Visa Debit Validation Process

balood_2

Hi

I paid for petrol at the pump at my local Tesco Station on the night of the 29th September. In order to validate my Visa Debit card Tesco requested £1 from my Co-Op account. They then requested the money for the petrol after I had filled up.

The issue was that my bank held on to that £1 because they said that they had to wait 7 to 10 days to see if Tesco requested the money. The issue is that I did not know this before I paid at the pump. The £1 that they held might have been a small amount but it mean't that the following day I could not withdraw cash at my ATM because my balance was too low.

It was only returned 6 days later when I complained to my bank. I wrote to the Tesco Store Manager and spoke to member of the management at the store. They said that the money should have been returned with hours not days. The manager stated that the would speak to the petrol stations operations manager about process to confirm this and call me. They never contacted me so I phoned them today. I spoke to another member of staff who repeat the belief that the money should have been returned within hours not days.

I therefore contacted my bank again and they again said the 7 to 10 day holding time can only be shortened if the store had sent a Fax or Email to the bank allow the money to be returned to my account. I have a second account in the Nationwide so I phone them and asked them about their Visa Debit validation process and they said the same money is held for 7 days unless they are contacted by Email or Fax.

So who is right, can Tesco's realise the money back into my account within hours or did my bank lie to me about the time scale so they can hold on it in some secret account and gain interest on it?

Can someone please confirm time scales for me?

Cheers

glentoran99

No the bank are correct, Tesco process may well release the money but that just means it isn't claimed, and the bank holds it for 7 days and if its not claimed releases back to your account, its pretty common

agrinnall

I very much doubt if it was released because you complained, it probably just coincidentally dropped off because of the length of time, most bank staff will have no idea (and probably no system) how to remove a hold.

System

It's pretty standard with pay at pump.

If £1 is causing financial issues, your better just to pay at the kiosk.

molerat

If £1 causes a problem don't fill up in Sainsburys then !

20aday

Whenever I've used Pay at the Pump my card has been pre-authorised £1 (irrespective of the amount dispensed) with the full amount being debited within two days (usually).

In my experience (particularly with Santander 123) it's about three days before the £1 pre-authorisation is 'released' back to the balance available to me.

Archi_Bald

molerat wrote: »

If £1 causes a problem don't fill up in Sainsburys then !

Or pay at the kiosk