Tesco Express shoppers warned to check bank accounts

If you spot a Tesco transaction you don't recall making in the last month, it could well be related to payments problems at Tesco's Express stores.

Tesco has apologised to customers after a glitch in its payment system means shoppers are seeing money disappear from their accounts as much as three months after they made an in-store purchase.

The problem affects 300 Tesco Express stores and means that card payments made in November and December last year, as well as January this year are only just going through.

This means the money for those purchases is now being taken from bank accounts or going on to credit cards.

This could cause problems for shoppers who may be unexpectedly pushed into their overdraft, or over their credit card limit.

“As soon as we identified this issue, we contacted as many affected customers as possible and have now processed all incomplete transactions,” a Tesco spokesperson said.

“This issue has now been resolved and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

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Glitch could affect multiple shopping trips

With the affected payments covering the busy Christmas shopping period it could mean some sizeable payments are only just being deducted from bank accounts, although the store has said most of the affected payments were for under £10.

Tesco is sending out letters to affected customers that say:

“We are writing to let you know that a number of credit and debit card payments did not process correctly for some customers, in a small number of our Express stores.

"You may have noticed this as an unexpected transaction at Tesco in your bank statement.”

Some regular shoppers at Tesco Express are finding they are suddenly being charged for numerous visits to the store all at once, as multiple payments failed between November and January.

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Complain if you’ve incurred fees

Even a small payment could cost customers though as if it pushes them into their overdraft they could face expensive penalty fees from their bank account.

It could also affect their credit rating if a payment takes them over their credit card limit.

Tesco has told affected customers to get in touch with a complaint if a delayed payment has resulted in them having to pay overdraft fees or credit card charges.

If you’ve had a delayed payment deducted from your account you can contact Tesco for more information, or to lodge a complaint by calling 0800 0853 547.

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