to be annoyed by being paid for work via a pocketmoney card?

[hamptonhangingpork]

Just want to see if I am being unreasonable here.

I've picked up a job as a Christmas Temp at Tesco this Winter, gave in my bank details as requested for being paid as per the letter contract.

However, in the post today, I've received a Tuxedo prepay card. Yes kids, the same thing you'd give your teenager. I will be paid through this pre-loaded card to save Tesco on their administrative fees.

Infantilising at best I know, however I could suck it up were it not for the fact that it will cost me money to use for bills, direct debits etc. etc. I know I can use it in the shops, but I feel like it's an extra burden on those of us who are picking up extra hours working in a shop. You know, just to pay bills.

What do you think? Has anyone else had this experience?

And for the record, no, the pocketmoney card was not mentioned at all in any of the recruitment gumpf, contract or anywhere outside a Google search which has yielded that Tesco are using it for their temp staff.

I hope this thread & issue get the attention they deserve.

This evening, I was planning on going to Tesco on the way home from work. Then this thread popped into my head. It only took a few minutes longer to go to Morrisons instead.

No doubt there will be job coaches requiring vulnerable people to apply for these McJobs.

I wonder how much of a kick back Tesco get from the card company.

Are these the fees charged to employees Tesco?

tuxedopay.com/editpics/File/Tesco%20TCs%20291010%20Clean.pdf

Given there is a 14-day cooling off period, how come the OP was told that payroll could not organise a transfer to a UK bank?
"Payroll said I would need to call up Tuxedo to organise a transfer which may incur a charge but couldn't confirm how much."

Thanks for those terms, nanny.

It's interesting how the card is provided by a credit card company (Mastercard) and the card behaves like a credit card with all the limitations and fees.

In addition to any question of kickbacks, perhaps Tuxedo are extending a line of credit to pay their workers so Tesco can claim write offs / push liabilities off their balance sheets for longer.

In a previous life, I worked at a supplier to Tesco and the payment terms were 120 days which was a pain in terms of cash flow.

Signed the petition and tweeted. The Guardian would be the best paper to pick this up - come on Mumsnet HQ give this some coverage!

Yes, I've been wondering at which point Tesco actually part with the money, and when Tuxedo gets it.

Because obviously the worker only receives each £1 at the point they spend it at a till or take it out of a cash machine. It's not sitting in the worker's savings account getting (some piddling rate of) interest or defraying the worker's overdraft interest.

For a company employing as many people as Tesco, holding on to the dosh a bit longer could be quite a gain.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut Wed 15-Nov-17 09:12:19

Unfortunately, it's not that easy for us to boycot Tesco as we actually like the stuff from there and it's our nearest supermarket.

Should a boycott be easy? If it is easy to give something up it's unlikely to be a boycott. It would be easier and probably cheaper and certainly less time consuming for me not to boycott them but I can't in all good conscience give my money to Tesco when they are not paying their workers properly.

Okay, that was understatement. When I said not really easy I meant extremely inconvenient. Tesco is a ten minute walk away and on my bus or walking route to most places. Morrisons is two buses, Sainsbury's is a bus ride, one Asda is two buses, other is one bus but only every half hour and takes ages. I just don't have the time to spare to trail to the other options.

However, of course I'll sign the petition, it's a dreadful way to treat employees. And surely in order to pay wages it should be a condition that they open a bank account.

Hi everyone, I've attached a copy of the letter I received from Tuxedo.

Please note how it refers to "the new way of receiving your wages, salary or pension" instead of it being an emergency form of payment when your details go walkabout...

BTW: I want to make it clear that I am not asking for a boycott.

It would make me a terrible hypocrite as it is just 5 mins from where I live and a superstore its size so would be a nightmare to try and avoid if I need something in a pinch.

However, if you feel like you don't wish to shop at Tesco because of your stance on workers' rights and ethics, that is entirely your choice and I respect it.

I don't believe for an instant that Tesco is alone in this, and boycotting because "Hampton was treated unfairly" is sweet but you will run out of places to shop, trust me.

I've seen some responses from other Tesco workers online that I'm fibbing and this is not how the card works and that people need to speak to their manager who may or may not know about this system to get it rectified. In my case, the team leader I asked heard nothing about it and referred me upwards.

Placing the burden on seasonal workers to try and not only navigate the bureaucracy of their own store, let alone the head office and the company's various portals on its website is, purely in my view with regards to casual work: totally uncool.

I'm fortunate that I have a choice. Other seasonal workers may not want to rock the boat because that their hours can be shifted about or removed entirely at any time. Notwithstanding issues such as that they won't be employed for that long or are hoping to be made permanent so they will accept a certain standard of treatment others won't.

If you want to make a difference, spread the information about this Tuxedo card. Allow people to make the choice whether it is something that would suit them or not. If people are able to say no or know that they need to say no so they can avoid it, then it may be dropped entirely.

This whole complete hassle has come about because no one knew or talked about this card and my personal view is that local staff in stores may not be particularly aware of its existence, let alone how it works and alternatives to it.

Op I'd heard about this from another source.
I won't be using Tesco until they remove this vile practice.

How exactly is it preloaded? Does the money sit in an account and then when you use the card it gets pulled out in the same sort of way as it would if you were using a debit card?

Or is it one of those pre loaded cards where the currency is actually on the card itself so if you lose it or have it nicked it's gone and you have no hope of reclaiming it?

Either way is bad as it's not in your own account but the latter way is particularly worrying...

I am absolutely appalled by this. Outrageous. Shame on you Tesco!

@PerkingFaintly

I think this refers to the case in hand ...

www.out-law.com/en/articles/2016/june/cjeu-third-party-card-handling-services-cannot-be-vat-exempt/

Hopefully you can start from there ?

OP, if you have a clock in card, your employee number should be on there.

If we report this thread might HQ pick it up!

Ooh, thank you, LurkingHusband. Interesting.

Why the hell isnt this getting more traction.

The internet was losing its shit over a sausage roll Jesus yesterday

We have 3 Tesco stores near where i live + a Tesco Express and one Sainsburys. Its not possible for everyone to boycott

We had a Morrisons but they closed when the living wage came in

"the new way of receiving your wages, salary or pension "

Pension???????!!!!!!!!

To answer a couple of questions for pp: my clock in card only has 4 digits, my employee number has 8 which I needed to chase for.

The way the card works is that Tesco pays into an eaccount which I can then use to transfer balances onto the card to use. If the card is lost or stolen, it would cost £4.99 to replace and it would be my responsibility to block the missing card.

The terms and conditions mentions an "investigation fee" of £20 but doesn't say what it is.

Going by the logic so far, I believe it is if I get involved in a payment dispute with a retailer or have fraud committed against my card or eaccount, I would be liable to pay this fee.

Fucking disgusting.

Why the hell isnt this getting more traction.
I was thinking the same thing. Tesco ignored my tweet to them yesterday too, but I did get a couple of likes and retweets.

I currently have a delivery saver plan with them and am seriously considering cancelling and switching (back to) Morrison’s.