Aldi customers warned to check their card after bank glitch leaves customers £100s out of pocket

DUE to a “technical issue” some shoppers at one Aldi store found themselves skint after two months of purchases were charged at once.

The fault at a newly opened store in Rhyl, North Wales meant that any card purchases made in the first five-and-a-half weeks of trading weren’t processed.

Earlier this week, the store told customers that they will now be charged all in one go for any purchases made in that period.

The blunder could mean some families are faced with hundreds of pounds coming out of their account almost two months later.

Customers only found out about the issue after notices were posted at the store’s tills.

The signs read: “A technical error meant that Mastercard and VISA payments made by customers in this store were not processed between August 15 and September 22.

“If you shopped here during this period and paid on card you will see the transaction complete and appear on your bank statement from Thursday, October 3.”

Locals were not happy about the blunder, telling NorthWalesLive: “Absolutely fuming, how could they go a whole month before realise there machines weren’t working? I am livid.”

Another said: “This, I am in no doubt will plunge lots of families into overdrafts, incurring fees etc that they are just not able to recover from.”

Many shoppers have reported going into their overdrafts and struggling to get by after some were charged nearly £800 in one go.

Members of the Rhyl Journal Facebook page have been airing their frustration about the error.

Nicola Wilson wrote: “I wasn’t aware of any technical problems re card payments until I noticed a post on here last night. If I had been informed I would have paid by cash, rather than be left £166 overdrawn with no income until 9 October. Harsh!”

Vicky Beaumont-Bullock wrote: “Just noticed this morning, not much money really but four transactions not budgeted for.”

Other locals also questioned why it took the store so long to notice and fix the fault.

Aldi have reportedly asked anyone affected by overdraft charges due to the error to contact the company.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “Due to a technical error Mastercard and VISA payments made at our Rhyl store between the 15th August and the 22nd September were not processed. Customers who made a payment on card during this period will see the transaction appear on their bank statement from Thursday 3rd October.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and want to assure customers that card payments are now being processed at this store as normal.”

Thomas Cook customers have also been left out of pocket, with some waiting two months for refunds after the company went bust.

Lloyds Bank customers have also suffered due to technical errors, and many are now receiving refunds because of it.

Watchdogs are clamping down on overdraft fees after some were found with charges ten times as high as payday loans.

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