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Original poster

Healthy Start- why not M&S?

8 replies

wooliemam · 10/09/2023 21:23

I am curious as to why M&S do not accept money from a Healthy Start prepaid card in their food hall?

Any ideas? I understand some fruit etc is expensive in there but not always.. Just curious 👀

OP posts:
LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 10/09/2023 21:24

I don't know but maybe ask them on social media? And get other people to do the same? That won't be good optics for them...

Original poster
wooliemam · 10/09/2023 21:28

LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 10/09/2023 21:24

I don't know but maybe ask them on social media? And get other people to do the same? That won't be good optics for them...

Yes- I could do that. Maybe they don't want the clientele 🤨

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 10/09/2023 21:29

It might be to do with claiming it back. I used to shop at a small independent greengrocer's and they did not accept them because of the hassle in claiming it back. Whereas the co-op took them no issue, even though I wasn't as keen on their veg as it wasn't as nice. And I heard of small corner shops etc that would accept them on absolutely anything and then just fudge the receipts and make out like the HS vouchers lined up with their milk or formula sales.

It might be that their fruit and veg is pre-prepared as stuff like that is taxed differently and might not officially be covered. (I'm very out of date on what is covered - it used to be fresh fruit and veg, formula and fresh milk, then they changed it to include frozen veg.) I am going back a few years now though as the toddler I claimed for is about to start GCSEs!

UndercoverCop · 10/09/2023 21:31

That's interesting, some of their fruit and veg is cheaper than other supermarkets and they tend to have more loose unpackaged stuff so you can just buy what you need, their milk is cheaper than Tesco and they are often located in high streets not out of town, so more accessible. So actually it would make sense for them to take the vouchers.

MrsBird03 · 10/09/2023 21:56

Is this a recent thing OP? I've always used the HS card in our local food hall, my little one loves their baked beans and the local food hall would yellow sticker bits at lunch so I'd pop in. Used the card up until August of this year and never had an issue with it.

Original poster
wooliemam · 10/09/2023 22:37

MrsBird03 · 10/09/2023 21:56

Is this a recent thing OP? I've always used the HS card in our local food hall, my little one loves their baked beans and the local food hall would yellow sticker bits at lunch so I'd pop in. Used the card up until August of this year and never had an issue with it.

Oh really?! My fault I guess; I only just googled it and it had come up saying they didn't accept!

OP posts:
MrsBird03 · 10/09/2023 23:01

I think the old paper vouchers couldn't be used, but as it's a card you can tap and pay like a normal debit card :) if you catch the yellow sticker stuff they are really good value e.g. packs of 3 peppers down to 14p or bags of carrots for 15p. Both freeze well too :)

samara2001 · 04/06/2024 18:58

your local M&S should accept it as they are supermarket. the food hall, not so sure, maybe they're separate?

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