is the process the support staff begins. A reusable expression is de beoordeling starten.

Grammar Points

iets vastleggen → leggen ... vast

We leggen de transactie vast.

Vuh LEKH-un duh trahn-ZAHK-tsee vahst.

We record the transaction.

Vastleggen is a separable verb: in a main clause, leggen comes second and vast moves to the end.

afwijken van iets → wijkt ... af van

De winkelnaam wijkt af van het rekeningoverzicht.

Duh VING-kul-nahm VAYKT af fan ut RAY-kuh-ning-oh-vur-ZIKHT.

The shop name differs from the statement.

Afwijken is separable and uses van to introduce what something differs from.

Dutch Vocabulary

afschrijving noun
AF-skhrye-ving debit; charge

een afschrijving

betalingsverwerker noun
BAY-tuh-lings-fur-VEHR-kur payment processor betalingsverwerkers

Sommige betalingsverwerkers

controleren verb
kun-troh-LAY-run to check; to verify gecontroleerd

hebben gecontroleerd

geschil noun
guh-SKHIL dispute

een geschil

handelaar noun
HAN-duh-lahr merchant

van de handelaar

herkennen verb
her-KHEN-nun to recognize herken

die ik niet herken

omschrijving noun
OHM-skhrye-ving description

de omschrijving

openen verb
OH-puh-nun to open

een geschil openen

rekeningoverzicht noun
RAY-kuh-ning-oh-vur-ZIKHT statement

op mijn rekeningoverzicht

vaag adj
VAAKH vague

De omschrijving is vaag

vandaan adv
fan-DAHN from there; from where

waar die vandaan komt

zien verb
ZEEN to see zag

Ik zag

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to recognize

Show Answerherken

merchant

Show Answerhandelaar

debit; charge

Show Answerafschrijving

dispute

Show Answergeschil