Overcharged

Manxman_in_exile

It wasn't an attempt at humour.  It was an expression of exasperation at yet another* poster who apparently either can't spell or won't check their spelling.

However, on the basis that the OP can spell - as evidenced by their last post - I shall apologise for my misdirected criticism and offer the following hopefully more helpful advice...

Having been overcharged or shortchanged in bars and pubs more times than I care to remember, I'd have to say that you don't really have much comeback as a customer unless you challenge the transaction right there and then in front of the member of staff serving you, and raise any discrepancies with them immediately.  I don't think the bar is necessarily correct in saying that if you did not challenge it at the time that there is nothing they can do, but if you didn't challenge it at the time then you make it much more difficult for yourself.

If you only noticed a few days later after checking your bank statement, I assume you paid by debit card.  If so, I presume you have some kind of itemised bill or receipt detailing how the amount was made up?  If that is the case, then presumably either (a) you've been charged for drinks etc you never had or (b) the actual card transaction was for a different amount than the one you should have been charged with.  If (a) I don't see how you can prove several days after the event what drinks you did or did not have.  If (b) you ought to be able to show to the bar that the amount they debited your card with does not agree with the bill - which hopefully you still have.

All you can really do is go back to the bar and challenge them again.  If you can demonstrate that they debited your card with an amount greater than they should have done, then they really ought to refund you.  But if it's simply a dispute over what drinks you had, I suspect you'll get nowhere with them.  You could always try getting a refund from your bank, but I suspect they'll just say that you clearly authorised the transaction so there is nothing they can do.  However, if you still have your itemised bill, you may be able to persuade your bank that although you were debited £40, you thought you were only authorising £30.

For £10 it's not really worth doing anything more.  But if you kick up enough of a fuss, the bar (or your bank) may just give you a tenner to go away.

The only real principle here is always to check the detail of any cash or card transactions in a pub or bar at the time of the transaction.


*(See also: advise/advice; of/have; were/where; there/their; unpunctuated general stream of consciousness posts; posters who use the pronoun "they" to refer to several different people in the same sentence but with no indication as to which "they" they mean at any one time; general mixing and interchanging of pronouns; omission of important details; etc etc ...)

Jenni_D

Manxman_in_exile said:

It wasn't an attempt at humour.

As the forum has a Be Kind rule I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.  

Edit: not sure if the OP says, but I'm imagining that the transactions were tap-n-go (contactless) rather than card in-enter PIN. In either case though the OP should have seen the transaction amounts before presenting their card or entering their PIN. That was the time to query the amounts.  

ItsComingRome

iZone said:

Manxman_in_exile said:

Having been undoubtedly overcharged in various pubs and bars over the years myself, I was initially inclined to side with the OP - until they said they wanted to challenge it on "principal".

I'm new to this forum, but I wonder what you meant here and why you would say this. Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, but aren't all consumer rights issues a matter of principle? As in, plain and simple, people shouldn't be ripped off or suffer because of someone's oversight/mistake?

No, most consumer rights complaints are not a matter of "principle" as the primary objective is to either get what they paid for or get their money back. Being "right" is absolutely secondary.  Most people who claim it's "the principle of the matter" are not being truthful in this regard.

Jenni_D

Oh dear - I suggest you quickly edit that post before the Grammar Police see it.  

elsien

mrsmiff68 said:

Thanks for the replies. I contacted my bank about an itemised bill but they said they couldn't do that in this instance. I might be able to find out what time the transaction was and then contact the venue to check their records but it's too much bother to be honest. I only wanted to know what my rights were on the matter, not turn it into a crusade.
The transaction was a tap and go and you are right, i should have checked at point of sale. In my defence, the venue was very noisy and i am hard of hearing. I also suffer from anxiety so challenging someone over anything is a big deal for me. Another point is, i didn't know for certain i was overcharged at point of sale as these venues prices are very high. I only knew for certain when the venue gave me their price list.
Anyway, thanks again for your advice on this matter. I will be more aware next time i buy drinks!

I do find that many places now don't automatically offer receipts, but have the facility to do so if you ask. I always ask for one, because sod's law is that if I don't, that'll be the one that I need. Might be worth starting to ask for receipts from here on it, if you don't already do so. 

Manxman_in_exile

mrsmiff68 said:

Jenni_D said:

Oh dear - I suggest you quickly edit that post before the Grammar Police see it.  

It's ok, if they want to make fun of me because of my lack of intelligence, that's fine

Ah.  Well said and point noted!    

Be as assertive as you have been here and you shouldn't be losing any more money in the bar in future.  

Good luck and check those transactions!   

born_again

mrsmiff68 said:

Thanks for the replies. I contacted my bank about an itemised bill but they said they couldn't do that in this instance. I might be able to find out what time the transaction was and then contact the venue to check their records but it's too much bother to be honest. I only wanted to know what my rights were on the matter, not turn it into a crusade.
The transaction was a tap and go and you are right, i should have checked at point of sale. In my defence, the venue was very noisy and i am hard of hearing. I also suffer from anxiety so challenging someone over anything is a big deal for me. Another point is, i didn't know for certain i was overcharged at point of sale as these venues prices are very high. I only knew for certain when the venue gave me their price list.
Anyway, thanks again for your advice on this matter. I will be more aware next time i buy drinks!

Why do people think that their bank gets a itemised bill of their transaction?
Retailer requests a amount banks authorises it. End of story. Only place that has a itemised receipt is the retailer.

While a bank can request a copy of a receipt from a retailer (within 120 days) If it is a contactless or PIN transaction. Retailers do not have to supply them as it is deemed that it was authorised by the cardholder.

TELLIT01

Regarding checking the amount before using contactless payment, I have noticed a lot more machines lately where the contact area (if that isn't a contradition on a contactless machine) is at the end of the machine rather than on the face.  It is then more difficult to check the amount, although obviously it should still be done.  In a busy location it is all too easy just to assume the correct amount is being charged.

ItsComingRome

TELLIT01 said:

Regarding checking the amount before using contactless payment, I have noticed a lot more machines lately where the contact area (if that isn't a contradition on a contactless machine) is at the end of the machine rather than on the face.  It is then more difficult to check the amount, although obviously it should still be done.  In a busy location it is all too easy just to assume the correct amount is being charged.

I don't see how?  The "face" is where the display is.  By placing the contact area away from the face you have full visibility of the face. Surely this is better than having to cover the face with your card to pay?  (Even though you should check the amount before you wildly wave your card around to pay.)

Pollycat

TELLIT01 said:

Regarding checking the amount before using contactless payment, I have noticed a lot more machines lately where the contact area (if that isn't a contradition on a contactless machine) is at the end of the machine rather than on the face.  It is then more difficult to check the amount, although obviously it should still be done.  In a busy location it is all too easy just to assume the correct amount is being charged.

I never present my card until I've checked the amount - and if I can't easily see the display, then I will ask.
Although it wasn't in a busy location, yesterday I bought 3 items of OTC medication.
I'd noted the price of each item (2 were the same) and when she said how much, I queried it immediately.
On checking, we found she'd scanned 3 of the 2 items instead of 2.
My money. I take care of it.