Can Stores Take Money From My Debit Card Without My Knowledge?
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After several trips to my local town (Swindon, Wiltshire) and using my debit card to pay for goods, at shops like Tesco, The Works, Sports Direct, Sainsbury, Boots and Marks and Spencer to name a few over the last say 3 months, I've noticed that when I'm just about to pay, written under the cost of the product, there's a statement asking if I'd like to donate to a charity or to the shop I've just purchased from.....As sometimes I used to just literally flash my card at the screen could it have been possible for them to take monies without my knowledge????
I think you have to physically agree to this on the screen for the donation to take place. On every screen I've seen, you have to select no or the donation amount first. Once this is recorded, you are taken to the payment screen. If you're able to just pay without selecting no or the donation amount, I very much doubt you've been charged. If money has been taken, this should be shown on your receipt (because it's money coming out of your account).
Consumer thanks for explaining those for me as I didn't really understand how it worked as have been told to pay bill and ignore bit about charity but that worried me
Bonnylass3 No worries - there are so many things we have to watch out for these days! 
I know what you mean, but no they cannot take any money without your consent. Sometimes though the screen is a little confusing so it could be possible you’ve clicked to donate by mistake
No they cannot. Its the same as a service charge at a restaurant. It Is up to you if you want to donate or to pay a tip. You can see what you`re paying on the screen anyways before you flash your card. You can turn off your contactless via your online banking app anyways If In doubt and just use chip & pin.
Emerge11 that's a really good idea about turning off contactless because at 70yrs today (Happy Birthday to me !) I sometimes can't read small print on these machines and being able to just use chip and pin is ideal for me, thanks so much again as that's like a lifesaver for me!!
I saw in Poundland the other day, when you pay by card and put in your PIN, they ask customers if they want to donate, so before they enter their PIN they have to physically press green for yes and red for no 
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