A strange Tesco experience

[Merking]

I popped into a large Tesco today and the woman serving me refuse to let me pay by card because the transaction was less than £1. I asked her when that started and she said it's been that way for years and she'll get in trouble if she accepts the card. She gave me this story about the banks being upset with small card transactions. She asked me if I had the cash but I didn't and offered to go to the cash point. Then she made me get cash back so I could use the card.

Sometimes I just pop in for milk or a doughnut etc on my lunch break and use my card at the Self Checkout. I mentioned that to her and she just shrugged and muttered something under her breath.

Very odd.

[Anniemcc2]

Absolute rubbish !

I work for Tesco and any card transaction will be taken - even for a 13p pack of cigarette papers !

[Merking]

It's odd isn't it Anniemcc2.

It was a freak occurrence and not a big deal, so I didn't chase it up. In fact it isn't even thread worthy really. It would have been mildly interesting to see what a supervisor had to say to her on the matter. Surely asking a customer to get cashback to complete a simple transaction breaks a law or two.

[EmpHolisticGifts]

Mine has never been less than a £1 - for small transactions at such a place as Tesco I don't mind using my card but for smaller businesses the costs that the banks impose I try not to as its not in their best interests :-)
Same as paypal charges ....

I had a morrisons annoyance ... my change was missing a penny, the same as you, didn't want to make a fuss for a penny, however if its policy or other it would soon add up...

[peterpunto08]

Thought most new cards were designed to use for low value purchases??.....not requiring a pin (just scanned at checkout??) and thus doing away with the need for carrying loose change

[EmpHolisticGifts]

No I think they are special cards - and again companies need to choose to accept them as again BIG bank charges and may outweigh what has been bought etc

From the little I know of such banking.... the shops will want you to use your pin, as my guess is, by not using the pin THEY become liable IF there are claims of fraud etc.

[billsstamps]

I buy vouchers at a discount to save money.
Not used card or cash in ages.