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Should I complain to Head Office or just leave it now?

21 replies

MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:07

Just send DD(13 w SEN) and DS 16 to the shop to get me a few bits.

They came home and DD was upset and said they accused them of previously stealing cookies.

DD said security approached them and said 'you were in here a few days ago. You grabbed a bag of cookies and ran. DS said it wasn't them. Security said it was him, he recognises them.
Security then calls over another employee who confirms my kids are the cookie thieves. He also recognises their faces.

DS says its not them and they haven't been to the shop in a while. Security asks them where they live and which way they go home. DS tells them.
Security then say 'yep, that's the way they ran'

DS reiterates he has never stolen anything in his life. Security allows them to leave but says he is keeping an eye on them.

So I go to the shop to speak to security guard.

He says they checked the cameras and it wasn't my kids (no shit!)

I asked him why he didn't check the cameras before approaching them. He has no answer to this.

He tells me that he did call a2nd colleague he called over but he said said it wasn't them and that he never said he would be keeping an eye on them.

Direct contradiction to what both my kids said, separately.

He says there was no issue, he didn't ask them where they lived or accuse them of taking cookies. He just said they looked like some kids that have been in.

He asked me to apologise to the kids and he apologised to me.

Should I leave it there?

Or should I make a complaint to head office that a security guard approached 2 children and directly accused them of being shoplifters in front of other customers. Called a 2nd employee over to verify they are thieves (he did verify it was them, he said he's seen them in before stealing🤔) warn them not to steal anything 'this time' and say he is keeping an eye on them, without even checking it was them! Which they did easily afterwards!

Should I just email them to suggest that from now on they check CCTV before humiliating innocent children?

It's really shook DDs confidence. She's only started going to the shops with her brother the last few months. She went to buy herself a treat, which she came away without because she was too embarrassed.

I also don't like the fact he's lying about what was said. My kids have no reason to embellish what happened. DD is very factual in her recollections of things so I don't doubt her account.

OP posts:
Prometheus · 02/07/2022 18:09

Its definitely awful but I remember the same thing happening to me and my friends in Woolworths back in around 1993. Its just what security guards are like unfortunately.

Marlouse · 02/07/2022 18:12

Very unprofessional behaviour of the security guy. Definitely contact head office.
This is a very strange way to behave towards kids. Even if they had done it, This is not the way. I would be fuming. What a bully.

MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:13

Marlouse · 02/07/2022 18:12

Very unprofessional behaviour of the security guy. Definitely contact head office.
This is a very strange way to behave towards kids. Even if they had done it, This is not the way. I would be fuming. What a bully.

That's what I thought. The interrogation questions and calling over other staff to identify them.

They were both so sure it was my kids until they checked the cameras 🙄

OP posts:
MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:21

If the security guard thought it was him, why wouldn't he speak to him? Your son is 16 so not a little child.

MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:26

MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:21

If the security guard thought it was him, why wouldn't he speak to him? Your son is 16 so not a little child.

I mean whys he gonna say? ' yeah it's me. I'm a shoplifter?'

2hats the point in speaking to anyone they suspect is a shoplifter before identifying them?

Surely the first thing they should have done is confirm them against the CCTV?

Then they can say 'look, we have the CCTV, we know it's you, you're banned... Etc'

Rather than, we think it's you, let's shout some other staff over. Yeah it's definitely you...

Then wait till they leave and realise its not.

OP posts:
MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:27

MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:21

If the security guard thought it was him, why wouldn't he speak to him? Your son is 16 so not a little child.

Are you telling me you would be happy being approached by a security guard being told you look like a shoplifter in front of other customers without them being sure?

OP posts:
MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:29

No, I doubt a shoplifter would own up, but if it was him, he'd likely not be shoplifting that day or, ideally not be returning at all.

gingersplodgecat · 02/07/2022 18:30

Yes, definitely do contact their head office.

Something similar once happened to my dd in a supermarket, (age-related purchase) and I wrote a furious diatribe to their head office complaints department about it, including the way I was spoken to like dirt when I went in to sort things out. I had a very apologetic phone call from someone fairly senior at the head office, and they sent her a £10 voucher to say sorry. They also said that the staff members concerned would be 'spoken to'.

MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:33

It depends. If they questioned me because I looked like someone who'd been. No I wouldn't be offended. I'd assume if they'd let me carry on shopping, they didn't think it was me. If his manner was off, I wouldn't like that but I wouldn't object to being spoke to about it.
Having said that, I'm a lot older than your son so maybe confidence plays into that. But in principle, no, I wouldn't object to being questioned.

CornishTiger · 02/07/2022 18:35

There will be CCTV and possibly audio of the incident today…..

MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:36

Actually, come to think of it, I was once accused of shop-lifting in Asda. They followed me out of the store and accused me. I'd forgotten about that. It was a genuine mistake on their part. I didn't complain. Of course, if I thought there'd be a £10 gift voucher, I might have.

MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:36

Sorry but I just don't believe that.

They had the CCTV available as they checked in in the 10 minutes it took for me to arrive so they could have done it easily before approaching them.

I don't believe anyone would be happy to be accused of shoplifting publicly without proof.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 02/07/2022 18:38

I wouldn't complain as you got an apology. It was a clear case of mistaken identity and I can't see what difference a complaint would make.

MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:41

girlmom21 · 02/07/2022 18:38

I wouldn't complain as you got an apology. It was a clear case of mistaken identity and I can't see what difference a complaint would make.

Maybe get them to change their policy on approaching people with accusations before confirming its them?

OP posts:
MuffinDaMule · 02/07/2022 18:42

CornishTiger · 02/07/2022 18:35

There will be CCTV and possibly audio of the incident today…..

Ah yes I didn't think of that. Thankyou.

OP posts:
MarshaMelrose · 02/07/2022 18:44

I was accused. They stopped me outside the shop and lured me back in by saying I'd left my debit card at the till. I believed them and went back in the shop. Genuine mistake on their part. I didn't feel offended.
And I really wouldn't be offended if someone questioned me about a previous incident. I don't understand why shop owners can't question people they genuinely believe have stolen from them. And they genuinely did believe it because they went and checked the cameras. Should he have held them there while he was checking the camera? He didn't hurt them, he didn't have them arrested, he just spoke to them.

Crinkle77 · 02/07/2022 18:47

This is the second post today I've seen about children being treated badly by staff. Some people seem to think that customer service when it comes to young people. Yeah I'd have a moan about it. Like another poster said the correct thing to do would be to review the cctv and then act accordingly.

Crinkle77 · 02/07/2022 18:48

Customer service doesn't matter that should have said.

girlmom21 · 02/07/2022 18:51

Maybe get them to change their policy on approaching people with accusations before confirming its them?

You know and I know that won't be their standard policy.

You tackling the issue head on with those involved will have a bigger impact than writing to a corporate head office.

MrsPnut · 02/07/2022 18:53

I would complain, the security guard is probably from a contract company to the supermarket and if head office doesn’t know then they can’t do anything.
Some security staff enjoy being bullies, I know at least one who has been sacked because they thought the uniform granted them more power than it actually did.

saltwaterandsuncream · 02/07/2022 18:56

100% contact head office. 20 years experience managing shops here; that's not ok and 100% complain.

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