Just been accused of shoplifting in a store.....total accident

[ralphlauren]

Just been to do the weekly shop (2 kids in toe ds in toddler seat, dd walking) and thought I would treat myself to a new lipstick. I placed this on the baby part of the trolly next to ds where hangbag was. I didnt want it to fall out through the bars of the trolly as it was so small.

Totally forgot at checkout and when I walked out, alarm went off. 2 guys asked if Id bought clothes etc. He lifted up my bag and obviously seen the lipstick and then asked for my receipt to find it. I tried to explain it was a total accident and he said he watched my on the cctv and seen I made no attempt to pay for it. I stated that I had genuinly forgot and did they also see I had paid for the Hapic that I forgot to put on the till and only noticed when putting the shopping bags in, I then gave it to the checkout guy. He sorted seen my point and agreed to let me pay for it, but wanted me to sign to say I would never go in any of the stores again (which I didnt, but did give my name and address) and if I do can be removed for tresspassing.

I am gutted that I can not shop in the store (more convience).

I am debating ringing the store Manager but wanted some advice here.

[ralphlauren]

I was given an exclusion notice pre printed and my name written in.

[EldonAve]

How did you fail to notice the harpic?

[BitOfFun]

I would ring the manager.

[ralphlauren]

It was at the bottom of the trolly, underneather the seat, but obviously I did notice it when I put the bags in.

Is there a point to that?

[Sam100]

I would phone and ask to speak to the store manager - explain what happened and that it was a genuine mistake - and you can only put down to being harassed mum with 2 tots. Tell them you completely understand their policy on shoplifters/ exclusion order etc and if that is what they wish to do that you would abide by it. But point out how often you shop there and how much you have spent over the last few months (if on bank stmt or credit card stmt tot it up otherwise guess!). Ask if he/she is sure they want to lose that much business over a genuine mistake.

If not confident speaking on phone then write a letter.

[muggglewump]

Ring the Manager.
I've forgotten things before, it's easily done when shopping with kids, and I've only got one.

Explain what happened and go from there.
I know stores are very strict on it, even if they don't really think you were trying to shoplift but you can at least try.

[courtneylovescox]

they've banned you!!?! that's pretty shocking.

[Uriel]

I agree - ring the manager.

FGS, how likely is it that you'd be shoplifting a lipstick when you've just shelled out ££s on a weekly shop.

[ralphlauren]

Oh not just banned from that ASDA but every single one they have.

Thanks everyone, was a bit harrassed. I even paid for the carrots my ds ate (small bag), could of just disreguard the bag, like others do but never.

[differentDM]

Uriel, you might be surprised.

[Marne]

Defo phone the manager, i'm that they have banned you from every store. I would complain, you made a mistake, surely if you were going to pinch it you would of hidden it in your handbag .

Give the manager a ring.

[muggglewump]

I know they have to be hard with these things.
Exbf works for LIDL (management), and they really do have to clamp down.
He's still at work but I'll ask him when he gets home what they would do about something like this.

[PrimroseHall]

FGS, it was a genuine mistake. Talk about over-the-top reaction.

I've just swapped from Tesco to Asda and because of this I'm going to swap back - not that I know Tesco's policies on this or anything.

Very cross about this on your behalf.

[stickylittlefingers]

I agree a call to the manager explaining what happened should sort it out. In the end, if they had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you did have a dishonest intent when you made off without payment, you would be able to give good reason why you weren't acting dishonestly. The man at the door mightn't have the authority to make that judgment on behalf of asda, but the manager should have.

[GrinnyPig]

I'd say you got off quite lightly. They could have called the police and pressed charges.

I would say though that you could almost certainly shop at any other Asda - how would they know you are barred?

[EldonAve]

at least it wasn't M&S

[mumoverseas]

I'm pretty sure there were some threads like this a few months ago, really petty banning from stores for what were obviously mistakes not deliberate shoplifting and I'm pretty sure the stores in question were ASDA.

Think in one case one of the women did speak to the store manager and got it sorted and ban lifted. Definitely worth a go. How awful and upsetting for you.

[muggglewump]

I asked my exbf, this is what he says:

"Sounds like an obvious accident, although it would have depended on her reaction when stopped. If she'd been really apologetic then i would have let it go. If she'd been defensive and btchy and moaned about it only being a lipstick, then f*k her.
A lot of women with kids will get their kids to hide stuff or nick stuff knowing if they get stopped, they've got an excuse that 'the kids did it' so having kids isn't really an excuse.
But tell her to call the manager and be contrite and apologetic. I'd be very, very surprised if they didn't let it go. Actual shoplifters are just glad to get out of the place without being arrested so wouldn't apologise, wouldn't go to the trouble of trying to sort it out afterwards and also wouldn't care that they've been banned."

There you go.

[ralphlauren]

UPDATE n

I called to speak to the store Manager, who listened and agreed to re-view the security tape and call me back.

He called back to say that it clearly did look like a genuine mistake and he watched the tape of how I took the harpic out of the trolly and also how I gave the sweets (half open) to the checkout guy that was also by my hand bag on the baby seat. He said my name would not be removed from the log, but he would add a note to it to advise of the outcome ad I was free to shop in store again.

I am releived (bit annoyd name still logged) with this and obviously a lesson to be learned.

Thanks for all your lovely advice and kind words.

[pinkmagic1]

Disgusting that they wont remove you from the list when he can see its a mistake. I would take it higher and write to head office tbh. Like others have said no genuine shoplifter would have called the manager.

[Nighbynight]

what a horrible experience for you.
It is a very easy mistake to make - I once took something out of a supermarket by mistake, it had got stuck under the baby car seat, and I didnt get caught and only discovered it at home.
I am very careful now, because obviously loads of people will try to get something through the checkout by "hiding" it somewhere.

[jacks26mn]

realized I didn t pay the bill when I didn t found the bill whn the security asked.And they called policy and policy verified my identity and I explained how this mistake happned and he discussed with manager and told if this repeated they put criminal charge and put in jail and asda manager gave exclsion order.police told he want to intmate immigration about this incident and pretty new here don't know how this impact me and my immigration.

[concertplayer]

We had this with a friend She was trying to buy a birthday present for
someone when there was no one around to pay (Boots)
s tore detective accused her but when they got to Court CCVT did not back up theft claim. We reckon it was SD way of keeping her job.
Sorry for you s it is horrid being wrongly accused

[Redglitter]

You do realise this thread is SEVEN YEAES old??

[RosieWithTheGoodHair]

Hahahaha how does this even happen?!