Winnipeg couple's money disappears in Wal-Mart debit disaster

A Winnipeg couple is looking for answers after Wal-Mart charged them for groceries and cash they never received.

Terry and Victor Palmer visited a Wal-Mart location in St. James to buy some groceries, and when they arrived at the till, asked for $60 cash back.

The total purchase came to $220.74, but the transaction came back declined.

I couldnt believe it that it got declined because I know I have money in my account, said Terry. So the couple went to their bank, Assiniboine Credit Union, to find out what was wrong with their account.

There, they found out the cash had actually been debited from their account.

After that, the coupled headed back to Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart said it got declined. The manager was got, and he showed us on his computer where it got declined, said Terry.

Both Wal-Mart and the credit union told the couple they couldnt help them, so instead, they turned to police.

Officers sent them back to Assiniboine Credit Union to fill out forms and try to trace the money.

I feel like Ive been robbed! They have a license to rob, said Victor. If it was me, the police would come and charge me for fraud.

Officials from Assiniboine Credit Union said it is now trying to trace the money, and it appears there was a problem at some point during the transaction when the signal failed.

Bank officials are still trying to determine if the problem was on the banks end or Wal-Marts.

On Monday, Wal-Martofficials told CBC that there was an error, and they are now working to refund the couple's account. A company official said issues like the one the Palmers had are uncommon.

In the meantime, the credit union has reimbursed the Palmers their money and are still investigating the matter.

Now, the couple just hopes it hasnt happened to any other people, and theyre warning people who shop at Wal-Mart to review their bills and bank accounts carefully.