PICK n PAY 'SMART SHOPPERS' BEWARE

On Sunday morning 5 August 2018, I visited Pick N Pay Hyper in Little Falls. At approximately 11:15am I presented an American Express Platinum card for R 1,258.92 in order to pay for my purchases. The teller then informed me that payment was declined. I said this was impossible - to which she stated that she will then try again, as they are having computer problems. I then said I will rather give a different card and presented a Standard Bank Platinum Mastercard, only to be told that this card was also declined. I asked her to call a supervisor, as I do not accept what is happening. The supervisor, on hearing what has happened, then brought another card machine. I then said they must use the American Express card again. The new machine then accepted the transaction and I left the shop with my purchases. During the afternoon I looked at the SMS messages on my phone and noticed the following: 1. At 11:23 - Nedbank AmEx payment confirmation to PnP Little Falls for R 1,258.92 2. At 11:23 - Standard Bank payment confirmation to PnP Little Falls for R 1,258.92 3. At 11:28 - Nedbank AmEx payment confirmation to PnP Little Falls for R 1,258.92 4. At 11:36 - Nedbank reversal confirmation ex PnP Little Falls for R 1,258.92 However, the card payment slip that the cashier attached to my purchases slip as proof of payment was time-stamped 11:26 for an American Express card.

I then went back to Pick n Pay at around 3:00pm that afternoon in order to request a refund for the Standard MasterCard payment that had been paid. After a futile discussion with a person perporting to be the manager, I left with no promises regarding the overpayment of R 1,258.92 as 'their systems will eventually pick up the mistaken overcharge and refund me'

As I was not satisfied with his response, I accessed the Pick n Pay website and filled out their e-mail form detailing my problem (the website conveniently does not have a telephone number for verbal complaints). After pressing the 'submit' button, I received an acknowledgement that I will be contacted shortly.

It is now 11 days later, with no response. My only other alternative is now to lay a charge of ***** or theft against Pick n Pay at the SAPS and see what happens.

In order to justify this decision, I am absolutely convinced that if I had bypassed the cashier and left the premises with R 1,258,92 of unpaid items, they would have arrested me and handed me over to the SAPS for theft.

How many other Pick n Pay customers have experienced the same rip-off? This is definitely an easy way of borrowing interest-free money - no application forms, no bank references, no personal guarantees - and best of all NO APOLOGIES.

In order to remain a 'smart shopper' I would clearly need to start shopping at Checkers, as Pick n Pay is definitely a 'smart operator' - way too smart for my liking.