or were they being total 'jobsworth' meltdown in Ikea

[Ceci03]

So bit of a long one but... I applied for the ikea finance thingy, it's no interest so seemed good. Got the virtual card - its like a bank card, and on the website it said you had to show it at the till and then they would key in the numbers. So went on Fri eve, took about 3 hours to do all the shopping, mainly a bed, but you know what it's like there. Got to the till, and the guy said I had to have the app. What app? Ikea finance app, he said. So there I was trying to download this app at the till with people queueing behind me. When it finally downwloaded it said I couldnt use it as it needed 14+ update.

So then a 'manager' came over and said I could "do it" online. So she directed me to this website for the finance company. But I couldnt log in as it said I needed a family card number, but I don't have a family card.

She suggested I go over to the doors to get better reception on wifi. I said it wasnt the wifi that was the problem!

I then tried to login in the ikea finance website, but for some reason my phone kept doing the 'circle of doom'. - When I got home I tried it again, and it still did it, only conclusion is that my phone isn't new enough.

So I begged her, to let me use the card. She said no as she "didnt know it was me". So I had to just leave all the stuff and go home.

So back again on Saturday. I tried logging in on my laptop, which is how I applied for the loan and it worked perfectly. So I rang customer service, and said could I show my laptop at the till, no problem.

When I got there to be sure, I found a manager at the till, and explained the problem. I said I didnt want to do all my shopping and then get to the till and the same thing happened, so could I show her beforehand. OK she said. So I pulled out the laptop but couldnt login!!!!!!!!! I think it was the ikea wifi wasnt strong enough. So I went away and was able to connect using my mobile hotspot. Went back and tried to find her but she kept moving away and chatting to her colleagues and ignoring me. In the end after about 15 mins of me standing there trying to get her attention I went up and said 'excuse me' and tried explaining again. I showed her how I had logged in, and she could see the card etc. But... she said the rule was I had to show it at the till when I got there. I said but what if my laptop plays up and I cant get logged in, you've seen it now, cant you say that I can definitely use it? No, she said. I said that it didn't say anything about that on their website, and shouldnt it be a bit clearer. She said no, it was very clear, and nobody else had ever had a problem. It was getting a bit heated now, well I was getting upset. I asked her a few more times but she wouldnt budge. I jsut burst out crying, I was just at the end of my tether. I felt like screaming at the bloody mindedness of the whole thing. Eventually another manager came over, and he took me to a seat, and he phoned another manager, and then another manager, and eventually they said ok, they had seen me login, and "knew it was me", and if I did my shopping I would be able to use the card.

I'm still upset, stupid I know. I'm thinking as well is this just discrimination against people who don't have top of the range phones? I mean my phone works perfect for everything, just not this for some reason. It's a 12 update I think. So it's not ancient or anything. Surely they need to have some flexibility if the technology is not working?

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far. I honestly don't know what I could have done different...?? I've tried to contact the bank they set up, Ikano , but impossible to get a response...

You’ve had a lot of support and sympathies on this thread OP, I don’t think anybody is calling you thick. It’s never a good idea to buy an old phone late in the game at this point, because technology moves fast. It’s kind of like buying an annual season ticket for somewhere now, but it’s only valid until November - you can use it for a bit but you won’t get fully out of it what you paid for.

IKEA aren't great value for everything. This sounds like horrendous user experience (husband works in financial services and builds these loan packages and he agrees but says it'll be imposed by Ikano not IKEA for anti-fraud reasons - though IKEA should know their stores are big metal boxes with shit signal and shit wifi). I would also look at ditching iPhone and going to an android phone that supports updates for a reasonable number of years.

[quote Ceci03]@HalzTangz thanks for pointing out how thick I am. I think that's been proven on this thread today. You're right. Thick as anything I am.

I looked at FAQ and read the following:-[/quote]
The thing is, it does say you need to show them your virtual card which is on the app. You tried to show them a picture of the card which can't be verified. You wouldn't be able to pay with a picture of a credit card even if you had all the numbers visible.

Sorry for your experience OP it sounds horrendous. It reinforces why I loathe iPhones, I have a (cheap) Android phone which cost me £100 brand new, is now several years old and I still have no issues with adding or updating apps etc.

That said I do very few transactions from my phone, it's not set up to Google pay etc because I prefer to pay by card or indeed cash - this slide into a cashless society is actually something I find rather worrying.

That's ridiculous, I had an IKEA card a couple of years ago and I could just use it at the till! So frustrating, sorry OP.

Thank you @SusannahSophia* I only bought mine maybe 18 mths ago and it won't update past 12

You were properly ripped off if someone sold you new iPhone 6 or older 18 months ago given that 6 and 6+ were discontinued by Apple in September 2016!

Newer phones have more security and improved technical specifications which allow for better and faster apps and much better security.

iPhone 6 only accounts for around 5% of all iPhones connected to the internet last year globally (and that includes those that have been recycled to developing countries) so it just doesn’t make sense for companies to develop solutions for such a tiny proportion of the market.

A virtual card was always going to need a way of being displayed, I’m really glad that IKEA wouldn’t accept a screenshot - that’s about as secure as accepting someone’s card details written on a post-it note.

[quote plodalong12]@BarbaraofSeville
Only if you insist on using apple's overpriced products with built in obsolescence. I have a,£100 3 yo android and have none of these problems

But this is a 7 year old (at least) phone. In four years time, if you still have the same phone, see how many apps will be compatible at that point on your Android. My guess is: not a lot.[/quote]
I may or may not still have the phone in 4 years time, but my point was that people are claiming discrimination because you have to be rich to access certain apps because you have to be able to afford a new iphone which costs hundreds of pounds, which is untrue.

Might be worth checking in your phone settings for a software update if you haven’t already done so, if its a 6S or newer - the 6S runs the latest version, 14.7.1. I have a 2015 6S I use for music and iplayer in the house. I was using my old 4S bought in 2011 for this until recently!
I haven’t been shopping in ikea but it sounds horrendous, reminds me of the first time I tried using the self service tills at Tesco and the whole store must have heard the voice telling me off.

@HalzTangz that was meant to be “main tills or restaurants”
Neither shop or station would take cash.

I may or may not still have the phone in 4 years time, but my point was that people are claiming discrimination because you have to be rich to access certain apps because you have to be able to afford a new iphone which costs hundreds of pounds, which is untrue.

@BarbaraofSeville

Yes but the way you framed it was as though this is unique to Apple and not Android and my point was that if you have a 3 year old phone of anything, it would still be compatible with apps now. If you have a 7 year old phone, like OP, you’ll find it won’t be compatible with most apps, whether it’s Apple or Android or something else.

Gosh is it really this complicated to shop at IKEA? It’s put me off going

It isn’t. OP was trying to use IKEA finance to pay. If you want to pay cash, or debit/credit card it’s the same as any other store.

I never gave signal in IKEA either OP. Was it MK? Sounds like a ridiculous situation.

IKEA has free wifi that’s easy to use.

IKEA has free wifi that’s easy to use

Not in every case - the OP had to use her laptop with her hotspot

@SheABitSpicyToday

I’m sorry but it’s not ikeas fault you have an old phone.

Do you work for Ikea? If so, it's stupid of them to not have a better system in place, perhaps you could do something about it. If not, why are you apologising.

I have also looked on the ikea website just now and it does say you need the app to show the virtual card. So somewhere along the lines you missed reading this. This is your fault not ikeas.

To be a little bit fair, it would be helpful if the IKEA website told you what spec of phone is required.

It is all a bit mad though isnt it? I mean they dont need to view your bank card, you can just tap it. How do they "know it's you" if you order online? Or for click and collect?

I for one will never be going to Ikea again. Not that they will care lol!!!!

Trying to put the bed together now. I think ikea is for young or fit people. I'm too old, too 'uncool', too 'un-with it' and basically too tired to do it all. It might be cheaper but the hassle :(

In my next life I'd like to order my furniture online, ready made, with a nice delivery man who will put it where I want it. And remove all the packaging. It's taken me nearly an hour to get the cardboard off it all.

I’m with you OP. I’ll still use IKEA out of necessity for some things but we’ve found a brilliant family run furniture shop locally (it’s been around for years, can’t believe I’ve just discovered it!) and I am so happy - there prices are v reasonable, the choice is brilliant, the service is fantastic, they have a website not some stupid app, they take a deposit when you order and you pay the balance when the furniture is delivered and you’re happy with it, and they give you a hand written receipt! Oh, the stuff is delivered assembled or with absolute minimal assembly

@BoredZelda

I have also looked on the ikea website just now and it does say you need the app to show the virtual card. So somewhere along the lines you missed reading this. This is your fault not ikeas.

To be a little bit fair, it would be helpful if the IKEA website told you what spec of phone is required.

I'm sure it's perfectly clear in the App Store.

If anyone found out they did that they would lose their jobs. Fraud regulations aren't something that you can just go Oh don't worry, I know it's them. If they are caught by a mystery shopper not doing everything by the book, the company will be fined thousands and the staff member will lose their job at best and at worst be prosecuted.

You not having an up to date phone really isn't their problem. They don't make these rules. If you choose to have a model that far out of date, apps may not work on it, that's the risk you take.

My phone is 4 years old and has that app with no problems so it's not a case of having a top of the range phone. Just up to date enough to support newer software. Not sure what a family card is so can't advise you there, sorry.

@BarbaraofSeville people are claiming discrimination because you have to be rich to access certain apps because you have to be able to afford a new iphone which costs hundreds of pounds, which is untrue.

But you need, what, about £100-ish to buy an android. I think a few people were pointing out that they couldn't afford to buy a new phone full stop rather than specifically the newest iphone.

I fail to see how you having a phone that is unable to run the latest iOS update which would then allow you to run the software/app for the Ikea Finance is somehow Ikea's fault @SusannahSophia? I mean the way that the manager in Ikea spoke to you wasn't ideal but they were trying to advise you on what you have to do to use their app or their finance option.
Perhaps try upgrading your phone so that it can take the latest iOS version and try again?

@AllCatsAreSpecial

A lot of knobs on AIBU today. Do people not realise that being gratuitously nasty to someone who has posted whilst obviously stressed and upset doesn’t make you look cool? It makes you look like a fucking dick.

As if OP was going to haul IKEA over the coals for breaking the equality act?! Give the fuck over.

Absolutely x

There are some very smug phone snobs on here today. Clearly we are all expected to have decent phones................................................

@callmeadoctor

There are some very smug phone snobs on here today. Clearly we are all expected to have decent phones................................................

Well no, but it's their system. You need to be able to access the app in order to use the virtual card. If you have no possible means to do that then don't apply for credit with IKEA. It is very clear on their website on the financial services page and the FAQ.

I do find it strange that there isn't a failsafe. If the internet went down, the app was down or whatever, they should still be able to run the card over the phone or something. Perhaps feedback for IKEA/ikano, physical cards would definitely be a better idea and/or some sort of backup.

I am thinking that you are talking about the Ikano finance in IKEA? If so then the staff were definitely NOT being jobsworths or unreasonable. The finance cannot be used unless you are logged into the app live at the till. It's the rule I'm afraid, and most definitely not a slight against you.

@gardeninggirl68

not discrimination

scams and fraud are on the increase.

It’s really surprising how many people don’t understand that the concept and meaning of discrimination aren’t only the legal definition.

Something can be discriminatory in the true meaning of the word without it being under the discrimination act, it’s a concept that exists outside of law.