Can I ask bank to block cash back at till option?

Vortigern

jumeriah64 wrote: »

I guess there is an argument to replace the debit card with a credit card without cash withdrawal options? Would that eliminate the option?

Supermarkets (and most other retailers) will not give cashback on a credit card, although we see occasional reports of people getting cashback on credit cards in pubs.

Your relative's helper could abuse a credit card by using it to buy gift cards from a supermarket.

Hazzanet

glentoran99 wrote: »

No you cant, as its processed as a sale,

Are you 100% sure it goes through a sale?

System

The bank is definitely able to tell cashback has been given but most don't bother to create a separate entry in the statement.

IIRC NatWest do create two distinct entries.

bettyboo71

I have worked with clients with varied disabilities, and have seen this sort of financial abuse by many relatives/friends.
As most have said, it seems unlikely that the bank can stop cashback being available, because of the way the transaction is put through the till - although it would definitely show up on the receipt as cashback - mine always does.
Definitely worth contacting the bank - possibly make an appointment, go in and speak to an advisor, explain the situation and ask for suggestions/options?
If this person has capacity, and this is a long-standing relationship, there may be many reasons why they are apparently willing to allow this to happen, even if you think it is under duress. If you are not able to have a frank conversation with them about the situation, at the end of the day it is their money. There may be things in the past that you are not aware of, and perhaps this situation is viewed by them both as 'payback' in some way. I have worked with clients who have been happy for friends/relatives to have a bit extra (whatever form that takes) because they are grateful for what is done for them. You are in a very difficult situation, but at least you are doing your best to manage it as far as you can.

jumeriah64

Vortigern wrote: »

Supermarkets (and most other retailers) will not give cashback on a credit card, although we see occasional reports of people getting cashback on credit cards in pubs.

Your relative's helper could abuse a credit card by using it to buy gift cards from a supermarket.

Blimey so many ways to twist and turn if one had a mind to. Yes thanks for pointing that out...is another loop to be aware of when putting restrictions in place.

Many thanks for pointing that out...I'm learning a lot here which will help our way forward. All the best

jumeriah64

Hazzanet wrote: »

Are you 100% sure it goes through a sale?

Thanks for showing that...this is in fact what I hoped to be able to see but having not done it I did not know. Is very useful and we will take a look at the receipts gathered to date and see what the reality in. Many thanks for that useful data

jumeriah64

bettyboo71 wrote: »

I have worked with clients with varied disabilities, and have seen this sort of financial abuse by many relatives/friends.
As most have said, it seems unlikely that the bank can stop cashback being available, because of the way the transaction is put through the till - although it would definitely show up on the receipt as cashback - mine always does.
Definitely worth contacting the bank - possibly make an appointment, go in and speak to an advisor, explain the situation and ask for suggestions/options?
If this person has capacity, and this is a long-standing relationship, there may be many reasons why they are apparently willing to allow this to happen, even if you think it is under duress. If you are not able to have a frank conversation with them about the situation, at the end of the day it is their money. There may be things in the past that you are not aware of, and perhaps this situation is viewed by them both as 'payback' in some way. I have worked with clients who have been happy for friends/relatives to have a bit extra (whatever form that takes) because they are grateful for what is done for them. You are in a very difficult situation, but at least you are doing your best to manage it as far as you can.

your analysis is absolutely on the money bettyboo. I use the word duress in the loosest sense and not necessarily the relative but the child of the friend who we get a sixth sense puts pressure on the friend to take advantage...but we could be very wrong.

Yes its a practice that has formed over years we think. Most likely started off as kindness and mutated into something else. I can see some signs of stress on our relative over time and we believe its due to this situation. Why, well now we have managed to fix the 90% of the problem, there 'appears' to be relief ... but that is very subjective.

We are definitely getting there. As mentioned we could previously measure this in the thousands. Now it is down to a fraction of that but definitely there is still manipulation.

The responses in this thread have been very useful in defining our strategy to improve it further and with the aim of turning it off or reducing it to negligible proportions.

I agree with other folks about the purity of napalming it but as you correctly describe, it simply isn't that straight forward. These are relationships that have existed for years and even if we could doubt the quality of the relationship they are their reality and even though we are for sure doing good works, it could blow back if not done sensitively. It's working for sure but we just need seal off these little loop holes that folks replying in the thread are highlighting....is very useful data.

Many thanks for taking thee time to reply

Flobberchops

Regarding an earlier question, I believe it is possible to make a debit card unusable at ATMs. Certainly ATM-only cards exist and I think I recall seeing the option to turn off ATM functionality for cards. I'll investigate and report back if it's of any use.

Just a thought about going cashless at the supermarket - some shops have prepaid cards, or the low-tech version which is the old store savings book filled with stamps that have been bought from a vending machine at a pound each. I have no idea whether these methods would allow a person to buy a cheap item and take the rest in cash change, but it would certainly put a limit on how much of the intended shopping money could find its way into somebody's back pocket. As others have pointed out a credit card may fulfill the same role.

Westie983

Flobberchops wrote: »

Regarding an earlier question, I believe it is possible to make a debit card unusable at ATMs. Certainly ATM-only cards exist and I think I recall seeing the option to turn off ATM functionality for cards. I'll investigate and report back if it's of any use.

Just a thought about going cashless at the supermarket - some shops have prepaid cards, or the low-tech version which is the old store savings book filled with stamps that have been bought from a vending machine at a pound each. I have no idea whether these methods would allow a person to buy a cheap item and take the rest in cash change, but it would certainly put a limit on how much of the intended shopping money could find its way into somebody's back pocket. As others have pointed out a credit card may fulfill the same role.

You can change your account to signature only which will remove the ATM function but this also removes CNP at shops and petrol pumps and just allows access via a counter system, so doesnt sound like it the right thing for the OP.

Im sure the payments that are debited with cash-back added only show as one amount from the retailer, but shows on the receipt you took advantage of cash-back as many cashiers ask you to sign that you have received the cash-back.

The debit that shows on your bank account is the total amount I believe.

GingerFurball_2

glentoran99 wrote: »

Yes you cant block it as the bank doesn't see it as a cashback option, only as a purchase from said retailer,

Wrong .