Strange contactless transaction

peachyprice

Something very peculiar happened in Lidl today, I paid for my shopping with my contactless and immediately received a refund for the same amount. Both transactions are showing the same time.

I'd already left the store and area by the time I checked my phone, if it doesn't reconcile overnight I'll pop in tomorrow, but I can't for the life of me figure out how it happened. I definitely only tapped once and only received one receipt, which is for the correct amount.

Any thoughts how it might have happened?

born_again

Who do you bank with?

Could be that transaction was declined and they showing the auths as a debit & credit.

peachyprice

Monzo.

They send an instant notification if a transaction is declined, my receipt has the authorisation code on it.

Polarpenguin

Happened to me once in Boots, I was using Starling. Wasn't my local store so was going to call, but it reconciled it'self a few days later.

jonnygee2

It's pretty common. It's normally a timeout issue. During the transaction the two parties send a load of different messages to each other in sequence. If one message takes too long, then the other system generally refunds the transaction, if at the same time the other one confirms it then you basically have two transactions registered (this isn't the best explanation but you get the gist).

I'd give it three days or so to reconcile before going back to the shop, as the transaction might 'present' in a few days.

DCFC79

I cant see it being sorted out at store level, maybe wait a few days and see if it sorts itself out.