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.

lougle that shows the fees to top up the card not to make withdrawals to a bank account.

I couldn't find information for that and I had a good look.

I've tweeted for you, OP This is shit. I hope you get a decent Christmas job!

Paul Lewis is on it. He says it may be illegal

Thanks everyone again for your best wishes and help.

I've logged into the Tuxedo website and there is no online mechanism for transferring to another 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.

If I get a move on, I might be able to squeak into a temp role somewhere else before December.

I've tweeted Tesco, Martin Lewis and the Guardian. I feel like this is something that really needs investigating or at least, in the adverts so people can choose whether to join.

I've had a look and other supermarkets and retailers seem to be quietly signing up to Tuxedo and the like.

I tweeted about this earlier in a vague “interested to see how this pans out” kind of way- a journalist from an employment solicitors magazine has messaged me as they’re interested in writing an article. If you want the details just PM me.

I bet that card remains property of Tesco too.

Bastards.

I'm really feeling the love. This feels like aibu at its collective best!

"May incur a charge..." What a fecking cheek!

Good for Paul Lewis.

I am an employment law expert and I also think it may be unlawful for various reasons including but not limited to the following:

Part-time Worker Regulations (this is the definition of less favourable treatment if the temps incur costs not incurred by permanent, full time staff)
Employment Rights Act 1996 (unlawful deduction of wages)

It may well also be breach of contract if not agreed with both parties and I think you could argue a good case that there is an implied term that payment will be into a bank account or at least somewhere independent of the employer.

That's not to mention indirect age discrimination (to assume that you'll want to spend off a card rather than pay household expenses) and potential to breach NMW legislation.

Charging for access to already low/ unskilled wages is a fine example of the "poverty premium." Life demonstrably costs more for the poor!

www.jrf.org.uk/blog/acting-unfair-poverty-premiums-must-be-2017-priority

www.jrf.org.uk/blog/poor-are-still-paying-more-basic-utilities-and-financial-services

This is so outrageous, appalling, disgusting. Tesco is exploiting its temporary employees.

And the fact that Tuxedo are smugly saying how they have helped Tesco save a fortune without mentioning that this is AT THE COST OF POOR EMPLOYEES just beggars belief.

AND HOW DARE THE WAGES department put the phone down on you.

I am livid about this.

OP I would quit too. I think it should have been made clear during the recruitment stage/job offer at the lates that they would pay a salary this way.

I’ve never heard of this before and don’t understand why any employee would find it acceptable to offer unless someone didn’t have a bank account. The reason the financial sector have been pushed to offer basic bank accounts is to ensure everyone has access to a bank account to allow receipt of income and a way to pay bills

They're not allowed to do that.

No wonder people are angry. This should be illegal. Have you cc'd your MP?

Yet another reason to loathe Tesco.

Really annoyed for you OP

If Tesco are a partner do they get a share of the transaction fees thinking out loud

DD wanted a Christmas job, I am so glad she couldn't get through the first part of the Tesco application process now.

She is working for a National Pub Chain, pay is above Living Wage and you get it weekly into your bank account.

I remember working with Tesco when they moved the staff onto 4-weekly pay, some of that process was a little unethical. This is a whole new level

Sorry if anyone has already said, but Tesco recognise trade union USDAW - definitely give them a shout. Im an ex union organiser and this sounds illegal on several fronts. While I totally understand the inclination to walk away, that leaves them doing it to 1000's of others.

I'd have thought that if this wasn't mentioned at your interview and they asked for bank details then it's very reasonable to expect your pay to be paid into your bank account.

Also - as you didn't know about it and thus weren't expecting it, if you lived somewhere with dodgy post (shared accommodation, block of flats where post gets put on a table or into cubby holes for each flat so not secure from other residents, etc, then there could well be other residents that recognise the envelope (even if just that it has a card in) and swipe it. Would they then be able to use it? Or access your other details if the intercepted anything else?

At best you'd be failing to get through to HR trying to find out why they haven't paid you, at worst you would be going overdrawn as bills come out of your account and then discover that the card has. Even stolen and used and Tesco just say that it's your fault not theirs so you e d up with no pay...could be a real nightmare.

Has anyone mentioned the data protection act? Would be worth reporting them for sharing your personal data without permission, think they can be fined quite heavily if they've done it lots deliberately.

Also do you have legal insurance on your home insurance - they should help you write a formal letter.

Well done for tweeting. Tesco’s is loaded and outrageous!!! This must be stopped, it impacts the lowest paid workers scraping money together to get by. Shame on you Tesco’s.

It’s one good reason not to shop at Tesco’s. It’s important that lowly paid staff are treated decently

Why would they have taken bank details if they intended to pay you on this card? Have you had confirmation op that this is an ongoing arrangement and not just an interim measure for the first month? Giving up the job seems extreme, why don't you speak to the store manager and HR person and see if they can swap your payment method over with immediate effect

Offering the option would be fine. But this just isn't right.

twitter.com/G4Christina/status/556056458354511872

have you seen this complaint from 2015? has a response from tesco.

No time to read whole thread - the Moneybox programme on Radio 4 may be interested in taking this up.