To expect the MORRISONS checkout operator not to embarrass me for using vouchers

[needsomesunshine]

Spent ten pounds in morrisons & used some luncheon vouchers. Checkout woman looked me up & down then asked the next checkout operator if the vouchers were "alright". Than asked me if I got them because I was on benefits! Queue was building up so I politely said no & left. Wish I'd said something now! MORRISONS need to train their staff properly.They're still getting the money & shouldn't make people feel embarrassed for using vouchers. Times are hard!

I should've complained there & then . Just wanted to get out to behonest. She asked after I'd finished so queue was building up. I should be thicker skinned I know.

needsomesunshine I'm sorry this has happened to you in Morrisons. I really like my local one, and find the staff very friendly and pleasant, much more upbeat than the Tesco staff who always seem to be too busy to make eye contact or help me find something.

I worked on a till in Tesco for years and the only thing I ever queried regarding vouchers was when a woman presented Healthy Living vouchers (whatever they are called, they are for fruit, vegetables and milk) along with crisps and biscuits.

Those of you saying you wouldn't be embarrassed - have you ever been on benefits?

If so then good for you - but once you have been on them for a while, you will learn to be ashamed about it. It's people's reaction to your admitting it that is the key...you just learn not to mention it, ever, to anyone.

and I realise that might not be universally the case, but ime it really is. that's why people don't talk about it.

It's like asking someone what they earn, but with greater negative implications.

I can't think of any reason why she would need to know if you were on benefits or not before she processed your voucher

Personally I don't find using vouchers embarassing. I do find people noising into my business rude.

I think that's it eds. I have known very hard times & had to limit what I got . My dh gets vouchers for lunch as he hasn't got a canteen. He takes a sandwich or goes without sometimes so I can get some things for home. It is like having a label shouting I can't afford it!

If the woman working the checkout is on benefits and wants to know if she can get vouchers then she ought to find out for herself, not ask the customer if they are a benefit claimant. Surely that has nothing to do with whether or not the supermarket can accept the vouchers?
I would have been embarrassed. No one wants to discuss their finances in public with a stranger!

Yes, I've claimed benefits. I'm a single parent & when ex-H left me & the DCs, I had to claim. Didn't feel any less of a person or embarrassed. Life just sucks sometimes and you can only give it your best shot. I feel fairly sure I'm giving my life the best shot I can, so no one is going to make me feel less good about myself because they can't deal with a voucher!!!!!

That's a grand attitude Bugsy. I wish we all felt as strong as you clearly did.

This thread showed up in the Active sidebar as ' ... the Morrisons checkout opera'. YABU for disappointing anyone who clicked through hoping to know more about this little-performed piece.

But YANBU about the vouchers.

LOL Edofthe - its taken years of practice! and I do get embarrassed, but it tends to be about things like having my skirt tucked into my knickers!

I do wish I was thicker skinned post bellum but you have to admit when you have to use vouchers it does get you down.

I think you should write a letter or email to the store manager enclosing a copy of your receipt. The cashier overstepped the mark and was horribly rude by asking you about your personal financial situation.

I will write to them and ask them to make staff aware of luncheon vouchers. Their sign says now accepting other store vouchers which I'm sure will lead to more issues.

Weren't you even a little bit tempted to lay it on thick? A bit of.............

"yes, I am. As a LP with 6 children who's fathers don't pay maintenence times are tough. With petrol prices rising it costs a fortune to fill up my people carrier and with gas/electric going up god knows how much it will cost to heat my 5 bedroomed house. I'll never understand why they pay the rent but not the bills. My kids get free school meals and we get food vouchers - on the bright side I've learnt to feed a family of 7 for a week on just this "

FWIW, I am a LP, I work, get the usual CTC,HB on means tested basis. I often use vouchers - why wouldn't I when they're there to be used?

Don't know what to say in response youarewinning. Why would I want to start all of that with a queue of people waiting? It's my local store don't need to tell them my life story.

I work on the checkouts (not Morrisons), and I've queried Luncheon Vouchers before as I hadn't seen them before, but asking about benefits is NOT ON.
Complain to the store manager, don't lay it on thick, but def mention that her attitude has put you off shopping there.
We're not all horrible you know

postbellum I dont think people who use vouchers or are on benefits are "lesser" people - I mean some peoples attitudes can make them feel like this, as others here have said.

My local morrisons is Dreadful for checking money off vouchers.
They inspect them like I'm trying two rip off their profits. I mean, 50p off toilet rolls. I understand checking the date but FFs, they read the entire thing.
I had a £10 off a £60 shop from The Times a few weeks ago. That gave the cashier Kittens!
I've never been so interrogated before!

You should not be judged by the checkout person for whatever voucher you're using.

IMO, morrisons are the worst for voucher inspection.

shesariver, the point I was trying to make, is that other people's attitudes shouldn't make you feel anything. You feel what you want to feel. If you feel good about who you are and what you do, then a cashier in the supermarket asking if you get vouchers because you are on benefits shouldn't make you feel embarrassed or a lesser person or anything else negative. It is just a question!

It is not just a question post bellum & it was completely irrelevant to the situation. Just because you use vouchers shouldn't mean you have to answer questions about your financial situation.

I just scan all the vouchers through, if they don't scan, I double check date, product bought or minimum amount spent and will often put them through manually if I can. If its a points voucher (realise you all have a 50% chance of guessing where I work) that won't scan, I direct the customer to the customer service desk to get them added on.
People who don't use vouchers are wasting money IMO.

Well postbellum thats good for you - but not true I would imagine for the majority of people on benefits in this situation. Of course in an ideal world others peoples attitudes shouldnt make you feel anything but you would have to be extrememly thick skinned or super confident not to all of the time, we can all be affected by what others think and not just to do with the scenario.