I have been suspended by a retailer for mis-use of discount card. Please help me!!

TELLIT01

moneysavinghero said:

TELLIT01 said:

The OP is entirely at the mercy of management and whether or not they have any flexibility in application of rules on this type of misconduct. My nephew nearly had the same problem some years ago when I paid for purchases at the DIY shed he worked for, the items were for me.  I got a phone call from the company asking why I had been given a staff discount and explained that the rules stated that the card could be used on purchases 'for the employee and their family members'.  The manager said that meant their immediate family and I countered by saying that was not how their rules were worded.  My nephew had also checked with his team leader who actually said in my hearing that they weren't sure but go ahead.  With their own management structure not knowing or caring about the rules they backed down.

Why would the company call you? Why would they even have your phone number? And why would you have the rules committed to your head and ready to be reeled off to some random company calling you when you were not even the employee of that company? And why did the company you didn't work for give you a hearing?

They called me to clarify why I had been given a discount.  I already had the goods so they couldn't cancel the sale.  My nephew provided my number as we had nothing to hide.  I knew the rules because my nephew had said he could get me a discount and he checked, called me and read the section about using their discount card.  The wording was definitely 'family members' and we are unquestionably family members.  It's not our fault if the wording of their rules is wooly/ambiguous.

TELLIT01

Marvel1 said:

TELLIT01 said:

The OP is entirely at the mercy of management and whether or not they have any flexibility in application of rules on this type of misconduct. My nephew nearly had the same problem some years ago when I paid for purchases at the DIY shed he worked for, the items were for me.  I got a phone call from the company asking why I had been given a staff discount and explained that the rules stated that the card could be used on purchases 'for the employee and their family members'.  The manager said that meant their immediate family and I countered by saying that was not how their rules were worded.  My nephew had also checked with his team leader who actually said in my hearing that they weren't sure but go ahead.  With their own management structure not knowing or caring about the rules they backed down.

To be fair most people know when they say family, it does not extend to uncles, aunties, cousins etc.

The question about who the discount applied to was asked of a team leader who gave permission for the card to be used by telling him to go ahead.

swingaloo2

Dont know who you work for but my son works for one of the big retailers and has a discount card for use by family members. But, they must live at the same address as the card holder.

motorguy

brendankiwi said:

Hi,
I live with two chefs- its my wifes birthday and we went to the supermarket together to buy ingredients for tikka misala. 
At the till I used my card- and we passed the goods over the scanner together. I used my employee discount card and produced my bank card- THEN they intervened and offered to pay. I did not put up much reistance and he touched the card on the machine- thus paying for the items.  The other chef ran off to buy dessert bits and came back-- same thing- he used his card while I scanner my discount card.  
I thought that as long as i am the purchaser and no one touches the discount card but me I was okay. But not so! 

The card is issued under strict rules- I must be the purchaser. Even "carelessness" means gross misconduct and dismissal. At the first interview with the HR- they believed dismissal and a second interview in a few days with another manager will determine whether her decision is uphelp or if it is red flag warning. 

I really need my job- I just put an offer on a flat and need a letter from my employer than my job is secure. 

Hmm.... once maybe, but you allowed the same thing to happen twice, and no you werent the purchaser because they paid for their goods?

Totally at the mercy of the employer but at face value it does seem like you used your discount card to get them discounts.

TELLIT01

swingaloo2 said:

Dont know who you work for but my son works for one of the big retailers and has a discount card for use by family members. But, they must live at the same address as the card holder.

I never worked for the company in question.  My nephew worked there part time whilst at college, over 15 years ago.  As I have repeatedly said - he asked for advice and for clarification on who qualified as 'family members'.  Any fault in this laid squarely on his team leader at the time who couldn't be bothered to check.  At no point was any attempt made to conceal who the purchase was for.

brendankiwi

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

The problem here is not that it happened once, which may be explained away as an accident, but twice.  There were two transactions paid for by third parties, in which the discount card was used.  Either the OP was extremely careless, or did it deliberately.  How much are we talking about?  And, more to the point has this happened before?  Could you offer to pay the money back?  

The total purchase was £15 on both-- and the discount £1.50. They laughed at my suggestion of giving the money back. But I've maintained it was my purchase- for me-- my employers know they are my chef and they know its my wifes birthday (i had the day off for this)- they cook for me. They live with me. We share the facilities- kitchen everything.  Also I've used the card 300 times- where I was the only bill payer. 
Now i face being unemployed ---for at least 3 months taking the state purse- which is actually more than they were paying me,  But its really depressing

brendankiwi

swingaloo2 said:

Dont know who you work for but my son works for one of the big retailers and has a discount card for use by family members. But, they must live at the same address as the card holder.

yes that complies with the terms and conditions of the card for that retailer. But I work at Sainsburys-- and to do that I have to declare the other member of the household before they can pay with the discount card

brendankiwi

Marcon said:

brendankiwi said:

Hi,
I live with two chefs- its my wifes birthday and we went to the supermarket together to buy ingredients for tikka misala. 
At the till I used my card- and we passed the goods over the scanner together. I used my employee discount card and produced my bank card- THEN they intervened and offered to pay. I did not put up much reistance and he touched the card on the machine- thus paying for the items.  The other chef ran off to buy dessert bits and came back-- same thing- he used his card while I scanner my discount card.  
I thought that as long as i am the purchaser and no one touches the discount card but me I was okay. But not so! 

The card is issued under strict rules- I must be the purchaser. Even "carelessness" means gross misconduct and dismissal. At the first interview with the HR- they believed dismissal and a second interview in a few days with another manager will determine whether her decision is uphelp or if it is red flag warning. 

I really need my job- I just put an offer on a flat and need a letter from my employer than my job is secure. 

You knew the rules and you happily broke them, so it's a bit hard to see what 'help' you think anyone here can be. As others have said, once could be an error, but twice...?

Even so, I hope it'll be a warning and you keep your job.

I'm not offering excuses but I believed as long as I am the one holding the card, and am the purchaser (the purchaser is often not the bill payer eg...special needs, a carer often uses a company card rather than their charge, someone who has special attorney etc) --- also I am aware of the cameras-- it shows me scanning the items, using the discount card--- i thought the camera would protect me-- I'm the one there.... its for me! Even if another pays, i remain the purchaser...... in the terms and conditions no mention is made of bill payer. I really believed that as long as i am at the till scanning them I can use the discount card.  I do not feel ashamed in this belief at all. Other colleagues are also sharing my view on this as well. They appear surprised that they cannot have their husbands pay when they are at the till. 

TELLIT01

From the viewpoint of the business, you used the discount card but you did not pay for the items.  That, it would seem, is in breach of their rules.  It does seem odd that they should react like that over two very small purchases.  I can only assume it's because the card was used twice in quick succession and you didn't pay the bill.  Hopefully with the sales value being so low you will get off with a warning.

68ComebackSpecial

TELLIT01 said:

From the viewpoint of the business, you used the discount card but you did not pay for the items.  That, it would seem, is in breach of their rules.  It does seem odd that they should react like that over two very small purchases.  I can only assume it's because the card was used twice in quick succession and you didn't pay the bill.  Hopefully with the sales value being so low you will get off with a warning.

The OPs latest thread suggests that he has been dismissed.