to advise you that Tesco are liars and have stolen my money....

[SweetSeraphim]

A warning for you all.

My card was declined on Tuesday night in Tesco, which I was puzzled about, as I knew I had the funds. Luckily my partner was with me to pay whole I stood red-faced at the till.

Once I got home, I discovered that they had actually taken the money from my account, to the tune of almost £100.

I called the store within half an hour of getting home, and nobody would help me. I tweeted their customer care team, who were great on Twitter, but 2 days later, and they still have not returned my money.

My bank have told me all the details that Tesco need to fax them to get the money released - I have told the various people that I've spoken to, all of this information, yet still, they will not help me. They have refused to provide the information required, promise me calls back that I don't receive, and are completely useless.

I've spent more than £20 on phone calls to them trying to sort this out, and still my money has not been returned to me.

well, yeah, we can start with abolishment of the fixed pricing scheme in the 60s.
which meant that bigger shops could afford to cut prices and make self-service shops that shut down a lot of the smaller shops, but people don't have to shop there, but they do.

I think they shop there because supermarkets are often cheaper.

As I said, you can't blame people for trying to get the most from their money. There needs government intervention to stop supermarkets, not independent retainers having a go at the general public.

I understand Nickel, but I'm not quite sure why you are telling us this. All the 'you the consumer' and 'you flocked like pilgrims'. We agree so I'm confused as to what, or rather who you are.talking about. And I'm 22. By the time I started first food shopping Tesco had already overwhelmed this town. I supported small local busniesses, and now they're gone, all that's left is Tesco! Oh I would boycott them completely of I could. Literally, I mean could.

You know Tesco staff are almost certainly the best paid supermarket staff in the UK? And whoever complained about Sunday trading? Come up to Scotland - we have no such law, so shops can be open 24/7 if they want - all year every year. Managers cannot 'make' anyone work outside their contracted hours without their consent. Hopefully all the retail staff have joined a union? USDAW are a good one.
Unfortunately, ghost payments happen when the bank takes the money, but fails to deliver it to the retailer, often because of a 'data surge' when it's busy. Not sure why it takes so long to get back though.

Yes, it's political will that's needed.
There was a very special butcher's that closed down in York a couple of years ago - last place to do traditional York hams, really high quality stuff. Plenty of customers. The problem they had was with getting their van in to do the deliveries because they were in one of the narrow cobbled streets in the old bit. Some of the bigger chains have special agreements with the council to allow them in to do their deliveries.
The problem is it's not a level playing field.

Might be the best paid out the lot, but still low wages overall. I had no idea about Sundays in Scotland! Terrible.

Don't get me wrong, we are very grateful for want we do have. I am a big believer in remembering that compared to some people in the world, we are very very lucky. We might not have holidays or a car, but we can afford to clothe, bathe and feed our Ds. Give him healthcare and shelter. We sturggle at the end of the month, and it can be a horrible feeling being squished under tesco's shoes. But we've got it easy really...

tunip I watched the link, thanks for posting it. My phone is a bit naff at the mo, there was no sound. But what a contrast to the doc I watched. Its a real gem of propaganda that is, and I couldn't even hear the commentary. Will watch again later.on laptop :)

I wasn't aiming at you, personally, Floaty, I was referring to everyone.

yes, it sounds like in your town, the damage had already been done.

I think it's like that in my town, too, except that it's worse because we've got 2 supermarkets and the town is already ruined, where we've been waiting for a regeneration plan that's been "round the corner, nearly here" for over 20 years, and in that time, all the names have left, and all the indies have closed down. and the regeneration plan they're promising is focussing on the other side of the railway line, so the town centre itself will still be fighting a losing battle.

oh, and they've allowed a Morrison's to be built (which is just in the process of building at the moment), but are refusing Tesco, because, yes, Tesco's the evil supermarket and all other supermarkets are saints

Glad it got sorted op.

Retailers are a nightmare when this happens. All they have to do is send one fax and the funds can be released by the end of the day.

And before anyone says I'm taking the bank's side I've worked in both retail management and banking so I know the procedure from both sides.

Have some and relax now!

Mrs AceRimmer
Tesco are most certainly NOT the best paid supermarket staff, I think you'll find Aldi staff are. I know this because my husband works for Tesco and my son for Aldi.
My husband is also an USDAW rep.

I totally love Tesco today and won't hear a word against them. They put a screw back in DDs glasses even though we didn't buy them there, and gave me a full cash refund on a pair of DDs boots, even though MIL had cut the tags off. I doubled up my Clubcard vouchers and filled up the freezer for free. Lovely, lovely Tesco.

they actually stocked up their freezers? That's a first

Which butchers was that Tunip??

I'm in York, you need to go to Richardson's of Woodthorpe. Brilliant butchers (though not city centre). Have a lovely ham in the fridge to cook tmw

This happened to me with a lady running a small business at a Christmas market. Due to confusion she double charged me. One phone call, she was mortified money refunded immediately.

Scotts of Low Petergate.

No shortage of good butchers in t'East Riding where I am but it was still a pity about Scotts.

I'd like to clear up a few misconceptions:

1. There is an outstanding auth on the op's card, not a completed transaction
2. There is no way that any banks merchant services would take a fax from a merchant to cancel an outstanding auth
3. The merchant needs to call their merchant services and request cancellation of the outstanding auth, they will need the card number to do this usually - esp if it's something the size of Tesco
4. There is little to no chance of the auth being cancelled under an emergency situation on the same day it's created due to the issue of fraudulent cancellations
5. The auth, if left alone, will naturally drop off the card holders account, this can take 7/10 working days which is very much less than ideal. I did see one on an account for 2 years but it was a foreign merchant and therefore a foreign bank dealing with it, this should not have happened under scheme rules.

Op, if you go back to the store and ask them to request a cancellation of the outstanding auth with their merchant services I'm pretty sure they will be able to help you tomorrow.

UseToWorkForABanksMerchantServicesTiggaxx

I'm not surprised to hear about this story .I find Tescos unbearable

Tigga - I really appreciate your advice, but it's been done now - and I hate to say it, but that info was not what I was told either by the bank or Tesco!

And if you read the whole thread, the store wouldn't actually help me at all - not even half an hour after it happened.

OP card services rarely understand what happens in merchants - it was the major part of the shit I use to deal with, cleaning up after them, it really depends on who you get to talk to. IME the people in card services are usually on the lowest possible band for payment and you get what you pay for.

Oh and some merchants are bastards, I got told the other day my card had declined when it had ACTUALLY referred and told the merchant exactly what I thought of them and complained to head office.

GladIt'sSortedNowTiggaxx

3 little frogs, you're not alone. I also refuse to shop with them. They're tring to open a tesco express near us, it's neither wanted or needed, we have a very good coop and budgens, if they're successful, I for one will not use it, ever. I may only be one person, but if more of us take that stance .....

I don't like Tescos, luckily it's never been my closest supermarket, I used to go to Morrisons a lot which I do like - shame they don't do online shopping. Now I live closest to Sainsbos which I find expensive but use Ocado and Aldi too.

I just never like the atmosphere in any Tesco I've been in (even the all singing dancing megastores). The customer service is just so rubbish it's depressing, you feel like an inconvenience to the staff. I don't think much of the food either. My DP uses them as he has a club card and they send him vouchers to woo him, he thinks they're cheap too.

Tesco have banned me from online shopping ever again. GOOD. I used too many exclamation marks and question marks and called them morons etc.They use 'daemon'to return angry/frustrated messages from customers who are weeping,throwing a mouse at the comuter etc. They STOLE £73.59 and would NOT do a refund. I sent my son some booze online for his birthday - he wasn't in his girlfriend refused the delivery- he phoned me within half an hour. Tesco refused to 1) redeliver 2)deliver to my address 3) to give me back my money. I have left Natwest after 30 years and have gone to Santander instead.Leaving an overdraft of exactly £73.59.Their retail disputes team tel - 0845 366 0391 were on Tesco's side. Is anyone surprised?His spiteful girlfriend will never be welcome in our home again.I even threatened Tesco with SHOPLIFTING for the money. But I would miss my dog Leo too too much!Tesco at Hampton Hargate watch out,Tesco Metro in Stamford watch out. I HAVE DECLARED WAR ON TESCO. Leo's Mum.

Tesco I do not want to be your friend on facebook. Why have you sent me and my husband new Clubcard cards? Why do you send me customer satisfaction forms to my email account.There are harrassment laws. LEAVE ME ALONE FOREVER.AMEN.