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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:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/08/2015 11:32

I wouldn't do this, but you could invent a time machine, go back in time and stage a check out intervention with the chap on the till at M&S and then the mistake would never have happened.

Or you could just forget about it :)

MummySparkle · 04/08/2015 12:03

I've done this so many times. It happens. Shops factor in a percentage lost into all of their prices. You tried to pay for it, it wasn't your fault

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/08/2015 12:16

Yes - shops factor it into their prices - so we all bloody pay!

I really don't understand why people don't give a shit about the fact that ordinary people have to pay more for everything they buy, because of shrinkage - some of which is down to accidents like the one in the OP!!

Breakages happen, sometimes food spoils quicker than expected, packaging can fail, and dishonest people shoplift on purpose - some of that is avoidable, and some is not, and so there is going to be some % on the price of each item to cover these things - but why does that make it OK to add to that percentage by not owning up when something like this happens by accident?

ArendelleQueen · 04/08/2015 14:28

I'd go back because I have a massive guilt complex. For £12, I can see why someone wouldn't, especially if it involved a lot of hassle.

Milkyway1304 · 04/08/2015 14:38

I was sent two rugs for my living room after ordering one online (£120 each). I sent the second back and it took about 3 weeks to get rid of it! In that same large order I had ordered a pram, changing bag and lots of other baby items. It all arrived, and 2 months later a second changing bag arrived! I called John Lewis who were baffled but said to keep it.

MummySparkle · 04/08/2015 14:53

SDTG "accidents" is the key word in your post. The cashier either tried to scan the clothes, but they didn't go through, or she missed that label. Either way it was an accident. Potentially an avoidable accident, but an accident all the same

sleeponeday · 04/08/2015 15:02

My immediate reaction is to call and explain, but the problem with that is that the cashier will get a written warning, in all likelihood, for an innocent mistake. Shops can be brutal on their cashiers.

I think the charity donation idea is best.

ShadyMyLady · 04/08/2015 15:17

This happened to me once, I was in John Lewis and buying a few expensive items. Two microscooters, a kitchen aid and some other kitchen gadgets (wedding money). I also had some vouchers. I added up the value in my head as I went along.

When it came to paying I had to move tils as something was only available at another one. In the meantime one of the microscooters that was on the til got some tape stuck to it.

Anyhoo, when I got home (an hours drive away) I realised I didn't pay for one of the scooters! The tape that got stuck was that stripey one that indicates it had been paid for! So John Lewis gave me a £100 gift that day. I didn't return it and haven't given it another thought until today. This was 4 years ago.

DayLillie · 04/08/2015 15:21

M&S once double charged me for yogurts, so this will make up for it Wink

ListenWillYou · 04/08/2015 15:24

I don't buy any of the 'excuses' posters are giving to back up why they would keep the item without paying for it. If you genuinely are happy to pay for it then how hard is it to phone M&S customer services Hmm(clue > it's not hard at all. In fact Here is the number 03330148000 ) I don't believe anyone could really believe that they would get treated like a shoplifter if they phoned and explained the situation and as for faux- worrying about the cashier HmmHmm REALLY!! Pull the other one.

If you simply don't want to pay then don't but at least be 'honest' about it.

If you wanted to repay it you can and you would. It's not complicated.

The problem with the OP is she doesn't really want to pay for it but her conscience is bugging her just enough that she is trying to find a reason not to pay.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/08/2015 15:26

Yes, MummySparkle, it is an accident when the cashier forgets to scan something, or someone forgets an item under the buggy, or some extra items arrive in a delivery, or whatever - but when someone makes the choice not to go back and pay or contact, that is on purpose. A deliberate decision to keep an item or items you have not paid for.

I do not comprehend how a decent person can do that, knowing that the costs of that sort of shrinkage are passed on to other ordinary customers.

maxxytoe · 04/08/2015 16:35

Never mind OP x

tarashill · 04/08/2015 17:54

I've just been in Aldi and paid €4 for a jar of coffee that I mistakenly thought was €2. The €4 marker on the shelf was nowhere to be seen, but the €2 one was immediately below it. This is a common practice in a lot of supermarkets, maybe even in M&S. I'm sick of it, it's happening more and more often. I certainly wouldn't rush round to give them the money. (I did get refunded in Aldi but had to join a long queue as no customer service)

Original poster
Epilepsyhelp · 04/08/2015 18:02

Oh thanks listen that's my problem is it?! Glad you clarified that for me.

My problem is it's a pain in the bloody neck to go back to M&S and enough people think ill get shouted at to worry me.

As SDGT thinks it will add to the cost of other items I will go when I'm back in town next.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/08/2015 18:05

Tarashill - not rushing back to pay for something you accidentally didn't pay for first time won't punish the supermarkets, because they shuffle off the cost onto the ordinary shoppers - as I keep saying, it is part of the percentage of the item price that covers shrinkage.

I resent paying for the stuff that shoplifters steal, and I resent paying for people who can't be bothered to go back and rectify an accident, or who think it doesn't matter because it's a big supermarket and they make lots of profit, or any other of the lame excuses people give.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/08/2015 18:06

Cross posted with you, Epilepsy - Thanks - it's the right thing to do.

StampyMum · 04/08/2015 19:04

I was once undercharged for lunch in a local family-run cafe. I felt bad when I realised and went back to pay the extra, but they were just really embarrassed and I wished I hadn't. I wouldn't go back to Marks, and I don't really think you have to put the money in a charity box. Buy yourself a bottle of Prosecco instead ;)

PowderMum · 04/08/2015 19:37

For me it really does depend on the retail outlet and the value.
In M&S I have over the years spent a small fortune, I rarely spend less than £150 on a visit and if the cashier was too disorganized/poorly trained/can't be arsed to scan the items correctly I would not be going back after a week as my time is money.
When Tesco deliver I roughly check the items as I unload the crates and have been known to complain when they charge me for something that I didn't order, I no longer bother to call if I get an extra item as the one time I did they told me not to worry. In fact if I reject my substitutions the often offer to let me keep them.
I was in self scan at Tesco the other week, buying something light that was on 3 for 2 (or similar discount), scan the first item and it didn't register the weight so kept on going on at me to put it in the bagging area. Assistant was deep in conversation with a colleague so I added a 2nd item to the bag, still wasn't happy, so I added the 3rd, bingo self checkout happy, Tesco down approx 80p and I was on my way home. This will offset the times that my offers don't go through.

myusernamewastaken · 04/08/2015 19:40

I bought a JVC stereo back in the 1990's from a local Powerhouse store....from memory it was between £300 and £400 so a lot of money....when i got home i'd got 2 stereo's...i had wondered why there were so many boxes but figured it was speakers etc....anyway i rang the store and explained and they insisted i'd got the right number of boxes so i sold the 2nd one to my uncle....result x

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/08/2015 20:24

PowderMum - why does it make a difference what retailer it is, when it's the customers who end up paying for all shrinkage, no matter how big or small, ethical or heartless, efficient or useless the retailers are?

PoundingTheStreets · 04/08/2015 20:33

The law just requires you to take "reasonable steps" to return. For example, making the trip to town purely to return the item would not be reasonable because it would be incurring you necessary costs to rectify a mistake that wasn't yours. However, making a phone call is reasonable, as the cost is negligible and it's a quick, simple act.

You didn't commit theft at the time because there was no dishonesty apparent, but the point at which you make the choice not to do anything to return the items is the point at which you become dishonest.

Nothing will happen as it's probably already been written off to an unnoticed shoplifter, and in the scale of dishonest acts, it's very minor, but it is dishonest.

RavioliOnToast · 05/08/2015 06:00

I walked out of lidl with a sweet potato, realised when I was outside so I went back in to pay.

I out a nailvarnish in the hood of the buggy in tesco, and h&m actually and realised when I got home and didn't return them

Mermaidhair · 05/08/2015 06:28

I'm so glad to read that people don't agree with just keeping the item. I wasn't game enough to go against the tide of the thread again. I am amazed when people are suggesting as it wasn't deliberate it doesn't matter. I always go back into a shop if I ever find anything that wasn't scanned and paid for. I have done it for 2 cucumbers, clothes, things my babies have grabbed off the shelves. It is the legal and moral thing to do.

tarashill · 05/08/2015 11:23

I just wish the supermarkets would be as honest as they expect us to be though. I'm sick of their conning deceiving tactics to rip us off. Legalised theft is what I call it. I've lost count of how many times I've had to go to customer service in Tesco to ask for a refund on an item that has been charged higher than what it is shown on the shelf. Their excuse is always that that item was on offer but has now gone back to its original price, and it's just that they've forgotten to take down the offer price.
Their other favourite trick is to put similar looking products near to each other and put the lower price marker directly in front of the dearer item. You then pick up the dearer item thinking you've got a bargain but then find at the checkout that it's much dearer than you thought.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/08/2015 12:51

Sometimes, thought, their rules do work in the customer's favour, though.

Once, dh went into Tesco to buy me some flowers. He saw some nice ones in the Reduced bucket, so bought three bunches. When he got to the till, and the lady rang them through, the total came up as -2p!! The checkout operator was baffled, as was dh, so they called over a supervisor. It turned out that, when full price, the flowers had been 'Buy two, get the third free' - and although the bunches had gone through at the discounted price, the till had taken off the full price, as per the offer.

The supervisor offered dh the flowers for nothing, he didn't insist on the 2p as well, and they kept the receipt for their noticeboard.

Another time, dh was checking the receipt before leaving the shop, and noticed he had been overcharged for a shirt. Tesco policy then was, if they overcharged you for an item, you got it for free. He got the shirt for nothing, and it lasted him years.

I don't feel bad about making sure we pay the right price for things, and will hold the supermarkets to account if they do attempt to overcharge us - because I know that, when the boot is on the other foot, and the shop undercharges us, or delivers something extra by mistake, I own up and offer to return the items/pay the extra/hand the stuff back to the delivery man.

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