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Original poster

WARNING - Tesco Clubcard Prices - be VERY careful

35 replies

Mintjulia · 08/10/2020 14:52

In Tesco today, my clubcard didn't go through first time but my bank card did.

The cashier told me she couldn't add the clubcard to the transaction, that I should go to customer services to claim my points but I'd have to pay the higher prices and they couldn't refund the money ! Errr, what? I don't think so....

Having explained forcefully to customer services and the manager that I wasn't happy, I had to have every item of a week's shop individually refunded, and then have the whole lot rung through again. The receipt did not show how much I'd been overcharged but after 6 or 7 minutes it proved to be £1.10 which, ok isn't much but could have been more.

Is this even legal? Can they charge different people different prices? And in a climate when so many people are struggling or being made redundant, what the hell are they playing at?

So be really really careful to put your Clubcard through BEFORE you do anything else.

OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 08/10/2020 14:57

Do you that that Tesco are running a massive promotion and have forgotten to check that it's OK to charge loyalty customers a cheaper price Confused

Of course it's legal.

You've had a bad experience and it's thoughful of you to remind people to check their clubcard is working but I don't think it's anything more than a one off. I've used the offers a lot and I do think they could be clearer with the way the discount comes off but otherwise you've had an annoying shop but no major conspiracy

Original poster
Mintjulia · 08/10/2020 15:02

Offer prices are usually based on buying two or more of one item. Fair enough. I use them lots too and I'd bought two or more.

Tesco know I'm a clubcard holder, I've been using the same debit card with my clubcard for years, and they have one of the most sophisticated CRM systems in existence. Yet they tried to charge me more regardless.

Hardly supporting hard-pressed shoppers is it?

OP posts:
VeggieSausageRoll · 08/10/2020 15:04

Let me get this straight.

You wanted the club card discount, but didn't actually present your club card until after you'd paid? Confused

Plussizejumpsuit · 08/10/2020 15:07

Jesus christ you did that all for under 2 quid? Poor staff.

safariboot · 08/10/2020 15:09

No supermarket uses payment card details in leiu of loyalty cards. That's a pretty good sign it's either not legal or not possible.

For one, the amount charged is decided before the payment details are taken. There are also laws on what a company can and can't do with your card details, and it's possible those laws include not using your payment card number as an identifier for anything else.

Other potential scenarios. If you want to buy something in store and don't want it appearing in your online favourites, just don't tap your Clubcard. If you're a family you might share one Clubcard but use multiple payment cards. Or with credit cards, two people could be using the same payment details but each have their own Clubcard. All of these cause problems if you try and use payment cards as loyalty cards.

At the end of the day it was a hassle but it got sorted.

And the Tesco pin pads clearly say "Clubcard accepted" when it is. You didn't read it.

Original poster
Mintjulia · 08/10/2020 15:09

No, I had my clubcard and my debit card in the same hand. The machine picked up on one but not the other. It wasn't the cashier's fault, they don't touch cards now because of covid, so the customer just taps the card reader.

The clubcard was the closest but got ignored. These things happen, I'm not worried about the technology. It was being told they wouldn't refund the difference that annoyed me.

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 08/10/2020 15:09

Shops frequently charge different amounts like student or OAP discounts.

safariboot · 08/10/2020 15:10

Don't tap two cards simultaneously on a contactless reader. They're not designed for that.

Ffsnosexallowed · 08/10/2020 15:11

Did you try to put 2 cards through together? Numpty!

Gingerkittykat · 08/10/2020 15:13

@Mintjulia

No, I had my clubcard and my debit card in the same hand. The machine picked up on one but not the other. It wasn't the cashier's fault, they don't touch cards now because of covid, so the customer just taps the card reader.

The clubcard was the closest but got ignored. These things happen, I'm not worried about the technology. It was being told they wouldn't refund the difference that annoyed me.

The clubcard doesn't normally get read on the card reader, you hold it up and the cashier scans it with a gun.
SoupDragon · 08/10/2020 15:14

Yet they tried to charge me more regardless.

No they didn't! It was a simple card clash on the contactless reader because you had both in your hand at the same time.

SoupDragon · 08/10/2020 15:15

The clubcard doesn't normally get read on the card reader

The new cards are now contactless.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 08/10/2020 15:15

@safariboot

Don't tap two cards simultaneously on a contactless reader. They're not designed for that.
This. Those poor staff members.
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 08/10/2020 15:16

The clubcard doesn't normally get read on the card reader, you hold it up and the cashier scans it with a gun.

Can be done both ways with new cards.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/10/2020 15:18

Ok

And in a climate when so many people are struggling or being made redundant, what the hell are they playing at? So you're upset that people without a clubcard can't get the prices because COVID/job losses. That's sweet but these people who shop there can just get a card. It isn't like you have to pay for it.

I had my clubcard and my debit card in the same hand. The machine picked up on one but not the other..the customer just taps the card reader...The clubcard was the closest but got ignored. These things happen, I'm not worried about the technology
Your also upset that the machine didn't pick up your clubcard l, which you had to tap, so wasn't anyone elses fault? You didn't tap it roght.
It isn't the tech, it's you.
Yanbuu to remind people to make sure it's gone through.

Tesco know I'm a clubcard holder, I've been using the same debit card with my clubcard for years, and they have one of the most sophisticated CRM systems in existence. Yet they tried to charge me more regardless.
That's not how loyalty cards work. Yabu.

I do think yanbu re them initially refusing to refund your, I've saved money online much closer to a tenner so they should have agreed to correct it. Unfortunately that does mean rescanning your entire shop.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/10/2020 15:20

@Mintjulia don't go to the cinema, there's different prices for all sorts of people

ReggieCat · 08/10/2020 15:27

Why were you surprised at the low difference in the 2 totals? Clubcard reductions are clearly marked on the shelf edge along with the normal price. It's not difficult to keep a mental note of what you're saving and surely you weren't expecting the small amounts to add up to £££?

Deux · 08/10/2020 15:31

Goodness, this is such a non-event. Scan your Clubcard first surely?

HunterAngel · 08/10/2020 15:35

YABU The card machines don’t work that fast. Tap one card, give it 20 seconds then tap the second. Don’t try to tap both together, it system can’t cope with that and will just pick one.

Deux · 08/10/2020 15:42

@Ffsnosexallowed

Did you try to put 2 cards through together? Numpty!
Numpty is such a great word and perfect for this situation.
MJMG2015 · 08/10/2020 15:44

Dear God. The Clubcard discounts are minimal. You put someone through correcting YOUR mistake, doing all of that for £1.10

🙇🏻‍♀️

babasaclover · 08/10/2020 15:51

@Mintjulia Tesco ripping people off left right and centre, I bought some ice cream there the other day that only cost £1.50 on Ocado, it had a big sign saying price to Clubcard customers £1.50 everybody else has to pay £3. So you're not actually getting a deal at all they just doubled the price if you don't use the Clubcard, it's just a way to get all your details on their system so they can monitor what people shop. Scam.

Chasingsquirrels · 08/10/2020 16:11

A lot of the Clubcard prices seem to be deals that they previously offered periodically, but now only go Clubcard holders.

Haagen Daas salted caramel lollies are £3.50ish, but are often on offer at £2 - I only buy them on offer. They are currently £2 on Clubcard prices.

I've had a Clubcard for years so don't care that they have changed their model somewhat.

I buy the offers I want when they are available. Yesterday I "saved" over £20 On Clubcard prices deals. Most of the things I'd buy anyway, but bulk buy when they are on offer. Some, like the lollies, aren't reallt savings as if they weren't on offer I'd have brought a cheaper alternative.

whirlwindwallaby · 08/10/2020 16:19

I agree ot was your fault for trying to scan two cards together, if the bank card went through, the clubcard then wouldn't as the shop had been paid for. Don't understand why they had to refund and rescan the lot though rather than just the clubcard offers. Is it to do with adding the points as well?

NandosPeriometer · 08/10/2020 16:27

Of course it's not illegal to charge different customers different amounts. Employee discounts as well as discount schemes like Unidays and Blue Light Card are perfectly legal