Being Charged twice on debit card- what to do?

gwynfil

Hi   
I went shopping in Sainsburys and paid with my debit card. The transaction did not go through according to the lady at the till. I was asked to pay again. I did this and it went through and I have the receipt. When I checked my Barclays online banking the payment had been debited from my available balance twice. This has never happened to me before. I did some research online and I see this happens quite often to people. Luckily, the amount was for £28.93 and not a large sum, so I have not gone overdrawn. The payment that produced a receipt shows in the cleared section, the other payment is in the pending section.
I see from the internet, that at some point my balance should be refunded so to speak for this sort of 'ghost transaction'. It will be about 5/7 working days by this Monday. that this occurred.  I have approached Barclays and they say it should go back in and Sainsburys have offered to discuss the situation if the duplicate payment goes through as a permanent transaction to look to a refund. It is not Sainsburys or Barclays fault. It was an error on the card processing system. 
I'm going to wait 14 days and if my balance is not rectified will go back to Barclays.
Anyone else had this happen to them?
This may seem trivial in the current Coronavirus circumstances, but I think the law should change so nobody is without access to their own money for more than 5 working days. I can't imagine how people manage if it is thousand pound transactions that get duplicated and it stops their cash flow for daily needs. In a society where they are pushing us to cashless- then cashless needs to be better regulated.
Thanks all.

dunstonh

 the other payment is in the pending section.

It will drop off.  Earmarks are not actual transactions and do not reduce your actual balance.   They just reduce your available balance until they drop off.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

Probably everybody who has ever held a debit card has had it happen to them at some point.  Most of whom would never have noticed it.   

This may seem trivial in the current Coronavirus circumstances, but I think the law should change so nobody is without access to their own money for more than 5 working days.

Changes in the law do not happen that quickly and by the time the law was changed, it would be over.   It would cost a significant amount for something that impacts on so very few people.

In a society where they are pushing us to cashless- then cashless needs to be better regulated.

Every system has a failure rate. You cannot get 100% perfection.    Earmarking of transactions has been taking place for 30 years.   It is only in recent times that you got to see the earmarks (it used to be bank staff only that could see them).  

 Banks do have the ability to adjust the earmark.    Although they may only reserve that for customers with good standing.

gwynfil

Thanks for your reply.  It was very helpful and clear. I'm still waiting for my money to be freed up- if I wanted to spend that £28 - I couldn't. For some families that could be their food budget. I think that people that have it happen with larger amounts, may find they are unable to pay bills or go overdrawn. The laws on PPI and recurring payments were changed - so I'm always hopeful that the public can make change happen. I believe that this issue happens to many people and I think it needs changing to be on the side of the consumer more. There are loads of articles about it on the net. When it happens on mass(say with a computer glitch and a big firm), it makes the newspapers. 

dunstonh

The laws on PPI and recurring payments were changed -

There were no law changes on PPI.    The regulator made one rule change in that it could not be sold at the same time as the application for debt.

I believe that this issue happens to many people and I think it needs changing to be on the side of the consumer more. 

It does happen a lot but it doesn't impact on many.  And that is largely the problem you have in trying to get change.

And as I said, the bank has it within its power to change the earmark on your account.   So, for someone in hardship, the bank should consider that in their decision-making process as to whether to remove it or not.   Unfortunately, it cannot be automatically because you get fraudsters and people trying it on.

There are loads of articles about it on the net. When it happens on mass(say with a computer glitch and a big firm), it makes the newspapers. 

Something like that affects hundreds of thousands or millions of people.    What we are talking about here is something that someone may have happen to them on average once in 10 years and for most it will not create an issue and will go unnoticed.  So, its not newsworthy.

societys_child

If I wanted to spend that £28 - I couldn't.

Wow, you really do need to start budgeting if it's that bad.

gwynfil

Thanks for all replies.  My available balance was credited the £28. It had been taken out on a Monday and went back in the following Monday, so about 5-7 working days. I have been in debt over the years, but always manageable debt and have found the attitude of other people on money saving expert kind and helpful.  I am now debt free and have savings, but I always hope I can help other people that may have financial difficulties, by posting my financial journey on here. £28 is a fortune to some people- let's never get snooty and arrogant about people being poor.