Accused of Shoplifting in Asda

[mummatom]

Hi peeps. I shop in Asda all the tine, couple times a week I'd say. On this occasion I decided to use the self scan til. I had my 9 month old with me and I'm also 7 months pregnant, going to a very tough patch with my husband. Anyway, I scanned my heavy items and put them at the bottom of the bag and then scanned the lighter ones. For some unknown reason I was picking things up a couple at a time, scanning the bottom one and putting them in the bag. I guess it was the lack of sleep I've been having with the baby as she's teething and just doesn't sleep...!! I went to leave thinking nothing of it (and of everything else I needed to do that day) and I was stopped by security who asked me to follow them. I obliged as I didn't have a clue why. I thought I might have been a witness to something. They asked for my receipt and then it clicked. I apologised profusely but I was ignored while they went through every item. The baby then started playing up :( I said I was sorry it was a mistake and I had the cash to pay for the items (I meant to pay for them all with cash but automatically I paid by card through the lack of sleep). The lady went out with the items and the cash I had given her (total was about £7 worth I think) and the guy phoned his manager. He came back in to say I could pay for the items but I would be banned from the store FOR A YEAR... I was in such a shocked state that I just kept saying ok and thank you (so stupid). I was written to the store manager to appeal as he said I could and advised of the above and the fact that I can only buy the ready made formula (only thing daughter will drink) from there etc. I'm mortified. I haven't told a sole. Can someone advise how long the appeal took or the success rate!? Thanks!

[VashtaNerada]

Oh you poor thing! I don’t have any advice but it sounds like a genuine sleep-deprived mistake. Unfortunately you did do it and I’m not sure there’s much you can do about it now. Is there anywhere else you could shop for a year or is it really your only option?

[MonkeyfaceThereturn]

Chinny reckon.

You got caught.

[mummatom]

It was a genuine mistake and I cannot shop anywhere else and husband will go mental if he finds out. 😫 I don't mind having my bags checked everything I shop if the ban is lifted. I'm in such a state

[Prisonbreak]

Have your shopping delivered if they ban you?

[thewinkingprawn]

Hmm, hard to give benefit of the doubt - maybe a cheeky shoplift and got caught? At least it was only £7 and they didn’t call the police. Regardless - you can surely shop online and have it delivered?

[Rosegoldmum]

Order online and get your shopping delivered to your home

[thewinkingprawn]

They won’t employ someone to check your bags every time you shop there - what a waste of their time. Get it delivered and tell your husband you are too tired to shop

[Whodafeck]

Sounds like you got caught to me too. Sorry.

[Samind]

Why would hubby go mental? It was human error. Have you any other supermarkets nearby? Also do online delivery maybe from there if that's possible and get your milk bread etc from smaller conveniece shop

[Redglitter]

I'd be surprised if they change their mind. If it WAS a genuine mistake surely your husband will understand. The bottom line is mistake or otherwise, you were shoplifting. The staff will also have heard every excuse under the sun from people who've been caught. Very grateful they didnt phone the Police

[EmmaC78]

Online delivery. Saves hassle when you have the baby anyway.

[mummatom]

No there was no cheeky shoplift or anything of the sort. I've never done anything like this and I'm utterly appalled at myself for being so careless and thoughtless. Husband will say he needs something from the shop outside a home delivery and I will have to go get it and I can't if I'm not allowed in the store

[Whodafeck]

Plead with the shop to let you use a checkout with an operator every time?

[EmmaC78]

You can get the ready made formula delivered though. Anything your husband needs can be bought from another shop.

[Susanna30]

Don't blame them for banning you.
But it's not the end of the world.
Having your groceries delivered will be lots easier anyway, especially once you've got the newborn in tow.
No point appealing, they caught you fair and square & lack of sleep isn't an excuse. Guaranteed they've heard it all before. Are there no other shops around? Stock up at other places.

[Drogosnextwife]

You weren't accused of shoplifting, you were shoplifting. Not sure I believe that story. Like others say do online shopping, if it was a mistake why would your DP go mad?

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

After that treatment I wouldn't shop there again anyway!

[TrixieFranklin]

Why would your husband go nuts? Why doesn't he help you with your kids / shopping / general day to day things?
In your previous posts you've called him devil husband, said he never helps and don't know what he does do, blames you for everything including WW2 and said repeatedly how badly he treats you.

[hardyloveit]

I'm not sure why but I don't 100% believe you either? Maybe if you had only put one item in the bag but the fact you picked up a couple of items at a time and did this until you had taken £7 worth just doesn't seem that plausible. Did the weight alarm thing not go off after a while? It goes off all the time even if I touch it or half put something on it!

[thewinkingprawn]

After that treatment - don’t be silly - she tried to leave the shop without paying: they will have heard every excuse going. What exactly do you expect them to do - everyone would do it if they let them get away with it.

[SileneOliveira]

Come on OP, see it from the store's point of view.

You left the store with things you hadn't paid for.

They will have heard all the excuses about sleep deprivation, forgetting, confusion whatever 1000 times before. Every single person who is caught stealing will make excuses and have a story. Why should they believe you when the proof is right there in front of them?

[VashtaNerada]

Why can’t you tell your husband? I would definitely tell mine and he’d say I was a silly sod and to be bloody grateful they didn’t prosecute. And then he’d help me figure out what to do. If you really can’t discuss it with him, I think that’s your biggest issue not the shoplifting.

[Em308]

Surely it would do that "unidentified item in the bagging area" thingy? Not sure about this story.

[thewinkingprawn]

Also last point - get the stuff delivered to home and then if he does need something and cannot possibly get it himself and you only have a big Asda and no other shops locally then you’ll just have to drive to the nearest one however far it is. It really is your only option, there is no way asda will relent.

[thewinkingprawn]

Well nearly last point (!) it would definitely do the unidentified item in bagging area / they are all super sensitive so you were either putting stuff in bags and not running it through which definitely cannot be excused or the story makes zero sense.