Is this a new supermarket scanning scam?

[Harlesden]

Man goes to his local large supermarket, does his shopping and gets home.
Only when he is unpacking his groceries and checking the receipt does he notice that there is a £30 cashback on the receipt.
He neither asked for nor received any cashback although there is a £30 debit in his bank account.
The cashier's till was checked and was found to be spot on - neither over nor under. The supermarket refuses to refund the £30 insisting that the customer must have made a mistake and accepted the £30. The manager was actually rather abrupt with the customer.
What would you do if this happened to you?
Although the victim has written a strongly worded letter to the chain's head office including a complaint about the manager's attitude, surely there is something else he can do.

 

[Zoidberg]

I don't know if it's a scam or not, but in the supermarket I use, the customer has to initial the receipt against the Cashback to acknowledge receipt of same to help to prevent disputes of this nature.

AND 'Cashback' is displayed on the till and customer facing display when such a transaction is taking place.

But I struggle to understand how someone would not notice the final bill being around £30 more than expected.

To the question, 'What would you do if it happened to you?' - I'd like to think it wouldn't since I know, to within a few pounds, what I expect the final bill to come to and any issue would be raised at the till.

PS: And I usually use a Credit Card for purchases, unless I want Cashback, then I use a Debit Card.

 

[Greenback]

What would you do if this happened to you?

Be more vigilant in the future. Apart from that, write to the head office as has been done.

Although the victim has written a strongly worded letter to the chain's head office including a complaint about the manager's attitude, surely there is something else he can do.

There isn't really anything else that can be done, given it boils down to the cashier's word against the customer.

Like Zoidberg, I am struggling to udnerstand why the customer didn't realise that the bill was £30 more than it should have been. I always have a rough idea in my head of how much I am spending, it is essential unless someone has money to burn!

 

[yorkie]

How much was the overall bill? Unless a huge amount was purchased, it is difficult to see how £30 extra can go un-noticed! I agree with the supermarket and the previous posters.

 

[tbtc]

Since I'd only use Self Service tills if buying under £10/£15 of stuff then I'd have a rough idea of how much I was going to be paying at the checkout - certainly nothing over £30.

Should all be on CCTV though, I guess.

 

[Mojo]

Since I'd only use Self Service tills if buying under £10/£15 of stuff then I'd have a rough idea of how much I was going to be paying at the checkout - certainly nothing over £30.

The OP seems to be referring to conventional attended checkouts rather than semi-attended self service ones.

In supermarkets I either pay with a gift card, or with an American Express chargecard, so the system never offers cashback. In any case I usually check my receipt before leaving the shop in case something was mis-scanned or mis-priced.

 

[ilkestonian]

As was hinted at by tbtc above, it might be worth asking if the CCTV could be viewed to see if it showed anything.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

Report to the card issuer immediately and dispute the transaction.

 

[michael769]

This story has an important message.

When you enter your pin you are agreeing to give the supermarket the amount that is displayed on the pin machine (just as when you signed you were agreeing to pay the amount on the slip) so it is important to always check the amount.

In circumstances like this it will be almost impossible to prove that you did not get the £30, and from the banks point of view you confirmed to them (by entering the PIN) that they should pay the supermarket the money.

 

[swj99]

You could theoretically dispute the transaction with your card issuer on the basis that whilst you may have authorised a transaction, you did not authorise the one with the extra £30 on it.
For security reasons, some retailers have cctv covering tills so that scams and mistakes can be detected, and evidence provided in case of disputes.

 

[Clip]

I think the OP has been recieving emails which state this has happened and is a well known chain email that has been going round for a few years

Here

Here

 

[maniacmartin]

When you have a car it can be easy to not know how much you're spending. Say you buy 170 worth of shopping (I have done it before). If it rings up as 200, I doubt many people would notice.

 

[Zoidberg]

I think the OP has been recieving emails which state this has happened and is a well known chain email that has been going round for a few years

Here

Here

Ah, good old Snopes - I'm surprised that I didn't think to check there first

PS, the first link didn't work for me.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

When you have a car it can be easy to no know how much you're spending. Say you buy 170 worth of shopping (I have done it before). If it rings up as 200, I doubt many people would notice.

I'm pleased to find out that I'm not one of "many people"

 

[Clip]

Oops sorry.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2892964

Try that instead

 

[Zoidberg]

Oops sorry.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2892964

Try that instead

That works - thanks

 

[Tibbs]

When you have a car it can be easy to not know how much you're spending. Say you buy 170 worth of shopping (I have done it before). If it rings up as 200, I doubt many people would notice.

I get around it by getting my shopping delivered - you know how much it all costs, and no guilt lanes or cash back! Plus they carry it up the stairs for you as well

The downside is that it's very easy to spend £170 with Ocado, and not get that many bags in return!

"Why yes, I do need 3 slices of artisan cheese and a guinea fowl..."

 

[Greenback]

I'm pleased to find out that I'm not one of "many people"

Yes, same here!

I thought i'd heard of this somewhere before, I must have read of these chain emails somewhere previously and not connecte dit with the OP. I don't think I've had the email myself, as I don't get these sorts of things. I haven't even been offered $2 million from Nigeria for a few years.

 

[jon0844]

I doubt there are any princes, Kings, prime ministers etc left alive.

 

[bb21]

I doubt there are any princes, Kings, prime ministers etc left alive.

Ex-Finance Ministers? There are always a few of them about.