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Original poster

I accidentally shoplifted - advice needed

371 replies

iamsodumb · 12/03/2021 15:33

NC as this will be outing.

I work in the NHS and there is a shop on the premises which I go to near enough every day Monday-Friday. Today at about 11am I went and bought (?!) my usual packet of crisps and can of Coke. I used the self scanner as I always do and walked out.

This afternoon I got a call from my supervisor saying the big boss wanted to speak to me. When I went to her office she said I hadn't paid for my items and the shop have me on cctv not paying. I was absolutely mortified and checked my online banking and sure enough there's no charge from the shop today so I don't dispute I have done it. I don't know if I've tapped my card and it's not gone through or if I've absent mindedly scanned the items then walked off with them. I genuinely haven't got a clue. She said the shop wanted to escalate it to head office but advised me to go and speak to them myself.

I went to the shop and apologised and offered to pay but the manager had gone home. The shop assistant phoned her manager and he said I was not to pay but was to come and speak to him on Monday?! So instead of this being resolved on the day I have to worry about it over the weekend.

I'm not particularly worried about police involvement etc, I know I didn't mean to do it and have never stolen in my life so can't imagine it would go anywhere. However, I am concerned about work. Could this impact my job?! I asked my own supervisor and she said she doesn't think so but couldn't say for sure. I'm so worried! I can't believe all of this drama for less than £3 which I have offered to pay!!

If anyone has any knowledge I would appreciate any insight you have on what I can expect the outcome of this to be.

OP posts:
Cadent · 15/03/2021 14:18

@iseeu then you acknowledge that you didn't pay and make things right, not moan about how they have damaged your reputation.

iseeu · 15/03/2021 14:22

@Cadent

He may have just been really inexperienced. Was he from England? If not, it might have been a cultural thing.

This is so pathetic and damaging, the assumption that someone acting badly can't be English Hmm

No, actually, it is recognising that different cultures have different ways of doing things, and not necessarily knowing English law and what is considered "bad" in one culture is not considered "bad" in another. I live abroad and I can assure you, gaffs due to cultural differences are quite common amongst the expats. As for "bad" in the country I am living in, it is considered perfectly acceptable parenting to smack young children on the backside in public if they are tantrumming (I am not kidding) - not so much in the UK.
DavidsSchitt · 15/03/2021 14:22

"He may have just been really inexperienced. Was he from England? If not, it might have been a cultural thing."

Wtf?

He's worked his way up to the heady heights of manager at WHSmith. Pretty sure his "culture" isn't holding him back.

He'll also be required to do GDPR training amongst other things.

DavidsSchitt · 15/03/2021 14:25

"No, actually, it is recognising that different cultures have different ways of doing things, and not necessarily knowing English law and what is considered "bad" in one culture is not considered "bad" in another."

Again, he's the manager of a busy hospital store. He is required to act in a certain way by law and he'll have undertaken training to make sure he understands it regardless of whether he's from England, Wales or the arse end of Alaska.

iseeu · 15/03/2021 14:25

[quote Cadent]@iseeu then you acknowledge that you didn't pay and make things right, not moan about how they have damaged your reputation.[/quote]
The manager was wrong. In the OP's shoes I would talk to his head office. I was just saying in an earlier post, he might be inexperienced. But it was still a serious breach and he needs better training.

londonrach · 15/03/2021 14:27

I'd complain op and don't let this go. X

iseeu · 15/03/2021 14:27

@DavidsSchitt

"No, actually, it is recognising that different cultures have different ways of doing things, and not necessarily knowing English law and what is considered "bad" in one culture is not considered "bad" in another."

Again, he's the manager of a busy hospital store. He is required to act in a certain way by law and he'll have undertaken training to make sure he understands it regardless of whether he's from England, Wales or the arse end of Alaska.

I agree, I was just saying it might have been an unintentional gaff to the posters who thought it was him being a bully.... As I said I think the OP should raise it with his head office because it was a serious breach.
Cadent · 15/03/2021 14:29

No, actually, it is recognising that different cultures have different ways of doing things, and not necessarily knowing English law and what is considered "bad" in one culture is not considered "bad" in another.

But you yourself said he was 'wrong' @iseeu . The assumption that he was wrong because he's 'forin' is really respectful to minorities. How do you not get that?

purplecorkheart · 15/03/2021 14:31

Does GDPR still apply not that the UK is not part of the EU? (Not goading but curious)

Sounds like the manager is on a little power trip and wanted you to sweat over the weekend.

VodselForDinner · 15/03/2021 14:33

A complaint to the ICO is unlikely to do much in terms of a fine for WHS, or redress for you, but may make them rethink their training and approach to future issues.

I definitely think you need to complain to WHS HQ about your treatment, and the data issue.

I’d also be really tempted to grab a pen and notebook, head over to the WHS Manager and ask him for the store number, confirmation of whether the CCTV footage of you was shared with anyone etc.

Getting the shits put up him might give him cause to worry for a few days- see how he likes it.

changingnames786 · 15/03/2021 14:35

@purplecorkheart it's been written into UK law, so it's UK GDPR now and pretty much identical though we can expect the two pieces of legislation to develop differently over time.

Dottybirds · 15/03/2021 14:36

He sounds like an absolute tosser

Peppafrig · 15/03/2021 14:36

He may have just been really inexperienced. Was he from England? If not, it might have been a cultural thing

Hmm
stackemhigh · 15/03/2021 14:37

I don't think this is a GDPR breach, we have a similar shop on site, and stealing is very common. Managers are told when it happens.

partyatthepalace · 15/03/2021 14:39

I would complain OP

Purely because, as said previously, you would not have been treated like this if you were a doctor, nurse or manager - and it’s important he’s pulled up on this.

BrownMilk · 15/03/2021 14:41

@Swordfish1

It's a data breach under GDPR. By them showing the footage to your manager and accusing you of a crime, it could have had repercussions for you at work. They should have contacted you directly, or at the very most if they couldn't do that just contact your a manger and ask them to ask you to return to the shop - no details given. And certainly should not have showed footage of you to them.

You need to tell the shop that a data breach has occurred by them doing this which has affected your reputation with your employer.
They then have 72 hours to report this to the ICO (They have to report it). If they don't they will be fined for failure for reporting and the lovely manager will be in very deep trouble I imagine with his manager.

CCTV footage should not be shown to anyone other than those limited staff who have access to it (this should be restricted to only staff who have a need to access it) or to law enforcement in order to assist for example in identifying a crime.

It most definitely should not have been shown to someone's employer for the sole purpose of identifying them.

Sounds like wise advice.

Little point second guessing why he did it. It was wrong and there's a fair and clear process for it to be recognised and any harms corrected. Good luck getting it sorted and well done for taking charge of the situation today.

BigPaperBag · 15/03/2021 14:41

It happens @iamsodumb We once walked out of Sainsbury’s with £55 worth of stuff because DH tapped his card and the ‘receipt’ came out and he stuffed it in his pocket. In fact, it was a piece of paper saying the payment was declined as he’d used the wrong card 😫 We didn’t even realise until we got home. Called up customer services as we live about 5 miles away and they said not to worry about it.

Chocsmyfav · 15/03/2021 14:43

Me and my sister got money from a debt company about 200 pounds each, as they shared with each of us how much debt we had with the company. Nothing was put online. It’s worth looking into it. Stress and all that.

iseeu · 15/03/2021 14:45

@stackemhigh

I don't think this is a GDPR breach, we have a similar shop on site, and stealing is very common. Managers are told when it happens.
I don't really understand how this can be the case, it is an externally owned shop but they contact line managers before contacting the police?
DavidsSchitt · 15/03/2021 14:46

"We once walked out of Sainsbury’s with £55 worth of stuff because DH tapped his card and the ‘receipt’ came out and he stuffed it in his pocket. In fact, it was a piece of paper saying the payment was declined"

Strange. You can't tap for more than £45 can you? Therefore no receipt would come out even if it was declined

Cowbells · 15/03/2021 14:46

I did this once. I was browsing books in a bookstore and found one in my bag! I had to go back in the next day and sneak it back onto the shelf.

Chocsmyfav · 15/03/2021 14:52

Cowbells
That’s very honest, but I did laugh as I can imagine you discreetly placing it back lol

iseeu · 15/03/2021 14:52

i walked out of a shop with a pen in my hand, not paid for, once, absent mindedly. Fortunately I realised as soon as I looked at it and took it back in.

TheSecondMrsAshwell · 15/03/2021 14:57

Try the Information Commissioner's Office about the data breach issues - ico.org.uk/

IntermittentParps · 15/03/2021 14:57

The shop assistant phoned her manager and he said I was not to pay but was to come and speak to him on Monday?! So instead of this being resolved on the day I have to worry about it over the weekend.
Not really their problem.

It is absolutely their problem; the manager created it by telling the OP to come and speak to him on Monday.

I can't believe all of this drama for less than £3 which I have offered to pay!!
If they ignore every transaction like it would soon add up. The OP has not proposed that it be ignored ie that she not pay. It's just the way they've gone about sorting it out that she is objecting to.

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