Accidentally came out of shop without paying for something

[Spottyrainbows]

I bought a load of items at the self-check out in a home store this morning. It took a while to sort the security tags on the clothes. As they were removed I packed it all into a paper bag. The bag split during packing so had to sort it. When I got home I checked my receipt and two items in the bag are not on it. I must have forgotten to scan them in the fuss of the bag breaking.

Now panicked! The value was about £7. I paid by card so the store will have my details and because the bag broke I’m sure I’d be noticeable on their cctv. How does it work in stores? Do they do a stock check and review CCTV if they are missing items?

We are away for half term now, would it be too late to take them back in a week and explain and pay?

I'd bring them back in asap to be honest. I realised that I'd done similar when I was really poorly. Luckily I'd turned around and went straight back in. They were really nice about it

It's only theft if you dishonestly take it, but now you are aware you've accidentally taken them, it would be dishonest to use/wear/keep them without paying the store.

Options, keep them pristine and take them back next week
Or better call up tomorrow, explain the error and that you can't get back to the store for over a week, and offer to pay over the phone.

I'm sure most people would just keep the items and hope no one finds them out but personally I'd rather square it all off than be worrying at home for the sake of £7.

I could get someone to take the items back for me tomorrow and pay for them/I could pay over the phone. But if it’s not me taking them back how could I prove someone had paid on my behalf for the mistake?

I’d email their customer service so you have a written record when/if you return them to store. Chances are they’ll tell you to just keep them.

They can give you the paper receipt?

I would ring them and ask what's the best course of action.

yes that can, but if it’s my friend who paid on my behalf, it will be her on their cctv and not me if I ever had to ‘prove’ I had paid. (They could argue she had purchased the items herself and it was unrelated to me.)

Tweet the shop and then bring it back next week

🤣

They lose so much (thousands per week) that there's no chance they'll notice if they didn't at the time.
Especially for a low value item like that with no obvious sign left behind like cut off security tags to watch on cctv for.

The store won't notice.

I walked out of a cafe once not paying. They didn’t bring receipt, I was distracted by something …only realised next day 😱
I couldn’t get back for a few days. And couldn’t reach them on phone as line busy every time I rang
I then went back a few days later , explained- they were grateful and very surprised …I settled. Everyone happy

if you can reach them by phone, do so. Pay asap .

nope, you won’t go to jail - lots of teasing here 🤣🤣

Don't worry..I did this with a small, leather wallet in TKMaxx- genuinely was down the side of the buggy- I took it back in the next week to hand in as it wasn't something I wanted to buy, had slipped in. They looked at me as if I had horns on my head & said no-one had ever done that before 😅

I spent £50 on other items. Their store has a live chat feature so I’ll try that tomorrow (hope they’re open Sunday) and then I can screen shot the conversation. Then I’ll either ask my friend with a key to go into my house and take it back to pay or will wait till I’m back depending on what the store say.

I have done this as well, years ago. It was a tin opener. I went back a couple of days later, apologised and paid and it was fine.

Just wait until you get back and go then. They won't have even noticed.

Honestly I work in retail and the amount of absolutely brazen shop lifting that goes on is unreal and nothing ever gets done about it. I don't think they can trace you with credit card details either.

Just ring them, explain and tell them you'll bring it back to pay when you get back. If someone did that in my store, it would be a feckin Miracle. We have had actual cash from tills missing and no one can prove anything from that, so accidentally not paying will be low priority.

Don't laugh. He's been a twat on another thread. He doesn't need the ego boost.

Email them and explain and hope they say it's fine. Don't waste your time going back in unless they insist. If they really cared about it they would have staff checking your items out not making you do it yourself!

I accidentally got a duplicate of a delivered order once and they told me to just keep it. I said I had it at home and they could send someone to collect it but it wasn't worth it for them.

I did this in ikea once, only found out when I tried to return the items. Embarrassing

It's more trouble than it's worth tbh, I accidentally walked out with something as I got so flustered trying to scan it and it wasn't working then they looked at me like I was a unicorn when I went back and tried to pay

They won't notice at all. They won't care. I honestly wouldn't give this any more thought whatsoever.

No one at all is ever going to think badly of you over this OP. I wouldn't even care to go out my way to return it unless was passing by. No one is going to come after you or turn up on your doorstep. Even if someone scanned CCTV - which they don't - and then somehow amazingly saw a £7 item missing, they still wouldn't give a stuff. They have much bigger fish to fry.
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An honest mistake. Now don't waste one more minute of thought over something so small in the grand scheme. Just chill out and enjoy your half term.

I'd live chat too. You can get a copy of the chat too.

Your giving this too much thought. Over the years I have accidentally taken many items (children have put things under the buggy without me noticing type thing). Never anything significant but £7 is absolutely nothing.

I genuinely think they will laugh if you go back to pay for the items. Just write it off as a and day and don’t give it anymore thoughts OP.