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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or should they have just given us a bag?

91 replies

Catsize · 26/09/2016 07:43

So, naice farm shop in a garden centre...

I buy two large homemade(ish) cottage pies and wave my partner in the direction of the till with the cottage pies and my credit card whilst I wait with the ferry double buggy and sleeping children.

She pays for the stuff and is then asked if she would like a bag as the till person forgot to ask.

"Yes please"
"Well, I'll have to charge you 5p"
"But I only have this credit card"
''I still have to charge you 5p"

So, rather than my partner just carrying the things back to us lot and putting them in the probably slightly unhygienic basket bit under the double buggy, the card is proffered and 5p put on a card.

MN jury, this was for a paper bag!!

I think that till person was bu for charging and partner was bu for putting 5p on a credit card, but I was wondering if a) you agree and b) whether we have broken a MN record for smallest credit card transaction ever...

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 26/09/2016 08:12

Fairenuff I put all transactions on a credit card, I get cashbook for using it. Or if I use my tesco one I get club card points. Or I might have one with a 0% deal and as I get interest in my current account it makes sense to leave more money there and pay off the credit card when the deal comes to an end. Credit cards can be lucrative used smartly.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 26/09/2016 08:13

How can something be
homemade (ish). It either is or it isn't.

StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 08:13

Sorry seen others have said that. Just got it irritated with first few posts

treaclesoda · 26/09/2016 08:13

It's not the law in the OPs case, but from this thread it seems that it is the law in Scotland, Wales and N Ireland. All of us who said its the law probably didn't realise that it's different in England.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 26/09/2016 08:14

And really, neither of you carry cash?

I rarely carry cash,everything goes on the credit card.

Sounds daft to charge you for a paper bag.

MissBattleaxe · 26/09/2016 08:17

Shop is too small to legally charge (you have to employ a certain number of people before the carrier bag charge becomes a legal requirement)

Is that true? really? what about corner shops? I thought every shop had to charge.

Sirzy · 26/09/2016 08:18

Corner shops depends if they are part of a chain or an independent store.

Original poster
Catsize · 26/09/2016 08:18

Yes, I put most stuff on my credit card for points/voucher reasons.
I do carry cash too, but there was a queue and it would have been very annoying for partner (who is like the Queen and doesn't carry cash) to hold up the queue to come and find me and a 5p.

Thank you for the cooked meat answer - I did wonder.

And to answer another post, they were billed as 'homemade' but I guess they weren't really made in a home.

OP posts:
Fluffy40 · 26/09/2016 08:20

Just take a bag with you, it's not hard

ShouldHaveBeenJess · 26/09/2016 08:31

Grin at ferry double buggy

diddl · 26/09/2016 08:31

I'm surprised that they put in on your cc.

I think that your partner was daft to accept tbh.

Vixster99 · 26/09/2016 08:35

was in B&Q a couple of days ago and while I was scrabbling about for £2-odd in change for a couple of tester paints I got chatting to the assistant about credit card transactions.
She told me that B&Q don't have a minimum transaction amount for cards.
The lowest amount she's put through on a card was 1p.

(Wonders what on earth you can buy in B&Q for ONE PENNY)

DeathStare · 26/09/2016 09:14

I've put 1p through on a card before.

My kids now have kids debit cards and regularly put ridiculously small amounts on them.

Re the carrier bag..... they sell carrier bags. You wanted one. They charged you. Why is that so surprising? What do you think they should do - give goods below a certain value away to anyone not carrying cash?

MrsJayy · 26/09/2016 09:24

Im just cross England get bag excemptions im frothy furious Angry why is England allowed excemptions i have to pay for every bag tut Grin

treaclesoda · 26/09/2016 09:29

This has just brought back a lovely mumsnet memory Grin

A couple of years ago, before the bag tax was introduced in England, I was called a liar for saying that Tesco delivered my online shop without plastic bags (seeing as how the bag tax had already been introduced here). I think I was maybe even given a biscuit as well. Apparently only a goady liar could get their groceries delivered in crates!

CoffeeAtLukes · 26/09/2016 09:30

Maybe it's not law to charge for paper bags but it's obviously the shops policy. I don't see the problem to be honest. It's 5p.

I work in a shop and am always amused at the people who'll drop hundreds of pounds on luxury purchases then have a hissy over a 5p bag.

MrsJayy · 26/09/2016 09:39

My dh would carry a full food shop home on his back rather than pay for a bag Grin he moaned in the summer at me paying 5 fuckin pence for a primark bag all the way home he ranted

notevernow · 26/09/2016 09:39

Why don't you just carry bags with you? You went into a shop. You knew you might buy things. Is it really that difficult?

Happyhippy45 · 26/09/2016 09:48

Usually I get asked if I need a bag well BEFORE I pay.........then I can pay for the bag along with my shopping. Seems a bit daft not to ask/not be offered a bag until after you've paid.

Youarenotprepared · 26/09/2016 09:53

I thought paper bags were exempt from charge?

They should have asked before they put the transaction through. The company will probably cry as they will have been charged a fee to put that 5p transaction through.

QuimReaper · 26/09/2016 09:53

Are people actually troll-hunting on a thread about a paper bag? Confused

TaterTots · 26/09/2016 09:57

For the love of God, please stop going on about the law on other parts of the UK. The OP is in England. The law here is no charge for paper bags.

Those saying 'It must be the shop's policy, suck it up' - maybe it IS policy, but so what? Surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would say 'You know what, it's 5p - have a bag' rather than arsing about with a credit card for that amount. As for the people who are Hmm at not carrying cash, is it really a shock these days? If you have your cards and aren't going to a cash only store or venue, what's the point?

Badbadbunny · 26/09/2016 10:05

My accountant might get a giggle if he spots it I guess

Why would your accountant be looking through your private credit card statements?

00100001 · 26/09/2016 10:05

But they HAVE to charge for bags tater and yes it is weird not to carry cash, otherwise you end up putting 5p on credit cards and moaning to Mumsnet.

00100001 · 26/09/2016 10:06

badbunny it was a stealth boast. OP has an accountant, we don't Grin