Tweet
I find that if I do my weekly grocery shopping online then I can usually limit what I buy, make sure I get more value etc. No temptation purchases and all that. In general this works well.
Until today.
I take the train to work this morning. Can't buy ticket at my local unmanned station as the machine is out of order. As usual. Try to buy a ticket on the first train. No joy, no sign of the guard. At the next station I have to change with a 10 minute window so I'll get a ticket there. That was my plan. However, the computer says no, transaction declined. Try again, same result. No cash on me either.
No option but to hop on the train back home with a 35 minute walk at the other end so I can ring up the bank and find out what's happened. Thankfully not accosted by the ticket inspector on the journey back as obviously I have no ticket.
Get home, call up the bank and apparently there's £114 still being 'processed'. Pressing a bit further it turns out that it's to Asda.
What's happened is that when I ordered my online shopping last week Asda uses the debit card to 'guarantee' payment when the shopping is delivered as it may be slightly different to the original amount. This week it was as I refused to accept one of their replacements. So Asda charged me for the shopping. But for whatever reason this ringfenced £114 is still flagged up with the bank. So where I thought I had £50 left in the account, theoretically I could potentially be £64 over my limit. Hence no train ticket for me.
I've been shuttling between my bank and Asda trying to get this sorted with each blaming the other. Tending to side with the bank as they do have this £114 flagged up under the debit card. Now awaiting Asda to call me back with their response.
According to the bank, if nothing is done then the £114 drops off after 10 days, which will be the 1st March. Which is all well and good except that I have to pay my mortgage by the 28th or it's flagged up as arrears and I have absolutely no idea what I can do.
So be warned, it may appear a simple thing to do but if it can go wrong them it will, in the worst possible way.
Until today.
I take the train to work this morning. Can't buy ticket at my local unmanned station as the machine is out of order. As usual. Try to buy a ticket on the first train. No joy, no sign of the guard. At the next station I have to change with a 10 minute window so I'll get a ticket there. That was my plan. However, the computer says no, transaction declined. Try again, same result. No cash on me either.
No option but to hop on the train back home with a 35 minute walk at the other end so I can ring up the bank and find out what's happened. Thankfully not accosted by the ticket inspector on the journey back as obviously I have no ticket.
Get home, call up the bank and apparently there's £114 still being 'processed'. Pressing a bit further it turns out that it's to Asda.
What's happened is that when I ordered my online shopping last week Asda uses the debit card to 'guarantee' payment when the shopping is delivered as it may be slightly different to the original amount. This week it was as I refused to accept one of their replacements. So Asda charged me for the shopping. But for whatever reason this ringfenced £114 is still flagged up with the bank. So where I thought I had £50 left in the account, theoretically I could potentially be £64 over my limit. Hence no train ticket for me.
I've been shuttling between my bank and Asda trying to get this sorted with each blaming the other. Tending to side with the bank as they do have this £114 flagged up under the debit card. Now awaiting Asda to call me back with their response.
According to the bank, if nothing is done then the £114 drops off after 10 days, which will be the 1st March. Which is all well and good except that I have to pay my mortgage by the 28th or it's flagged up as arrears and I have absolutely no idea what I can do.
So be warned, it may appear a simple thing to do but if it can go wrong them it will, in the worst possible way.
Comment