A PROBLEM with a Derby supermarket's chip and pin card system has left some customers paying twice for their goods.

But the management at Asda in Spondon has apologised for the problem and has promised to pay any bank charges that people may incur.

Long queues built up on Saturday afternoon at the supermarket after a malfunction caused the system, which processes and reads credit and debit cards, to run slowly.

Cards were declined by the machine and customers were given the option to pay for their goods by cash.

Unfortunately, Asda has confirmed that, in a number of cases, the card had eventually been accepted and the money taken from accounts, as well as the customer paying in cash.

Deborah Atkin, 34, of Alvaston, opted to pay her £44.31 bill by cash, which she withdrew at a machine at the store, after her card was declined.

But when she later checked her bank account online, she found the money had also been taken via her card payment.

"I couldn't believe I had paid for my shopping twice, especially as I rely on disability allowance and I had been left with just 18p until tomorrow," she said.

"There were other people in front of me who did the same thing and opted to pay cash for goods worth £153 and £300, so I hate to think what happened to their bank accounts."

Mrs Atkin went back to the store to complain but was told she would have to wait five days for a refund and for the cash to be put back into her bank.

However, after a call from the Derby Telegraph to the store, Mrs Atkin says she has now been told she can collect her money straightaway, together with travel expenses and a small amount of compensation for the trouble caused.

Her partner Pete Mangnall, 36, said: "We were upset by the initial reaction from Asda but were pleased with their response after the Telegraph stepped in.

"But I am concerned there may be other people who haven't checked their accounts and don't realise that the money has been taken twice."

An Asda spokeswoman said the company was aware of four customers who had been affected by the problem but that more may not yet have realised.

She said: "No-one will be charged twice and we would urge any customer who thinks they have been to contact us with the relevant details.

"We are very sorry about the situation and for any inconvenience to our customers in the store on Saturday afternoon."