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Original poster

I didnt scan something and freaking out!

131 replies

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 19:53

Me , my husband and children went away for a weekend. I went into a retail shop, looked around with my daughter. I had a bit of a migraine had my sunnys on. I pickrd up some bits. I put alot of things on klarna as its intrest free. Anyway realised at the self check out that wasnt an option. My daughter was moaning , my husband was ringing me saying hurry up. So i was stressing!!! The lady that worked of the check out was lovely i askrd her a question because an item said it was cheaper but she was there when i scanned it incase it wasnt so she could take it off. When i finished i then was about to scan a bag and a different lady came over and said have u already scanned the bag i said no im about to. She said oo let me check something this till has been playing up. So she done something a got some sort of receipt. I scanner the back paid for it, put the other items back because they didnt have klarna so i thought not gonna get them all. Anyway as i was leaving i was just looking at the receipt thinking wha did she get out of my self scanner one ? I got in the car put my daughter in. And then off we went had my drink and something to eat then look in my bag. I bagged 3 items i didnt scan 😩😩 i am nowhaving a major anxiety attack thinking omg didnthe lady thought i stole???! Omg did they call the police ? Im i gonna be arrested ??? I have never stole in my life!! I called customer service & explained said can i pay over the phone. and they said take it back to a store near me. I have 3 major appointments( health related) this week so i cant make it this week. What should i do? Im freaking out. Has this ever happened to anyone and had police at there door for an honest mistake :( i feel sick to my stomach! My didnt someone stop me 😭😭😭

OP posts:
gamerchick · 09/02/2026 20:22

Why don't you just go back and put them through the till. That way you've paid and can stop sweating about it. No need to speak to anyone.

But tbh is probably just forget about it. The shops not going to send bizzies to your house.

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:22

@HeartyBlueRobin oo bless you! Its a horrible feeling isnt it? When that happens! Good you managed to go right back.

im just abit worried because its never happened to me. Never been in any trouble with the law. So it just made me panic. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:24

@gamerchick i will definitely do that, but its because this week has a lot on, school clubs, appointments, just didnt know if i had time yo make a 40min trip there and 40 min trip back this week. But i have to make it a priority

OP posts:
MrLarsonsNailGun · 09/02/2026 20:26

I wouldn’t worry about it. Really.

Did the same when my DC was small and my brain was all over the place, strolled out of Boots completely oblivious with something in the buggy I hadn’t paid for.

Recognised my error about 10 mins later and just walked back in the shop and paid for it, no drama.

You have phoned up to explain, you will be taking them back when you can. No harm done.

gamerchick · 09/02/2026 20:26

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:24

@gamerchick i will definitely do that, but its because this week has a lot on, school clubs, appointments, just didnt know if i had time yo make a 40min trip there and 40 min trip back this week. But i have to make it a priority

You don't though.

Why don't you, the next time you're in. Pick them back up again, pay for them and stick them in the collection trolley most supermarkets have in now.

This isn't something to lose sleep over.

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:28

@Thanksforyourlackofthought thank you for your message. Yes i definitely need to try and get some sleep 😩 x

OP posts:
NotThatSerious · 09/02/2026 20:30

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:05

@Seawolves im worried sick, i havent slept ! But how does this actually happen to people? Surely if they checked they would see it wasnt done on purpose at all. My partner went into a golf store which i really didnt wanna be in so he dropped us off. Wish i just went with him now :( if the police would come to my door would it be fast? Or if i return them next week ill beok? X

I really wouldn’t worry I have done this so many times. Not on purpose but I have autism & adhd and get really flustered at tills because I can’t cope with the noise, especially when the kids are with me it all becomes a blur. I have accidentally taken odd bits over the years where I didn’t realise things didn’t scan. Nothing has ever happened and any occasion they did stop me before I left I just said sorry and paid for it. It’s really not a big deal

Spaghettion · 09/02/2026 20:31

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:10

@mumofoneAloneandwell whats aibu?
yes because i dont want to get in troubke im asking if its happened to anyone else. Thats it.

I work in retail, it’s a pretty much daily occurrence that someone will steal something, sometimes trolleys full. It gets reported, the police don’t follow it up… Ever!
Just take the stock back and that will be that.

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:31

@gamerchick yes thats a good point , but just mortified if they thought i woulf of done it on purpose and called the police. Even though it isnt in my area i would still be so upset. X

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 09/02/2026 20:32

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:21

@Arlanymor yes it definitely is my priority to fix which i need to make sure i do! Thank you x

You’ve called in to alert them, you’ve shown your honesty, just get there as soon as you can.

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:34

@Spaghettion trolley full :o how on earth fo they not get in trouble! That is shocking!!! X

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:35

@Arlanymor yes i will definitely do that. Thank you 🙏🏽 x

OP posts:
Villanellesproudmum · 09/02/2026 20:36

What’s the value, if it’s three diamond necklaces worth £5k the shop might follow it up, if it’s three bags of crisps I doubt they’d do anything, you can just return when you can to ease your anxiety if anything.

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:39

@Villanellesproudmum £42 value so its a big amount. I just wish someone said something there and then so i could of corrected it you know x

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:46

@NotThatSerious it definitely gets stressful with little ones. Especially with autism and adhd so i can see how thats happened to you. Its just a horrible feeling i guess . And the worry plays on my mind thats all. X

OP posts:
LightYearsAgo · 09/02/2026 20:48

Which shop is it? I'd imagine trying to sort it out is going to cause you even more stress than you're already putting yourself under if you go back to a different branch.

Everything is so computer driven nowadays I'm not sure what you're proposing to do.

PinkyFlamingo · 09/02/2026 20:49

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:05

@Seawolves im worried sick, i havent slept ! But how does this actually happen to people? Surely if they checked they would see it wasnt done on purpose at all. My partner went into a golf store which i really didnt wanna be in so he dropped us off. Wish i just went with him now :( if the police would come to my door would it be fast? Or if i return them next week ill beok? X

Oh calm down. The police aren't coming!

Kizmet1 · 09/02/2026 20:49

OP, you need to chill out. Seriously. Reading this post is giving me anxiety and nothing that has happened is even remotely a big deal.
You accidentally bagged some items that you hadn't paid for. You didn't notice, the store didn't notice, and once you realised, you made steps to correct it.
No one is going to come after you.
You're not in trouble.
Take a breather and be kind to yourself.

Dollymylove · 09/02/2026 20:50

Don't worry about it. Call.it a little win and move on

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:51

@LightYearsAgo its a matalan, well i wanted to give it back to the original but thats 2.5 hrs away. So i was gonna go to another one and explain. Its been very stressful, not had this happen before either so just very worried. X

OP posts:
Thecows · 09/02/2026 20:52

Yes I'm feeling my hr rising just reading this! Calm down fhs

Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:53

@Kizmet1 i am a very anxious person, if something is wrong i stress until i fix it. For me , this hasnt happened before. Last night i was shaking so much my skin was burning had another migraine. Its just horrific, think having a newborn also makes me feel more stressed. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:54

@Thecows think how my hr feels right now 😩 x

OP posts:
UnhappyHobbit · 09/02/2026 20:55

Starrrz · 09/02/2026 20:05

@Seawolves im worried sick, i havent slept ! But how does this actually happen to people? Surely if they checked they would see it wasnt done on purpose at all. My partner went into a golf store which i really didnt wanna be in so he dropped us off. Wish i just went with him now :( if the police would come to my door would it be fast? Or if i return them next week ill beok? X

Please stop worrying. They aren’t going to prosecute you. Shoplifting is a huge problem and if you come back offering to pay, they aren’t going to call the police and if even if they do, the police have got bigger fish to fry

Catterbat · 09/02/2026 20:55

The small Sainsbury’s near me has a shoplifter every hour or so clearing all the steak off the shelves then legging it. There’s nothing the security guard can do, they don’t even bother calling the police any more.

A couple of years ago I walked past an elderly gentleman wheeling a M&S trolley filled to the brim with bottles of whisky, meat, champagne etc down a passageway near a shopping centre.

Honestly OP, they have bigger fish to fry.