Money Moral Dilemma: Should I start using the employee discount card from my old job again?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I used to work for one of the big supermarkets, where I had a 20% employee discount card. When I left I was told the HR department would deactivate the card, but three years on it's still active, even though I've told them about it three times. My partner's view is we should start using it again as it's their error, but I disagree because it's a benefit I'm not entitled to.

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maisie_cat

You are correct, your partner's integrity is not to be trusted

Andy_L

Using it would be Fraud, which can get you sent to prison

Jude57

I agree with previous posters. Using the card could even be considered theft as you know you are not entitled to the discount. If you know it's still working you must have used the card. You could of course do the decent thing and hand it back to a manager in the store. Or cut it up and dispose of it. It's not a difficult decision, it's the right thing to do, legally and morally.

Dakta

Not a dilemma as such, just a case of whether you want to do wrong or not, whether it's wrong is not really under any doubt.

I would be extremely shocked if there was not an audit trail of card usage either, so there may be fun times ahead

74jax

Cut it up, throw it out and seriously question your partners loyalty, morals and everything else about them. 

Sandtree

How do you know its still active and gives the employee discount if you've not used it?


On a related question, lots of companies use various free employee discount services like Xexec and similar. Many of these simply give you a discount code (one for a white goods company is always xexecmmmyy (eg xexecnov21)) which you put into the retailers regular website and discount happens, a few require you to use special links. 

If you look at discount code websites these codes are occasionally on there but others arent... is moral to use these no cost codes? Is it only moral to use them if someone else has shared them on another website? In fact with some companies (not necessarily Xexec) the largest employers get a percentage of the kickback from the merchant and so you arent defrauding your ex-employer but enriching them. 

Marvel1

To know it's activated means you used it, why did you keep it when you left, let alone use it?

f5morg

3 years on and if you're still testing if the card works then it seems like that's what you want to do (perhaps you have been using it anyway ) - I believe most would have tossed it because that's all you have to do for it to no longer be an issue. There may come a time in the future when there is an audit or some reconciliation with ID names and discounts, discount use and registered names on bank cards or something similar and then there actually will be an issue of what's said above, theft, fraud, fines and they can take you to court.

When you leave a place of work if you still have an entry key to non-public areas, then that is trespassing, even if they didn't collect it or do the right checks, or deactivate it. 

It seems the issue is not your inner dilemma, but in your relationship. This would be fixed with a pair of scissors as mentioned above, but you haven't for some reason.

Just like when there's an accidental bank deposit and those people spend the money, the banks error doesn't mean you get the money. Things work in corporations favour.

I think it's worth asking why it is so hard for you to throw it away? If the discount is so enticing work there again

mrsplinter

Using the employee discount card is likely to be fraud by false representation. If caught you could be arrested, charged, and appear in Court. Should you require legal representation you may have to pay for this yourself depending on your financial circumstances. If convicted, assuming you have no previous convictions, you could be looking at a fine or community order. Then there could be Court costs, compensation to your former employer, and a victim surcharge. You will have to declare the conviction for one year from the fine or until one year after the community order has finished. During this period you will have to declare your conviction when asked. Insurance companies are likely to ask and may charge you more than they otherwise would when they learn you have a conviction.

Therefore it's a 20% discount on your supermarket shopping vs the risk of legal fees, a  fine, compensation, victim surcharge, Court costs, and increased insurance costs. I know which one is the moneysaving as well as the moral option. That's leaving aside the potential for reputational damage, inconvenience, and loss of time when prosecuted and sentenced.

bradavon

f5morg said:

3 years on and if you're still testing if the card works then it seems like that's what you want to do (perhaps you have been using it anyway )

Good point.I'd question how you know if you've not tried?