I know it’s stealing….but…..

[VidalSass]

Im going to be Annihilated here……

i took out a store card to pay for a large tech purchase, interest free, over 36months. This was four months ago

I set up a direct debit straight away for the monthly payment and then cut up the card.

I checked my account and noted direct debit not come out, so I logged on to the store card account and the charge is still ‘pending’ - therefore minimum payment is 0 as the charge has not been processed by the merchant.

would I be unreasonable to just ignore it and therefore avoid the repayments? Surely it would eventually just be cancelled? Although it’s already sat there for four months….

i don’t want to call the merchant as obviously they will then just process the charge…..

im worries that eventually it would just be charged but a part of me is excited at the thought that an error may have occurred resulting in me getting free stuff. I know it’s technically stealing but it’s a huge company (probably not paying corporation tax in the uk) and I’m not exactly rolling in it

AIBU - should call the merchant to process the charge and start paying it back

NBU - technically it’s stealing but fuck the man and ride the freebie wave

You reckon 99% would keep a million quid accidentally put into there account hmmm nobody I know would do that!

a free coffee!!

Absolutely. If they thought they wouldn’t be found out, and they weren’t aware of negative impacts on anyone- yes I absolutely do.

would 99% of people admit that to themselves or others? Definitely not.

there are endless studies and research on how people THINK their morality stands and just how swiftly that changes when actually put in the real situation.

Then that would certainly be fraudulent.

They would argue the op would expect the balance on the card.

Op I would do nothing and wait. You wouldn't be unreasonable to not notice the DD debit coming out your bank for it so it's easy missed and the companies fault for not sorting their admin.

It will catch up with you

I’d phone and pay and it wouldn’t be an option for me to do otherwise. Be the person you want to be.

I wouldn’t ring but would save the money just incase as chances are you will be charged.

I’d be worried about the interest free period ending without it being paid for and them charging interest though.

Also I think the majority of people would contact the bank if they were deposited 1 million by accident.

caveat vendor.

Someone somewhere has made a mistake and eventually it will come to light. The sticking it to a big corporation is bs to justify not paying. You have something and you know you haven’t paid for it, your intent when you made the purchase doesn’t mean anything, your actions now, does.

It’s probably a glitch that will probably rectify itself but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive.

On the face of it, I dont think you are being unreasonable. You have done everything required of you, it is them who have not taken the money and there is no obligation for you to do their admin for them, BUT, there is a risk that they may come at the end of the interest free period and demand the full payment + interest.

And if it turns out that the DD has been setup incorrectly, they are entitled to the money + interest, which is probably more than you would gain by sticking the money in a high interest saving account.

Now I know where mumsnetters suddenly don't give a damn about laws and morality....

Contact them and pay.....

It’s definitely not the Direct debit.
the account balance shows £0, with a minimum required payment of £0.

on the transactions summary there is a ‘pending payment’ (the original charge). The date of which was the date of purchase four months ago.

I would without question. I have been at a checkout before and the cashier did not scan everything properly so I could have essentially got away with walking out with free clothes. But..I'm not like that and I am pretty much honest in everything I do. It's not sanctimonious, it's just being a decent and trustworthy person which is severely lacking in society.

This happened to me years ago with a Next card. Keep an eye on it, with mine they never got in touch, never tried taking the DD but one day I randomly got a debt collectors letter. Had murders trying to sort it as it was their mistake.

It’s their issue if their processes have failed. It’s not your job to chase up their inability to complete a proper sale/transaction. I’d just wait for them to catch up in an audit, but if they don’t, that’s on them.

But this a different scenario completely.

if, three months later you discovered the receipt in your handbag, at this point realises she had not charged you- would you go back and try to pay for the clothes?

@VidalSass It depends. If we are talking 20p then probably not but a substantial amount I would as I would feel guilty.

There process is rubbish that’s not your responsibility OP, keep quiet and see what happens.

You’re very naïve if you think they won’t notice. They will.

This kind of thing always happens to me, bloody always, I think "amazing!" And 2 months later I get a letter from a debt collector which leaves me raging 😤 😂

When it comes to massive corporations, my morals are nonexistent. Small business's I'd never, cold hard cash found in the street, I'm going to go hard to reunite with its rightful owner, but giant corporations? Fuck em 😂

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday I agree with you. I hate having to chase companies up, do their admin for free, and sit on hold for ages because they’ve made a mistake. I don’t get paid for that lost time, and my time is valuable, so I refuse to do it unless I absolutely must.

I think transaction pending can stay for 6 months until it drops off your account
I would do as others say and save the amount each month so you can pay when they charge you which they undoubtedly will.
There is no free money, nor should there be.
Just don't kid yourself and end up not being able to pay what you owe, hence attracting more charges.

Why does that not surprise me

I imagine it will catch up with you.

I agree about it being the company's fault and the hassle dealing with admin. I once was sent hand wash i didn't order in a package from Boots. Since it probably cost under a £5 sending it back would have probably cost the same as the item but mainly i couldn't be bother with the hassle of the admin and just forgot about it. Never been properly tested.

OP, put the monthly payments in a savings account (Santander have a good one at 5.08% interest. Nationwide do one at 8% interest for one year, capped at £200 deposit per month.) Keep the money for at least 6 years in case they ask for it, and accrue the interest in the meantime.