Debit Card Transactions

[scoobydooby]

I'd been noticing some strange, but small, debit card transactions on my bank statements recently and, thinking a staff member was on the fiddle (it was always the same shop), decided to investigate. I had amounts appearing on my statement when I knew I hadn't used my card around that time.

I paid a visit to my bank who looked into it further for me. It turns out that these transactions were month's old! I complained that I though the whole idea of using a debit card was so that it would be deducted from my bank almost straight away but I was told that it depends on the shop's bankers/banking system. If I wasn't fussed about when the money was deducted, I'd have written a cheque!

This is only happening with one particular shop I use BUT it is part of a large chain - not an independent. My bank has advised me that if a shop's debit card system isn't 'online' then transactions may take a while but they also tell me there's no way of knowing this. Incidentally, many transactions from this shop have been deducted straight away, so it's not all of them.

Has anyone else had this problem and is there a time limit for transactions to go through?

[stevie21]

In brief, it's all the shop's fault, the bank are free of all blame, it's not too common and there's no time limit whatsoever on when the money can leave your account after you've swiped your card.

If you monitor your bank account neurotically then you'll be aware of which payments have or haven't debited so it's entirely in your hands to budget for the stragglers.

Possibly not the news you wanted to hear but hey ho.

Bank of Stevie.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Dare I say not to use the shop again?

I have this same problem with a rather large supermarket who does home deliveries.  I know that they 'swipe' the card before the goods are delivered but it has taken up to a week for the transaction to show.  However, if I go into the store and use my card then the transaction is showing deducted from my balance when I check on-line later.  Who said 'every little helps'! ;0)

[vicars]

Yes Mrs Pegasus, especially the blue and white labels they use as well. I had a friend who paid a large deposit on a car and no payment came out for over 10 days. He was thinking of transfering the money out of the account but I told him not to - a few days later and the money went - so even on large transactions it can take its time.