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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Accidentally didn't pay..

158 replies

Epilepsyhelp · 03/08/2015 11:14

So I went shopping for my friend's DS first birthday. I bought a few little outfits in M&S, I was vaguely aware that I'd spent maybe £70. Added some food bits in as well, went to the till.

I watch the guy ring everything up, carefully taking things off hangers etc and scanning them all. Came out at £58. Ooh, I must have added wrong, I thought.

Headed home, wrapped them all up, put the receipt away in case something didn't fit. Handed gifts over.

I was thinking about it later and thought, I'll check the receipt. A whole outfit wasn't scanned. Shock

AIBU not to go back and explain/pay? Maybe this should be in WWYD - I feel guilty but it's five days later now!

OP posts:
tilliebob · 03/08/2015 15:01

I'd go back. Sainsburys self service tills glitched once when I was in and it wasn't until I got home I realised I hadn't paid for my shopping. I had a receipt, but the card payment hasn't gone through.

I went back the next day and explained and the woman on customer services said "you'd totally have got away with that, you know" Hmm

However, I slept that night a lot better than I had the previous night!

Eva50 · 03/08/2015 15:01

Beryl that's a great idea. So much of what I buy these days is reduced and it's so annoying when I am charged the full price. I'm sure I have been overcharged £10 or more this week alone. I'll be back to normal
Frugalering once the schools go back.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 03/08/2015 15:05

I wouldn't go all the way back but I would email and I suspect they would write it off if less than £20.

6cats3gingerkittens · 03/08/2015 15:08

I always go back and pay. I once took a toothbrush into Tesco. The very nice cashier rang for the manager who thanked me for coming back in and gave me a bunch of roses that cost far more than the toothbrush.

Talismania · 03/08/2015 15:13

I've gone back. Once at restaurant where we both thought the other paid, once at shop where I took 2 of something I only paid for one of. Never got accused of stealing

grannytomine · 03/08/2015 15:27

I walked out of Boots with three toothbrushes in my hand. Not hidden, in fact my hand was in front of me and I was holding them up. Something else I needed wasn't in stock and I forgot about the toothbrushes.

Rushed back in five minutes later in a right state, my husband was on duty at the local police station. I had visions of being arrested and the Inspector coming into the front office to find his wife being charged.

The assistant in Boots was lovely and couldn't stop laughing at me as I was in such a state.

I don't think I would go back now, but I might although I would feel a bit stupid and not sure what they would think.

gatewalker · 03/08/2015 15:28

I'm surprised that so many people wouldn't go back. It is theft, because you are now aware of it.

I would go back.

grannytomine · 03/08/2015 15:30

Just remembered many years ago when I was a poor teenage mother of one and expecting another, I went into building society to put £50 in our account. The cashier credited me with £250. I told her and she just said something like, "We would have known it was you anyway." I thought she was charming, a thank you wouldn't have hurt. £200 was a fortune to me, I think DH was on £30 a week at the time.

soverylucky · 03/08/2015 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Newbrummie · 03/08/2015 15:52

A bank once deposited £40,000 in my account. With the exchange rate when i discovered their mistake I was left £2 overdrawn and they charged £15.
Wouldn't point it put again I'd run to Barbados !

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 03/08/2015 15:54

I think most people have had something similar happen to them, and I think most people wouldn't go back to the shop a week later either

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/08/2015 15:59

I don't understand the give to charity thing Confused

It doesn't make the 'crime' lesser. You either take it back or you keep it. Giving to charity is neither here nor there, it doesn't make it better.

As I said earlier, I'd keep it .

FurtherSupport · 03/08/2015 16:06

No it doesn't Dame, but it means you've done some good and haven't benefited personally from the "crime"

Hygellig · 03/08/2015 16:08

I once accidentally stole some milk from the Coop as DD was holding it in her pushchair. I took the label back but they said not to worry about it.
I think it's M&S's mistake to have not scanned it, so I would not bother going back to the shop, but as others have suggested if you feel bad about it just donate the money to charity.

hellsbellsmelons · 03/08/2015 16:15

In reality everyone I know in RL would be delighted and leave it at that
^^ THIS ^^^
Totally! You spent £58 and I've worked in retail and know the mark up so don't feel guilty. They made a lot of money from you that day even if you did get an item for 'free'

Don't stress about it. It was a mistake made once - and not even by you.

Cheesymonster · 03/08/2015 16:15

M&S are nice aren't they? I accidentally didn't pay for wine in Tesco when it didn't scan. DH went back after we'd already been home and unpacked. Tesco were neither pleased nor touched by his honesty, instead he received a bollocking. He's a policeman.

In answer to your question OP I'd pay it forward and give £12 to charity I think.

dustarr73 · 03/08/2015 16:26

Its not like you robbed it op,i would just leave it.Also the lipsticks in the pocket,the checkout assistant should have checked there.She would have been in as much trouble.

I was in a local shop to me and bought loads of clothes for the kids.It didnt add up to as much as it should have,but i thought to myself maybe they reduced some clothing.Nope he never scanned it,it was his mistake and i never went back about it.

RagstheInvincible · 03/08/2015 16:29

Technically it's unjust enrichment and the correct course of action is to drive back to town, go to the shop, find the item, take it to a till and say 'your employee made a mistake which resulted in me giving my friend this outfit which I haven't actually paid for'.

If you know the answer, why ask the question?

Fromparistoberlin73 · 03/08/2015 16:33

why bother posting? keep them

Original poster
Epilepsyhelp · 03/08/2015 16:40

I know the legal answer (or I thought I did, I've twice been told it's theft!) but I wanted opinions on what to do in reality (aka wanted to avoid all the effort of going back and trying to plausibly explain the situation!)

OP posts:
elizadolittlechoc · 03/08/2015 16:40

I accidentally didn't pay at a supermarket petrol pump once (colicky 2month old baby on tow, no sleep for weeks..) then shopped at supermarket, had coffee there etc.
Got home, still didn't realise, then 2 hours later, police knocked, were very nice tho'.! Shamefully and weedily made way back to petrol station, baby still in tow. Apologised profusely, suggested, wobbily, they could probably have seen me drive across yard to the supermarket and I would have paid immediately. Cashier snottily said that wasn't policy and I was BANNED FOR LIFE and lucky police hadn't prosecuted.Nasty cow. Yet another case where people are bullies to new mums, me feels.
I can laugh now. A few years later I rebelliously went back and guess what? They took my money Grin

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/08/2015 16:46

I have walked back into a supermarket with a Cadburys fudge that had ended up under my handbag in the trolley.

I couldn't keep the outfit - I would ring or email. I have done this when Tesco have delivered extra things in my shopping - sometimes they send the van back for it, and sometimes they say to keep it.

When stores lose items - through shoplifting, breakage or accidents like this - the cost does not come out of their profits, it is built into the cost of everything they sell - a percentage of the price is shrinkage - so we are all paying for these things.

tarashill · 03/08/2015 16:49

If you're a bit flush give the money to charity if it makes you feel less guilty, but you did nothing wrong, the assistant made a mistake, not you. I'm sure M&S can stand the loss. There's no way in a million years I'd go back and give it them though.

MorrisZapp · 03/08/2015 16:52

This has happened to me loads of times. I never go back.

ifgrandmahadawilly · 03/08/2015 16:52

Meh. I would just celebrate.