A Carnoustie woman’s bank accounts were drained during a £10 fuel top-up at a Dundee petrol station.
Maureen Mclay had to battle for five days to have almost £200 returned to her after a “rare system issue” at the Asda filling station at Milton of Craigie.
One bank account was emptied of its entire £95.41, while £99 was removed from another as a holding fee.
While Maureen has now been refunded, she is warning other motorists to be on their guard against the issue.
The community worker said: “I would hate for any of my clients, or anyone else to go through this.
“The cost of living is high enough as it is without something like this happening.
“I was just lucky I had enough money in my account but not everyone will have that.”
‘My accounts had been cleared’
Most card providers, including Visa and Mastercard, take a temporary holding fee of up to £100 at many major pay-at-the-pump forecourts.
And it is refunded as soon as the transaction is complete.
But this didn’t happen when Maureen topped up in Dundee last Monday.
She said: “I put my card in at the pump and it OK’d me but by the time I turned round to put the fuel in the transaction was cancelled.
“It wouldn’t let me use it so I put in another debit card, put in £10 of fuel and finished up.
“It was then I got a ping on my phone to tell me my accounts had been cleared.”
When Maureen complained to Asda, she was told it could take between five and 10 days to refund her.
“I could have been left with no money for food or anything else,” she said.
“It’s astonishing in this day and age that they can take the money out of my account within seconds but they can hold onto it for up to 10 days.
“I really just want people to know this can happen.”
‘Card provider holds the funds’
Maureen’s bank, the TSB, finally refunded the money on Friday and Asda has since apologised for the error.
The supermarket has also arranged to send a £50 e-card to make up for the inconvenience.
However, a spokesman for the supermarket said it is the card provider who holds the funds during transactions.
“Funds should show back in the driver’s account immediately after the check has taken place,” he said.
“Any driver who thinks their bank is holding on to funds should contact their bank in the first instance.
“Asda will only take money for the amount of fuel taken.”
