Asda home shopping - holding money

gettingready

Well, as I have been shopping at Asda for the past 20 years or so - all habits die hard. I am used to their groceries and they are cheaper than Tesco (on what I tend to buy anyway) so this issue with payments REALLY bothers me.

I do not have a car and can not drag shoping home on busses - I tend to order al the bulky/heavy stuff for home delivery and then buy small bits and pieces if I need to during the month.

But can not afford to have money frozen like that all the time

Azari

gettingready wrote: »

Well, as I have been shopping at Asda for the past 20 years or so - all habits die hard. I am used to their groceries and they are cheaper than Tesco (on what I tend to buy anyway) so this issue with payments REALLY bothers me.

I do not have a car and can not drag shoping home on busses - I tend to order al the bulky/heavy stuff for home delivery and then buy small bits and pieces if I need to during the month.

But can not afford to have money frozen like that all the time

How much more would it cost to use Tesco?

It may work out better for you even if it does cost a little more.

Of course, it is a disgrace that Asda can't manage to handle payments properly but they are a pretty naff company, really.

gettingready

Tesco online does not take my card

Azari

gettingready wrote: »

Tesco online does not take my card

And there's no way you can get another card?

Or a small overdraft to cover the extra that Asda charge?

It might even be worth changing your bank to one who uses a more widely accepted card.

I really sympathise with your plight here - the whole thing stinks when it's putting you under so much unnecessary stress.

gettingready

Thansk for the link, Asda is mentioned here but they seem to be blaming the banks on this one...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2011/05/online_shopping_rant.html

Asda Online Shopping Response:

This issue is an unfortunate result of how debit card payments are processed for our online deliveries.
If people pay on their debit card, their bank is often asked to 'ringfence' the estimated funds in their account until their purchases are delivered and the actual money owed can be drawn down from their account.
If there is a difference between the price of your grocery shopping when its ordered and price you pay on the day of delivery (in Miss Kelshaw's case her shopping was £5 cheaper) some banks see the 'ringfenced' amount and the amount we charge on delivery as two separate transactions. The bank takes the actual amount charged for the shopping but the 'ringfenced' funds remain held.
Unfortunately, there isn't a standard process for banks when it comes to releasing ringfenced funds.
We are keen to work with the banks see how this process could be improved and are working to find ways to minimise this issue for our online customers.

BUT - no other shops do this so obviously the fault lies on Asda's side... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

gettingready

No, can not get another card or overdraft or another bank account...

Azari

gettingready wrote: »

No, can not get another card or overdraft or another bank account...

OK, how about this?

When your Asda shop is due, make sure that there is only enough money in there for them to take it once. (i.e. withdraw the rest in cash [leave a safety margin] and put it back once Asda have delivered.

That way, when they have picked your goods and made up the bill they can't take anything other than what they've 'fenced'. So they either put it all back or do what they should have done in the first place - release the money they are not taking.

It would be really good to find a way to get you round this ridiculous problem.

gettingready

Azari wrote: »

OK, how about this?

When your Asda shop is due, make sure that there is only enough money in there for them to take it once. (i.e. withdraw the rest in cash [leave a safety margin] and put it back once Asda have delivered.

Not going to work, it will still go into that "pending" on the account that way. And takes ages to clear.

I really see no other way than just stop Asda online all together. It is going to be pain in the neck to have to do the shopping normal way (time and effort - dragging heavy bags on the busses and having to go more than once per week) but can not see any other way.

I remember doing about 300 worth of shopping before Xmas one year (must be like 2 years ago) and this is when I noticed that first time - they have blocked another 300 or so on my account. But at that time I was able to call my bank and the bank was able to release the money - and they were doing it till before last week. When I called my bank last wee they said they can not do it any more....

Azari

gettingready wrote: »

Not going to work, it will still go into that "pending" on the account that way. And takes ages to clear.

Sorry, I don't understand.

Let me explain with figures.


You have, in your account: £200
You want to buy £80 of goods.
You withdraw £110
You have £90 in your account
Asda 'fences' the £80 - that is successful
You have £10 available in your account
Asda picks your order and it comes to £82
Asda tries to take £82 from your account but is rebuffed because it only has £10 available.

Asda then has the option of returning your order to the shelves (or whatever they do in such circumstances) or 'unfencing' the £80 and taking the payment or taking the £80 and a further £2.

gordikin

...it doesn't matter what anyone suggests, OP has said nay to all.