LE RICHES has denied claims that a fault with its checkout system is disabling debit cards.

Customers have complained that their card has been put on stop immediately after they used it at one of the company’s outlets. They believe the problems would not occur if chip and pin technology was used in the shops.

Alan and Mary Prevel said they had done a Saturday shop at the Checkers Superstore – which still swipes cards – without a problem. ‘Then we went straight to Guernsey Woodcarvers to pay a larger bill and they told us our card was on stop,’ said Mr Prevel. ‘It was a very embarrassing situation when you find you can’t pay a bill when you know that the money is in the account.’

‘We are confident that there is no fault with any Le Riche system which would result in this action being taken by the banks,’ said Le Riches operations director Mark Cox.