Can a supermarket confiscate girlfriends debit card?

[Deleted User]

cookertron wrote: »

I work in the service industry and see people using other peoples card all the time. I would soon lose trade if I embarrassed my customers by confiscating bank cards every time. It seems totally over the top on the part of the 'yellow' supermarket! Strange how I was allowed to keep the items I'd purchased to the self service checkout though.

so you condone fraud as well?

meer53

cookertron wrote: »

I work in the service industry and see people using other peoples card all the time. I would soon lose trade if I embarrassed my customers by confiscating bank cards every time. It seems totally over the top on the part of the 'yellow' supermarket! Strange how I was allowed to keep the items I'd purchased to the self service checkout though.

Why would you accept cards that you know aren't being used by the genuine cardholder :eek: Wherever it is that you work, is a fraudsters dream !

You may also find that your facility to accept card payments may be removed if your merchant bank finds out what you're doing. It's quite naive of you to think that this was "over the top".

bris

Yes they are allowed to do it, part of the merchant services agreement allows a card to be retained in the event of anything suspicious, this was certainly that.

jason1231972

Look at it from the perspective of the customer service adviser, OP. If anyone heard/saw that they had allowed this card to be returned, and reported it it management, they'd probably get their P45 shortly after...

mum2one

at the self service checkout your the only one with the card at a main till, if it came up with an error the cashier would then be involved.

As others have said, its a few small purchases made 1st, so the fraudster knows the card hasn't been reported, then wham bang mega spending spree.

My guess is you haven't been a victim of fraud, - if you had ud be pleased that someone is observeant, - going back 12 yrs I had my handbag stolen and within 3 days they'd used every cheque, and run me a 2k overdraft up, thast without using the other cards. Luckly I got them cancelled, but it was a nightmare getting all the money back to the account.

lufc7

Having not so long ago been the victim of fraud, I also think the member of staff with the courage to confront the situation deserves some recognition. I believe that you dont confront customers knowingly using others cards as a sign of cowardice and weakness on your behalf.
And I also think you are being nieve in thinking they are being over the top, if you are genuinely allowed to use the card in the future why not use a little common sense and get cash out from a cash machine to use at the supermarket?then these little misunderstandings may not happen!!still bear in mind that your girlfriend is probably still breaking her T&C for her bank even in that instance!:)

cookertron

Perhaps my judgement has been clouded by the immense feelings of frustration.

They should still have asked for the goods I'd purchased back if they thought that I could have been using the card fraudulently. Maybe I'm just knitpicking though.

I still think this gung-ho approach to confiscating the cards is over the top. Yes we live in a world of rules and regs but in the age of Chip and Pin, I'm sure cards are used by partners all the time. Even the guys patting the cashier on the back have probably done it.

oh well, live and learn

Thanks for the feedback.

Cookertron

scottishblondie

By giving you her PIN your girlfriend has violated her T&C - if her banks finds out they are not going to be happy!

lufc7

cookertron wrote: »

Perhaps my judgement has been clouded by the immense feelings of frustration.

They should still have asked for the goods I'd purchased back if they thought that I could have been using the card fraudulently. Maybe I'm just knitpicking though.

I still think this gung-ho approach to confiscating the cards is over the top. Yes we live in a world of rules and regs but in the age of Chip and Pin, I'm sure cards are used by partners all the time. Even the guys patting the cashier on the back have probably done it.

oh well, live and learn

Thanks for the feedback.

Cookertron

I am actually taken aback here genuinely Its very rare on here for people to get opinions and feedback against what they maybe expected or perceived, to then have the guts to at least admit tha their opinion may be clouded or at least biased. I can understand the frustration and yes i have also been guilty of allowing my wife use my card and vice versa. I wouldnt object though if I or my wife had the card taken off us at the supermarket, its just what i would expect if caught. Anyway lesson learned and maybe I would of been more understanding if i hadnt been a victim of fraud where the card had been signed for rather than a pin used. hope you get the card back and just remember the member of staff was just doing their job, good luck:)

cookertron

scottishblondie wrote: »

By giving you her PIN your girlfriend has violated her T&C - if her banks finds out they are not going to be happy!

Do you know your partners PIN number, would he/she tell you if you ask of it? But you wouldn't ask for it because you don't want your partner to be thrown in jail for a squillion years or if he/she tried to tell you you'd cover your ears and go "LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, I CAN'T HEAR YOU LA-LA-LA-LA" (blah, now I'm getting cynical).

I'll quit replying now the fog has cleared.