Tesco Service or disservice

[Saidie008]

Hi all
I had a very unsettling experience on Tuesday. I know it's rather long but I feel so intimidated by the whole thing and would love to hear some words of wisdom. :):)

I got accused of 'stealing' a 0.71 money off coupon at Springhill Tesco by the store manager. I had two 0.71p off coupons that the till prints off at the end. According to the store manager, the till never does this twice, within minutes of each other. It all felt so surreal. It still does. All I could think was, 0.71 pence and I've spent thousands at this store over the years. He demanded ID... I whipped out my credit card and bank cards. Not enough. He wanted to know where I lived. I'm thinking this feels like Homeland Security from the movies and I don't have my passport on me. What if he accuses me of stealing my wallet from someone else? How do I prove who I am for 0.71p? The customers and staff are now all staring. The store manager is on a roll, if he had an iron, I believe he would have ironed out the now rather sorry looking 0.71p coupons to show his staff how it's done. He's brandishing the 0.71 p coupons from one place to another. The cashier seems awe-struck with his performance.

I was accused in front of customers and staff of the following:

1. 'If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem.' His words to straighten out the problem of the 0.71p coupon when I told him I felt like I was being interrogated all over a 0.71p coupon.
2. 'It might be 0.71p now, but what will it be tomorrow?' His words accusing me of being a 0.71p coupon bandit.
3. 'It's not the cashier's fault because the till prints these coupons off at the end.' Okay, but how does that explain anything about my 0.71p coupons? He also demanded to know where and when I got the coupons from and when I did my shopping to get those dratted coupons. Only thing I could remember about that shopping trip was that I was with my sister.

I’m sure the coupons have the till number, clubcard number and cashier operator number on them. That would have given him all the information without resorting to such theatrics. Can anyone clarify that? I wish I’d had the presence of mind to take a picture of the coupons.

According to Head Office he stepped out of line and he shouldn't have behaved like a Homeland Security guard for a 0.71p coupon.

Won't be going alone ever again. If anything arises, my phone button will be on record. Shame really because all the 'normal' staff - from the friendly pharmacist to the young lads and lasses stacking the shelves - are always so helpful and friendly. They are the true professionals at Springhill Tesco.

I get anxious just thinking about the whole thing and how I could have handled it. What would you guys have done?

You need to write a letter of complaint saying everything you've said in this thread. It's disgusting. He was using power to belittle and exploit. Don't feel bad , feel cross and complain. He will have fine it to others too.

Write and complain to head office - ask for an apology from the store manager and demand that head office takes action so that this doesn't happen again. Or you could go to your local paper and let Tesco deal with the bad publicity.