Debit card users: Always check your receipt!

[Kari]

Just thought I'd share this experience with the GVC community in case any of you are heavy check card users like James and I are...I know I'll always check my receipt from now on!!Yesterday morning I went to Wal-mart and spent $14 and I used my debit card, like I always do, because I hardly ever carry any cash. I hit "No" on the cash back screen, like always, and noticed that the cashier hit a key very quickly on the register as the cash back screen came up (after having already hit the credit/debit key) but didn't think anything of it. She handed me my receipt and I went on my way. Well later on that night I went to look at my bank account online and it was reading $0.00 like it does when it's done an automatic transfer out of savings to cover a check card purchase that was more than the amount in the account -- but I knew I had a lot more than $14 in there that morning. I looked at the transaction history and had one for $114 at Wal-mart. Dug my receipt out of the trash, and sure enough, it showed $100 cash back, but the cashier hadn't given me any cash and I hadn't asked for any. I was about sick the whole way back, thinking I'd lost my $100 and been taken for a ride by the cashier or something.I went back, determined that I wasn't going to leave until I got my $100, and the manager had to pull the cashier's drawer and count it to see if it was $100 over before I would get my money back. By then I was pretty nervous because I definitely can't afford to lose that when I'm trying to save up $900 to cover rent and furniture and stuff for my new apartment. (I told the manager the security camera would prove I had received no cash but she claimed there "aren't cameras at every register"...when you can clearly see them, so whatever. I didn't care if I had to watch 8 hours of surveillance tape, I would have done it to get my money back.) Turns out the cashier was still there and her drawer was $100 over, so I got it back, but I'm still baffled as to what she must have pushed on the register or what went on to make it authorize that purchase when all I'd authorized was the $14. I've tried to buy $20 worth of stuff with $18 in the account before and it wouldn't go through and I had to use my credit card, so why did it authorize $114 with only about $75 in the account? I'd like to think it was an honest mistake or a system malfunction, but I really just don't know. But, the moral of the story is to always look at your receipt before you leave, because if I hadn't looked at my account info that night, I would have never known until a week or so later, when it would have been far too late to even think about getting my money back. I think I got lucky that the cashier was still there when I went back almost 7 hours later. I know I'll look at things from now on, that's for sure.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by Kari »But, the moral of the story is to shop at TARGET! Sorry, couldn't resist.

[ColonelPanic]

I knew you'd say that. It can happen anywhere though... Had a new Meijer (my preferred retailer) open up here in town, and within the first month a bunch of kids got busted for stealing people's cc #'s and using them to put cash on Meijer gift cards.

[pmh013]

At my local WalMart, you need to register the till receipt that you received the cash back. Is that the policy at your store as well?

[AKLGT]

well the good thing is that the cashier sounds like an honest person. one of the signs of employee theft is for a cashier to hit the cash back button, let you go on your way, and put the cash in their pocket. ive met with many store owners who use cash back option for debit and they always look out for this. and i'm a very very heavy check card user, only because i know my rights i have using my checkcard via eft or ach payment vs cash or check. i have much more recourse if something goes wrong with a transaction. but i always check the total to verify it's correct. after 6 yr in the electronic payment industry, it can make you more than paranoid. and good thing you check your account. many people do not and then too much time goes by. can you imagine what would have happened if the cashier wasn't honest? the money wasn't over and her till was balanced? it would have been your word versus the cashier's.

[ColonelPanic]

I'm doubting the cashier's "honesty" here... I find it quite odd that Kari's transaction had that $100 cash back mysteriously added, yet she did not authorize that on the terminal at the register. It's just sounding too fishy to me, so I'm having a hard time believing the cashier was honest... She was probably looking for a quick buck and got busted before trying to pocket the stuff. Which leads me to another point, they should not allow $100 cash back! A twenty or two should be fine, but in the interest of financial security for all of us it would be nice if there was a lower cap on what you can authorize for cash back. If you need $100, go to the ATM or walk into the bank to withdraw.

[Charlievibe]

Wow Kari, that sucks and at the same time, you are so lucky.I don't shop at Wal-Mart if I can help it. I have the purchasing card (which, they way our account is set up is like a debit card) for my department and have to go once a month or so for supplies. About a year ago, I went in and purchased about $700 worth of stuff. In this group was room freshners/soap/cleaning products aluminum foil (we use it in our business) among other items. I got back to work and was sitting and breaking down the charges on my receipt into the groups in my department. I noticed that I was charged for one extra item on everything that was two or more dollars. I immediately picked up the phone and called Wal-Mart and explained the situation. I was told I was out of luck, I couldn't prove that I hadn't purchased the items.So here comes the strange part. On my statement the nest month, I had a refund in the exact amount of the overage items. I felt justified and phoned the manager to thank him. He informed me that he had not refunded the amount but had discovered a scam that was going on. On the higher end purchases, some of the cashiers were over charging by one item. They would then later refund those amounts by taking the $$$ out of the registers and telling the manager the customer had demanded cash. When a credit card refund charge would be noticed, they would tell the manager they had messed up and the store ate the cost.To this day, they have no idea as to how long this went on, but I wasn't the first. So now, I shop Target and stand there and count the items and check my bags before I walk out of the store.It is too bad in this society that we have to do that, but we do.I am so glad you got your $$$ back.

[zionzr2]

WOWThanks for the Heads-UP

[Kari]

I'm glad I got my money back too, because I especially can't afford to lose it right now. I'm sure the store could afford to eat it more than I could, as that's probably less than the amount they set aside for shoplifting every day. I just wanted to share my experience with others because I had always trusted that the system was working properly as per what I punched on the remote unit, but now I know it can apparently be edited on the register regardless of what I punched, and I will always look now, most definitely. Even paid cash for the stuff I bought today. There really isn't anywhere else to shop in this immediate area, as Target is in the next town and on a road where traffic is horrendous, which makes it a nightmare to get in and out of, and K-Mart is all the way on the other side of town. Which leaves us with Wal-Mart, Freds (which is like Big Lots only nowhere near as good), and the grocery store...unfortunately. But it can definitely happen anywhere, and not just at a store either -- we actually had credit card fraud happening at a local restaurant several years ago where a group of servers was changing the tip amounts on credit card receipts after customers had left.I think I'm going to start using my debit card on the "credit" option from now on though, if even that's more secure...

[Mavrik]

Wal-Mart has it as a cashier law that ANY transation with cash back MUST be signed by the customer. Its not only protection from "honest" cashiers. Its a protection for Wal-Mart against dishonest customers who would like to come back and say "I didn't get my money earlier."So without your signature, Wal-Mart would be pretty powerless NOT to give you your money. And yeah... attention all Wal-Mart shoppers, Not ALL those cameras work. And those "Security scan department 311?" its just a scar tactic.-Ex Walmart employee.

[Kari]

I've never had to sign off on anything in any store to receive debit cash back...including Wal-mart.

[spoonman]

Quote, originally posted by Kari » I think I'm going to start using my debit card on the "credit" option from now on though, if even that's more secure...Kari,Glad to hear things turned out ok this time.... Good thing I ALWAYS use my debit card as a "credit". So far no troubles here.....

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Wal-Mart has it as a cashier law that ANY transation with cash back MUST be signed by the customer. Hmm... They don't seem to practice that "law" here... I've received a couple bucks cash back from probably no less than a dozen Wal Mart stores around the area over the years, not once have I ever had to sign anything...

[Mavrik]

Well its a canadian thing anyway, I've always had to sign. If fact any store I have ever gotten cash back from, I had to sign. Of course I have never gotten cash back at Wal-Mart here in Alaska so I'll have to try it and see sometime.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Well its a canadian thing anyway, I've always had to sign. If fact any store I have ever gotten cash back from, I had to sign. Of course I have never gotten cash back at Wal-Mart here in Alaska so I'll have to try it and see sometime.there is no signature required for US debit (PIN based) transactions. by entering your electronic PIN, you are "signing" for the transaction. if you run your card through the visa or mastercard system however, you will still be required to sign your name. it usually has no affect on the consumer, but on the merchant who pays for you to use that system. the average cost for most merchants who use PIN based debit is generally much less than running it through Visa or MasterCard. Unfortunately, Walmart was the basis for the largest rate increase (April 04) imposed by the big 2 in the electronic payments world. This is why, if you go to Walmart and use your checkcard, it will automatically prompt you to enter your PIN. I will usually go ahead and do this, but if it's large enough and I don't need cash back, I'll make them run it through as a credit so they can share in the increased cost they forced all the small businesses to absorb. if you like the store you shop at and they have both credit or debit options, the main key is $10. if the transaction is less than $10, run it like a visa. If it's more than $10, run it as a debit (PIN based). This will save them substantial amount of fees. if you don't like them, do the opposite. lol.

[AKLGT]

it probably cost them about $.45 for that $.50 transaction. they just LOST money.

[Kari]

I once paid 12 cents for one scantron with my university ID bucks...LOL

[AKLGT]

and it makes no difference to you as the consumer as far as your rights are concerned if you use your card as a credit or debit. however, do not complain when prices go up as they have to absorb the costs to run those transactions. what? you think it's FREE??? lol. that's how I make my money! i set up merchants to accept these cards, try to save them some money, and offer them my expertise that most in this industry do not have, especially up here in AK. this is a high turn over profession, so anyone with 4 yrs of experience (2 yrs banking prior) is regarded as well seasoned. lol.

[Kari]

I know there's no difference in my rights, but is it more secure as far as keeping a cashier from changing the amount on me if I don't do the debit PIN method, which allows for cashback, while the other doesn't?

[AKLGT]

generally, you do not do cash back on a credit sale. however, in the case where you mentioned previously, a tip being added or adjusted, they can go back and change the dollar amount. this is why it's important to write down the tip and total ammts on your copy of the receipt. and actually, a PIN transaction is more secure than a credit. you just have to double check the receipt like you should do anyways. of course, i've been in this industry for awhile so i've always done that.... i guess i'm just paranoid. but my battery is going to die so i gotta get going. lol

[pmh013]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »I went into the school book store about 2 weeks ago to buy some scan-trons for my final for my summer class and they are $.10 a peice, well I figured I would pick up 5 of them and I whipped out the CC, she cashier just gave me the dirtiest look and I said what?I do not carry cash on me... You gotta pay for Scan-Tron sheets? Now that is friggen extortion! I've never paid ... well, by the sheet, anyway. I guess that's what student fees are for.Anyway, I second what Phil said. I've always had to initial the receipt for cash back.

[Kari]

Some departments where I went to school would supply scantrons while others would make you go to the bookstore to buy them, while still others would make you pay the department 25 cents for one.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by Kari »Some departments where I went to school would supply scantrons while others would make you go to the bookstore to buy them, while still others would make you pay the department 25 cents for one.Oh my gosh! Guess I have been away from school too long because we never had to pay for a scantron!

[Kari]

Yep, it got so confusing because you could never remember which departments supplied them and which didn't, so you just ended up buying a pile to carry around with you. I always hated buying the little Bluebooks for essays...those things were like $1.50! For like 5 sheets of wide-ruled notebook paper stapled together with a flimsy cover. Sheesh. Price gouging for sure.At least my books for grad school this semester will be cheaper because I only have three "real" classes...

[ToolGuy]

Well it was the University Of Akron in Ohio, I graduated seven years ago... Still did not have to pay for one though in Ohio.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Hope is a poor mans bread. dont call her that!!