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Original poster

People who don’t carry their bank cards with them

868 replies

Auburngal · 16/03/2024 14:19

I was in Sainsbury’s this morning and systems are down. No contactless, chip n pin taking ages to go through. Unable to buy gift cards, mobile top up vouchers.

Systems going down like this happen not very often but when they do it’s awful.

On the self scan next to me a woman screamed at the manager on why she can’t pay on her mobile.

Why do many people don’t carry their bank cards anymore? The cards don’t weigh much. Plus if the contactless payment system goes down, hopefully their card will go through via chip n pin. Also they won’t look like idiots either. No sympathy for these.

Regarding contactless payments- sometimes your bank, NOT the retailer etc asks you to do a CnP payment as part of security. “I dunno my PIN”. You can change your PIN to any number you want (not 1234, 1111) at any ATM under PIN services.

OP posts:
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2010Aussie · 16/03/2024 18:28

Always remember a charity cake sale at work. Advertised as 'cash only'. Our young apprentice never carried cash; just his phone. We arrived at the cake stall at the same time, he chose his cakes and got his phone out. "Sorry, cash only" said the lady running it. His face fell. I did take pity on him and loaned him a fiver. The Victoria sponge was fabulous!

SocksAndTheCity · 16/03/2024 18:27

Blah12345678999 · 16/03/2024 18:24

Also what is the deal with having to print out a label for non packaged fruit and veg? Was having to do that in Waitrose yesterday and it was so time consuming as those machines weren’t working… I am sure there is a method to the ‘madness’ though!

Because loose fruit and veg is normally sold by weight, which is generally the cheaper way to buy them (rather than paying 27p per single banana, say). If you didn't weigh them, how would the till know how much you had?

Longma · 16/03/2024 18:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Longma · 16/03/2024 18:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Blah12345678999 · 16/03/2024 18:24

Also what is the deal with having to print out a label for non packaged fruit and veg? Was having to do that in Waitrose yesterday and it was so time consuming as those machines weren’t working… I am sure there is a method to the ‘madness’ though!

OutOfTheHouse · 16/03/2024 18:23

JudgeJ · 16/03/2024 18:20

Living in an area with poor wifi I get fed up of standing at a checkout while some idiot waves their phone about trying to pay!

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That doesn’t make a scrap of sense. You don’t need WiFi to make a phone payment and WiFi isn’t an area by area thing.
Even if it was a poor phone signal you don’t need that to pay by phone.

Blah12345678999 · 16/03/2024 18:22

As in I thought the message about spending the weekend in Sainsbury’s was meant tongue in cheek/light hearted!

fetchacloth · 16/03/2024 18:22

Gettingonmygoat · 16/03/2024 18:17

That rare it happened in McDonalds yesterday and in both Sainsbury and Tesco today.

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The same issue happened in Tesco a few weeks ago 🙄

2010Aussie · 16/03/2024 18:21

SBHon · 16/03/2024 14:23

Because why carry two things (card & phone) when you can simply carry one (phone). Currently, the amount of times contactless payment isn’t available is vanishingly small. A card isn’t necessary 99% of the time.

What would you do if you were out for the day and your phone was stolen? You have no card, no cash. How would you manage?

Blah12345678999 · 16/03/2024 18:21

shoppingshamed · 16/03/2024 14:48

In what way is doing your grocery shopping at the weekend sad?

You might want to revisit the way you do it if takes you so long, I'm assuming there that it must do otherwise you comment makes no sense at all

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I actually just thought this was a jokey light hearted message 😅 I was also in Sainsbury’s this morning, I had my card to pay but it did feel like going back in time tbh! Makes me wonder if we start using AI to automate updates if this kind of thing will become more commonplace esp if we then rely on the AI to fix the problems 🤷🏻‍♀️

SauvignonBlanche · 16/03/2024 18:21

Alcyoneus · 16/03/2024 18:08

What an odd question. Why do people not hang onto old tech when new tech is available? What do you think the answer to your question is, OP?

Most people are sensible enough to realise that you require a back up for most tech.
We have business continuity plans and back up paper based systems for every piece of tech at work, it’s common sense to do the same at home.

I’ve got electric lights but I still have a supply of candles and torches.

fetchacloth · 16/03/2024 18:20

Precipice · 16/03/2024 14:24

People should carry cash.

I agree and I'm glad I've had cash on me when having to get emergency taxis, etc. Some businesses still only accept cash.
Also I have my bank cards on me at all times so I know where they are.

Trulyme · 16/03/2024 18:20

I always have my card on me, but rarely cash.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who would get their knickers in a twist over it like you have but ultimately it’s not their problem, it’s mine and I’m not sure it’s worth getting worked up over when it’s nothing to do with you/them.

JudgeJ · 16/03/2024 18:20

ohdamnitjanet · 16/03/2024 16:59

Absolutely!

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Living in an area with poor wifi I get fed up of standing at a checkout while some idiot waves their phone about trying to pay!

Blah12345678999 · 16/03/2024 18:18

BobnLen · 16/03/2024 14:43

It’s sad that so many people spend their weekend in Sainsbury’s

😂😂😂😂😂

Longma · 16/03/2024 18:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Gettingonmygoat · 16/03/2024 18:17

Alwayswonderedwhy · 16/03/2024 18:12

Because I never use it. What happened today in Sainsbury's is very rare.

That rare it happened in McDonalds yesterday and in both Sainsbury and Tesco today.

JudgeJ · 16/03/2024 18:17

AhBiscuits · 16/03/2024 14:23

Times change and technology moves on. Cards are old fashioned. It's another thing to find a pocket for and try not to lose.
I don't even carry a key anymore as we've added a fancy digital lock to the front door.

Which is fine until your much loved, fashionable technology lets you down! I wonder how many people keep candles and torches in their homes in case of power cuts?

LlynTegid · 16/03/2024 18:16

There are enough occasions when systems fail (in this case the incompetence of an IT function in a retailer to make a change on a Friday evening) to know that a plan B is something you can have. Phone signals being lost is another example.

Sainsbury's IT head should be dismissed, though that does not excuse screaming or other abuse towards retail staff. Two wrongs don't make a right.

shoppingshamed · 16/03/2024 18:14

OutOfTheHouse · 16/03/2024 18:05

The moral of the story is to do your shopping online and avoid supermarkets on a Saturday.

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That wouldn't have helped, online was affected as well

muddyford · 16/03/2024 18:14

cryinglaughing · 16/03/2024 18:01

The amount of times I have been stuck behind people having a phone malfunction is too numerous for comfort.
I'm with the OP, carry a bloody bank card and be done with it!

Or attempting to access the Lidl app. So they get a free bread roll. By the time it's taken three members of staff the minutes to sort it, they might as well give the whole queue free bread.

PyongyangKipperbang · 16/03/2024 18:14

I have lost count of the number of people yelling at me because the card machine wants them to put in their card and pin as part of the regular security checks. They expect me to sort it out but I cant! I have had all sorts of stuff thrown at me, the most memorable being a 4 pint container of milk that burst, whilst being told to keep the fucking shopping. One woman in particular got really pissed as it "kept happening" whenever she tried to buy anything. Surely after the first time you would make sure you would keep your card on you?!

Gettingonmygoat · 16/03/2024 18:14

CatamaranViper · 16/03/2024 18:00

The only time this has ever happened to me, I used my contactless at the atm and withdrew cash.

Not much of a hardship tbf

A few posters on here say that even though they live in a city there are no cash points near them. Don't know which cities but seems strange that they have to travel 30mins to get cash.

Sharptonguedwoman · 16/03/2024 18:13

Pushmepullyou · 16/03/2024 14:22

Because I often don’t take my handbag if I’m just popping out to the shop. Just my phone in my pocket. Apple (and presumably Android) pay don’t ask you to enter your card. Obviously in the case of total IT failure i’d be going home disappointed, but them’s the breaks!

Been behind people trying to pay by phone and there's a glitch. Connection, whatever. Always have a plan B or the people behind will just hate you. (Me)

Alwayswonderedwhy · 16/03/2024 18:12

Because I never use it. What happened today in Sainsbury's is very rare.