To think I should have been refunded

[PumpkinP]

I went into Tesco’s on the Tuesday, I was having a bit of a hard week and money was tight so I just had enough money to get me and my DCs some bits until I got paid on the Thursday. I went to the self check out and tried to pay but it kept saying that my payment hadn’t gone through, I tried multiple times but kept declining the payment. I had money in my account before I went in so I knew I had the money but my card just wasn’t going through.

I told the lady at the checkout that I would go and check my card at the cash machine, meanwhile my toddler is having a massive tantrum about me leaving the shopping and it was pretty embarrassing. I checked my account and it said I had no money on my card. I was confused as like I said I know I had money before I went in. At the point my battery was dead on my phone so I couldn’t check my online banking so I went straight home. when I got home I logged into my online banking to see I had indeed paid for my shopping as the money was in my pending transactions. I contacted Tesco’s thinking they wouldn’t believe a word I was saying but they seemed to know exactly what I was talking about and said it happens sometimes and it’s a banking error and usually my money is just returned within 24 hours. (Obviously I had no money for food at this point so I called my dad who transferred me some.) anyway 24 hours later still they hadn’t refunded me so I contacted my bank and asked them to do a charge back but they said it had nothing to do with them. So back to Tesco’s who said they would cancel the pending transaction and I would have my money back again within 24 hours. That was on Wednesday still no refund. Aibu in thinking I should have been refunded by now? I’ve contacted the bank again but they just both keep telling me the fault is with the other side.

Whether OP gets her refund or not within 24 hours sounds like she still had to go without which isn’t fair !
OP you can get a food bank voucher from your hv if needed

Welldone op. Shocked someone suggests using saving account. Like op i dont have anything left as bills, food paid for. This is why i use cash to buy food incase something like this happens. Some people dont have squeeze space with money.

It might be worth having a contingency fund, whether that’s savings or a responsibly used credit card or overdraft

Do some people really find it hard to understand that people's financial circumstances are different from theirs? I hate this about MN at times, I've seen this sort of advice before on threads. Some people won't be able to save a "contingency fund". And not be approved for credit cards or overdrafts either!

If a payment’s declined, always keep the receipt. I worked for Monzo and with proof that the transaction had failed i.e photo of the receipt, we could release the pending payment immediately.

I am staggered that anyone could be so privileged and ignorant of the circumstances of others as to suggest that savings or a credit card might be the answer to this issue. That is so breathtakingly stupid that it’s hard to believe that posters are not just being rude when they say such things.
Which is it pps? Are you unimaginative and lacking in empathy due to extreme privilege? Are you appallingly bad mannered and unpleasant? Or are you just a bit dim?