Barefoot Investor has urged Australians to carefully check how much they are paying after a man was accidentally charged more than $1,000 for a sandwich.
Scott Pape, 46, said that like many others, he simply swiped his card to the machine when making a purchase and left without checking the price or even asking for a receipt.
But he was shocked to read a letter from Natasha, whose husband had accidentally been charged $1,300 for a $13 sandwich at a local bakery.
She said he went through “his usual routine”: he ordered, held his card against the scanner, entered his PIN and picked up the chicken sandwich, then went on with his day.
When Natasha’s husband saw the sky-high costs a few days later, he contacted the bakery to ask if he could get his purchase price back.
However, she claimed that the owner accused him of being a scammer and refused to refund the charges, while the bank said that entering the PIN was enough to legitimize the charges.
Mr Pape was shocked by the story in which the woman’s husband was advised to set a function on his phone to prevent future mistakes.
“Fortunately, my bank shows the transaction on my Apple Watch and phone after I leave the store,” he wrote in his column Herald Sun.
Barefoot Investor Scott Pape (pictured) has urged Australians to check how much they have been charged on their banking app or receipt after a man spent $1,300 on a sandwich
“Your husband should definitely get that position.”
Mr Pape added that the couple had to gather “evidence” and have the bank verify that the seller was the bakery and “very politely” ask for the transaction to be reversed.
“And if they refuse, I would tell them that next you need to go to the police station where you want to report the theft,” he wrote.
Mr Pape said the story was a wake-up call for him and admitted he usually declines the offer to grab a receipt when asked by cashiers.
“After all, most receipts are a waste of paper and ink,” he wrote.
‘And I know if I take one, I’ll just put it in my pocket out of politeness and then inevitably it’ll end up in the washing machine and Liz will yell at me.
‘Nowadays, when I buy something cheap, I don’t even wait for the question to be asked. I just tap and go!’
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging Australians who have a problem with a purchase to contact the company first.
‘Call or visit the business and explain the problem and the outcome you want. Do this as soon as possible,’ the ACCC website states.
The man’s wife said the bakery where he bought the sandwich refused to refund the cost and “accused him of scamming” him without proof of purchase (stock image)
It may also be helpful to submit your complaint to the company in writing, by email or letter.
‘This way they know clearly what the problem is, what you want and you have a record of your contact.’
If the dispute cannot be resolved by contacting the company, a customer may take legal action against the company.
The ACCC urges Australians to seek legal advice before escalating the matter and to bring individual claims through state small claims courts or a tribunal.
