Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paying by card and shop people not showing the price amount on tap terminal thing

75 replies

MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 17:08

So we have a local fish and chip shop and everytime I go to pay they type amount into that portable thing you tap card on and hold it out so you can't see amount on the screen.

It really annoys me because if they have made an error you could be tapping out anything!

In this situation do you?

  1. Ask them to show you the amount?
  2. Be cool about it, they know what they're doing!
OP posts:
GeorgesMarvelousCalpol · 13/05/2023 17:10

I would always ask to see it. Is it just carelessness?

Topseyt123 · 13/05/2023 17:12

I ask to see it. I don't pay until I have and am satisfied it is correct.

Sissynova · 13/05/2023 17:12

I would just say ‘can I just check how much that was again?’

transformandriseup · 13/05/2023 17:12

I would ask to see it.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 17:15

Okay so sounds like I'm not annoying to ask them to show me then!

OP posts:
PollyPeptide · 13/05/2023 17:15

Say you need to put your card in the terminal and take it off them. I'd never pay unless I could see the amount. And I get the receipt and check it!

Whichnumbers · 13/05/2023 17:15

I use my phone in places like that, as the amount comes up straight away to notify me - so id know if it was wrong. Obviously It would have to be refunded but id still be in the place I was wrongly charged. A bit like getting the wrong change with cash

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/05/2023 17:16

Why wouldn't you ask to see it?!

rebeccachoc · 13/05/2023 17:16

Always ask to see the amount.

Precipice · 13/05/2023 17:17

You shouldn't trust it. It might not be deliberate fraud, but people can make a mistake.

I've seen this happen to someone I was having lunch with. She wanted to pay 13.something off the bill, but the waiter apparently heard it as 30.something and charged for that. She was the second person out of three to pay and this took it well over the total, but the waiter didn't query this. It only became apparent because the last person obviously expected to pay for hers and yet the waiter was moving away.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 17:21

Why wouldn't I ask to see it? In a fish and chip shop you'd think hundreds others would have asked in same situation so they would know to show it. But when watching everyone else they just tap and not ask, so feel like maybe I am being rude.

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 13/05/2023 17:21

that very same thing happened to me today, the counter was very high, he screwed up the receipt,
i was purely buying a bottle of cider, i need to check my bank, i was thinking, imagine if he had put £20.15 instead of £2.15 and i hadnt checked.
it felt rude to ask

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 17:22

I like the suggestion of doing the pin, good job!

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 13/05/2023 17:23

i have just checked, and it was the correct amount.
he would be very silly to intentionally put the wrong amount in

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 17:46

Willma - good all is okay. Yes it does feel rude to ask, I always feel under pressure to tap immediately as they wave it back to front by my face.

OP posts:
Figmentofmyimagination · 13/05/2023 17:50

This happens in our local Italian delicatessen. It’s very stupid practice by retailers because as a customer you are left feeling awkward and untrusting. I don’t go there now as frequently as I used to because practices like this are off-putting.

It’s also crazy to design a terminal that invites people to tap at the end rather than on the screen itself, as this invites this kind of sharp practice.

pecantoucan · 13/05/2023 17:52

Seriously just chill and say sorry your hand is covering the amount can you move it please

Willmafrockfit · 13/05/2023 17:58

i think the pin is a good idea

RosettaTheGardenFairy · 13/05/2023 17:58

I paid for something once and the terminal said 5,899 instead of 58.99 - the lady laughed it off about forgetting the decimal. Luckily I spotted it, but I never pay now unless I see the amount.

pecantoucan · 13/05/2023 18:01

RosettaTheGardenFairy · 13/05/2023 17:58

I paid for something once and the terminal said 5,899 instead of 58.99 - the lady laughed it off about forgetting the decimal. Luckily I spotted it, but I never pay now unless I see the amount.

It would have rejected that surely?

cakeorwine · 13/05/2023 18:02

I find it annoying when the actual device (such as the Sum Up) doesn't even show you the amount as it's on the till or the mobile phone link - so you can't see the amount at all.

Jerabilis · 13/05/2023 18:03

I’m visually impaired so can’t read those screens, just take it on trust. I have started to have issues with places like Wilko where the terminal will ask if you want to make a donation to charity.

NotSorry · 13/05/2023 18:03

My card doesn't always like the tapping so in that situation I would say - 'oh I'll insert the card as it doesn't always work' then you can see the total without feeling awkward

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 13/05/2023 18:06

Figment yes very off putting. And I agree, a stupid design!!!

OP posts:
Stepbystep100 · 13/05/2023 18:08

I had a similar thing last Sunday
.I was shown total but not how it was made up
I paid, intending to fully pay as we had invited everyone . When we got home they insisted on.paying their share but it just didn't add up so I had to ask for a full breakdown by email. There was an error in the two course discount applied.

I'll ask.for receipts in future!

Swipe left for the next trending thread