to be furious at being called a thief in a supermarket

[Islandlady]

Went to supermarket ( not sure of I can actually name the shop on a forum)and bought a whole lot of stuff including two bath mats.

After I paid a took a look at the receipt to check that
a my vouchers had been taken off
b that the 3 for 2 offer on the make up I bought was shown

I went to walk out of the door and got stopped by security, who asked to check my receipt - seems that I was only charged for one bathmat now they were only about 6 quid each and I had spent over a hundred quid and I really hadnt noticed

I was accused in public of knowing that I had only been charged for one as I has been observed checking my receipt.

Ended up having a huge row with the guard, he wanted to take me into a back room and I refused telling him I wanted the police called, it was stalemate for 10 minutes until the store manager came over and luckily took my side and took me to a till to pay for the other mat.

I really wish I could say I was never going to the store again, but its the only one near me in Ryde, the others are in Newport which is a bugger to get to as I dont drive

I really am very angry about this - all they needed to do was to say there was a mistake and would I pay the extra - what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty

[going]

That would make me very cross too, especially for £6 item after buying so much!

[CaptainKirksNipples]

How did you manage to come to the attention of security if you bought a whole load of shopping and didn't pay for 1item? Did it set off the alarms?

[Islandlady]

Hi Captain Kirk

No it didnt set of the security gate, the security officer says he was alerted by the cashier that she had not charged me and he watched me read my receipt and attempt to leave the shop

[misdee]

if the cashier relised she hadnt charged you, and you hadnt, then its her fault not yours.

[jade80]

Write a complaint, you'll probably get some vouchers to make up for the hassle.

[KangarooCaught]

Complain to HO? Someone needs some training and you need an apology

[greenbananas]

It was the cashier's fault, not yours. The security guard handled it very badly. If I had been that store manager, I would have apologised profusely and given you the bath mat free.

[snownutty]

If you hadn't left the store they really haven't got a leg to stand on and you did the right thing insisting on the police being called.

In order to prosecute you must be observed

• selecting the product
  
• concealling the product, and
  
• failing to pay (ie leaving the shop)
  

Don't think the police would've been pleased with a store manager who called them out for what happened with you.

Write to the store manager explaining the situation and the embarrassment you'd feel if you had to return to the shop.

You're at least entitled to a written apology!

[Chatelaine]

As others have said, it is the fault of the cashier. If one notices at the point of sale then it is a moral dilemma? to mention it or not. If the error is noticed after the sale, then I am of the opinion that it would embarrass/get into trouble the cashier if mentioned. silly them they panicked. Given what you say, YANBU so do not be bullied. What does the store name rhyme with?

[RunawayChristmasTree]

I hate idiot supermarket staff

[Loonies]

I think that the way you were treated by the security guard was extremely rude. I my day one used to shop in the local corner shop and customers were certainly not treated this way

[SantasENormaSnob]

I would play hell over this.

How humiliating.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Terrible way to be treated - the cashier knew she hadn't charged you and so you were accused of theft? I'd be writing to head office asking them if it's common practice for their staff to try to entrap customers in such a way.

[Casserole]

How did the cashier manage to alert the security guard on the door between you paying and walking to the door? Surely she'd have had to run past you to do that, at which point she could have just spoken to you? Cashiers in supermarkets don't tend to have walkie talkies on them... very bizarre.

[verytellytubby]

Bloody hell. All sounds bonkers.

[booyhohoho]

hang on a minute? so the cashier realised she hadn't charged you and instead of her calling you bacl or asking teh scurity guard to call you back, they let you try and leave the shop??? knowing it was their own mistake!!!
i would be writing to head office. that is appauling service.

[MotherofHobbit]

Something similar happened to me a few years ago at a local shop.
I went in looking for something specific, didn't find it and was accused of shoplifting when I tried to leave.
I was furious and haven't gone back despite being previously a regular customer.
I hope you got a good apology out of them.

[Islandlady]

Chatelaine

Rhymes with al fresco

I have decided to write to their HO, as my sister has pointed out that if I had gone into the back room with the SG I may have had to sign something to leave and may have had one of those retail loss companies fining me for my 'wrong doing' and thats a scary thought

[duchesse]

WTF are they playing at? Sounds like they are trying to trap people- how bizarre. I would write a very strongly-worded complaint saying what you've told us but making very clear the level of distress and embarrassment you experienced. You should always check till receipts especially if paying by debit card as there is a scam happening at the moment involving cashback. No way would a person check every item on a £100+ bill to be sure that it had registered. They're nuts, or bent. My money's on the latter. Maybe the security guard was hoping you'd try to bribe your way out of the situation?

[nancydrewrockinaroundxmastree]

"In order to prosecute you must be observed

• selecting the product
  
• concealling the product, and
  
• failing to pay (ie leaving the shop)"
  

Not strictly true.

It is a commonly held belief that you can only be chraged with theft once you have left a store. In fact that is not necessary and you can commit theft at the time you pick an item up (if of course there is the requisite intention at that time).

Equally if you walk out of a shop with the goods in plain view you can still be prosecuted for theft - no concealment is necessary.

[nancydrewrockinaroundxmastree]

Sorry posted before finished - OP complain to HO.

Over zealous security guards seem to be everywhere at the moment - I wonder of they work on commission these days.

The ones in my local (TBH fairly nice) Sainsburys literally prowl the aisles looking for people to pounce on.

[NeverArgueWithAnIdiot]

I don't know what the law is in the UK (I'm assuming that's where you are), but in ROI, the security guard's behaviour is harrassment and you would be within your rights to pursue a civil suit for defamation as you were falsely accused of a crime in public. In order for it to be shoplifting, you would have had to pass the last point for paying, without making an effort to pay for the item.

Clearly it was the cashier's fault for not charging you for the item. Presumably she passed the item from the conveyor belt for you to pack.

I would be livid. If, for example, you had been seen by a nosy, gossipy neighbour, it would damage your reputation.

Kick up a huge stink!

[mumbar]

Goodness how rude. And I have to say how did she know she hadn't charged you? On a receipt for goods totalling £100+ there must have been at least 30 items, probably more if mainly a food shop.

FWIW I always check that offers have been added on as often this is where mistakes are made.

I think the poster who said cashier panicked is correct, she probably saw you checking receipt and worried you were honest and would offer to pay and she/he would get found out.

[narkypuffin]

Complain in writing to:

Mr David Reid
The Chairman
Tesco PLC
New Tesco House
Delamare Road
Cheshunt
Hertfordshire
England EN8 9SL

They'll notice.