Staff at Tesco's cut up my Credit Card

freddysmith

Went to pay for an item at Tesco, there was a problem putting the transaction through the till using my Credit Card, staff phoned their credit card checking agency and then was told to cut up my card in front of me. Which they proceded to do.

Does anyone know the checking agency Tesco uses, as I had lost total control of my card and wasn't given any chance to talk to the agency on the phone to ask questions.

I phoned my own Credit Card company and this was the first time they had heard of this type of going's on.

Has anyone here experienced simular happenings

Regards freddy

Bossyboots

My daughter says that they are told to retain cards if there is a problem, not cut it up.

VenuS

Was you over your CL?

I would of thought though it would of been up to the Credit card provider to decide if it's cut up or not?

freddysmith

I was well within my Credit Limit and End date. Who ever Tesco's checked the card with told them to cut it up. If this is a new policy Tesco's are using then it stinks, surely if the checking agency had talked to me as well as the staff I would have been able to confirm details only know to me like the password.
I now have to wait upto 10 days for a replacement card for which my own credit card company has said that if Tesco's had talked to them directly it could have been sorted as there was no problem with my credit.

Just hope others don't get caught out by this, I can understand the security issues with a stolen card etc. But this was my card and I could have proved it, if i was given a chance.....i wasn't

burbs_2

Very strange, i was in Dixons today and there was a big sign at the checkout saying that there are major problems at the moment authorising cards through Natwest, and saying that card transations are taking a lot longer due to systems being down. They said that all retailers were affected everywhere in the country and that many card transactions would be refused with no reason given and that some cards may even be retained. They advised all people to pay by other methods.

Bossyboots

Personally, I would contact the manager at the store it happened and demand a full explanation. If you can do this in person, so much the better.

lush_walrus

When I worked as a waitress we were sometimes told to cut up credit cards immediately by the credit card companies when we called to get autherisation. But, the only reason for this action was if the card was reported stollen, never for going over a limit or for the card not going through the machine. The person taking the call will never ever talk to the customer, and are not allowed to check on pin numbers or passwords.

Perhaps the person giving the autherisation codes had made a mistake in requesting your card to be cut up? Worth looking into.

dc

My understanding is that Tesco should have checked with the credit card issuer, if there was a problem, not some third party. As this appears to be a mistake with their system, I would take it up with Tesco head office and seek compensation for your inconvenience, pointing out that there were no problems as far as the card issuer was concerned. At least get an explanation, dont let it rest there.

dc

VenuS

freddysmith wrote:

I was well within my Credit Limit and End date. Who ever Tesco's checked the card with told them to cut it up. If this is a new policy Tesco's are using then it stinks, surely if the checking agency had talked to me as well as the staff I would have been able to confirm details only know to me like the password.
I now have to wait upto 10 days for a replacement card for which my own credit card company has said that if Tesco's had talked to them directly it could have been sorted as there was no problem with my credit.

Just hope others don't get caught out by this, I can understand the security issues with a stolen card etc. But this was my card and I could have proved it, if i was given a chance.....i wasn't

That really does stink Freddy, I would do what others have said and go instore and speak to the manager. Cutting up your credit card through a mistake is VERY humiliating infront of people. Hole and ground would of come to mind if that was me.

I hope you get some resolve from this asap.

James

Methinks you've spoken to your card issuers wrong people, ask to speak to someone in their fraud department. Tesco (retailer) has been following instructions, which in my opinion have been ill advised. They should have retained your card, handled it by the edges, bagged it and been prepared to hand it to the police if your card had been reported stolen.

If your card is a Tesco Card, they are supposed to operate FraudSafe - "If a retailer calls us go gain authorisation for a particular transaction, we may also request that they ask some questions relating to your credit card account, to confirm it's you using the card.' (Not a good idea divulging even more personal inforamtion to a third party).

I can only imagine that your card somehow has been reported lost or stolen or the transaction would have taken you over your limit - check again immediately.

Hope this helps.

I forgot to add if it's a case of your cards been retained because its been reported lost then pop back into Tesco, see the check-out operative who retained your card and tell them they are entitled to £50 from the card issuer for retaining a stolen card. No consolation to you but it should pee off your card issuer.

freddysmith

It was embarrasing having your card cut up infront queuing people and made to feel like helpless, but they were quite happy for me to pay with my other Visa Card with the same name on it. The amount was less than £25. If they thought it was stolen surely they would refuse the other card.
Tesco manager at the store has just said they were following their procedure and following instructions from a third party agency to cut the card up.
Looks like Its going to be difficult to talk to anyone, would like to see this policy written down somewhere from this third party agency.
Thank you for your answers so far...freddy