Phantom charges – extraordinary coincidence or robbery by software glitch? 8 February at 11:20PM in Food shopping & groceries 6 replies 606 views

kjello

I’m still reeling from a phantom item on my M&S grocery bill, a self-checkout bill that magicked up a Chicken Tikka at £4.25. That would be baffling enough but I was checking my bill carefully at the checkout because several days previously I’d got home and saw a phantom item on my receipt from a (different) M&S store with exactly the same phantom item – Chicken Tikka at £4.25. The odds against that happening coincidentally must be monumental. Could there be a central software glitch that randomly charges the amount from random stores? I know that sounds even more far-fetched but I’m floundering trying to explain it to myself.

Just for the record, the assistant at the second store checked the items against the bill and confirmed there was no Chicken Tikka anywhere to be seen. And I have never in my life bought an M&S ready-made chicken tikka, so to be charged twice for it in a matter of days is crying out for an explanation!

Mnoee

It could be as simple as an item you bought twice has been misprogrammed to appear on the receipt as chicken tikka, when it's a chicken kiev or something. Were all the other items you bought definitely on the receipt? 

kjello

Were all the other items you bought definitely on the receipt?

Yes, all of them. and none equated  in any way to a chicken tikka

serpico100

I once found an item on my receipt that I didn’t recognise. It was a Chicken Tarka. When I questioned a member of staff about it and asked what it was, they said that it was like a Chicken Tikka but it was a little otter....

jon81uk

Do you have a scarf, a bag or something else from another store with a barcode that is being read by accident while you scan your shopping? For it to happen in two different stores makes me think its something to do with you or something you carry.

Also as others have said did you have the correct number of items? So it might say Chicken Tikka but is actually something else.

kjello

jon81uk said:

Do you have a scarf, a bag or something else from another store with a barcode that is being read by accident while you scan your shopping? For it to happen in two different stores makes me think its something to do with you or something you carry.

Now that makes sense! Thanks.The only item that I can recollect that I had with me on both occasions was a carrier bag from another supermarket. I'll check it out next time. As well as all the other suggestions. The assistant is going to be wondering what on earth is going on but it will be interesting trying to solve the mystery.

The takeaway I suppose is to always check the receipt and not just flash the card and go.

Murphybear

serpico100 said:

I once found an item on my receipt that I didn’t recognise. It was a Chicken Tarka. When I questioned a member of staff about it and asked what it was, they said that it was like a Chicken Tikka but it was a little otter....