Walked into shop with £5.00, purchases = £2.40 left shop with £7.60!

[MeRightYouWrongMeBigYouSmall]

The shop assistant clearly thought I had given her £10.00.

WIBU not to say anything?
Should I own up and return the cash?
Or should I count it as a wee bonus and buy a lottery ticket (or a few)

Well you just stole £5.

You have to ask whether you should own up and return it?

the shop assistant will need to pay back any shortages from her till herself from her wages (this is what happens in most shops i have worked in)

so it is totally up to you and how guilty you will feel knowing that

It is technically stealing, surely?

When did you realise?

If at the till, I think you should have told them straight away.

If their till is down at the end of their shift they may well have it docked from their pay.

Yes, you should return it

unless it's Tesco

I fucking hate Tesco

Own up - the shop assistant will get it in the neck when the till doesn't balance. Surprised you have to ask really.

Did you check your change and notice at the time?

If so YABU not to have said something there and then.

I'd take it back. Did you notice at the time? Surely you noticed if you gave her a £5 and she gave you a £5 plus more back?

It's theft, not something I'm confortable with.

It is horrible when you realise the till is down. You should have told them, they will feel like shit now for the sake of a fiver.

I agree - it's theft, pure and simple. Return the cash.

for me, it would depend on the service i had been given at the till

i bought a £15 book in WHSmith recently, gave the assistant £20 note, she was chattering to her mate about a night out they were planning, what to wear etc and i left with £15 change.

i called it compensation for shit service

If I had noticed at the time I would have said, I was away in another world - dd had me up all night last night and was late for work.

I didn't even think about it until I've just looked in my purse and found the extra cash....

YABU and dishonest.

you have to give it back regardless, or you just cost that shop assistant an hour's wages.

If you are SURE you only had £5 in the first place, it MUST have been obvious when you got your change what had happened, so it looks like your first instinct was to keep quiet and pocket it, but now you are feeling guilty.

Did you want us all to ease your consciencce by saying, yeah, keep it, its not your problem?

I would keep it, depending on which shop it was. If it's a big chain keep it, if its a small private buisness take it back.

oh no, if you didn't notice at the time and you have to make a special trip to take it back then No, you could keep it.

there's no way I'd make a special trip to return a fiver if I had to drive/park etc.

Confession time
Years ago in a post office claiming my child benefit the girl gave me £20 too much. I was busy turning the buggy around and didn't notice until a lightbulb in my head said "there shouldn't be a £20 note in your hand.

I quickly returned to the window and held out my hand saying "you've given me...." I was going to say "too much money" but she snarled at me "read the notice" I looked behind her at a large sign which said "All monies must be checked before leaving the counter, mistakes will not be rectified later"

No problem says I and off I trotted

i say thank your lucky star! if she cant count surely she shouldnt be at the till? i bet there is % for shortages on the tills anyway. and if it is hers first nobody will hold her to it...

I can't believe people are suggesting it's OK to keep it if it's a big chain or bad service

The assistant will likely have to go through the mill of questioning by the manager and may well be under suspicion of stealing themselves.

i have a policy on this - if its an independent shop i always give it back. if its a huge chain like tesco i wont.

go and spent the fiver in there if that would make it happier, donate to charity if you like...

shine - i felt like living dangerously