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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep these clothes that weren't charged for?

465 replies

MinecraftWonder · 29/09/2015 20:03

Yesterday I went shopping and picked up a new coat each for the dc (at Matalan if it's relevant)- total cost was £45.

I got to the till, went in my bag and didn't have my purse Angry Blush
So I apologised, said i'd nip home and the man on the till put them behind the counter for me.

Returned a couple of hours later and picked up some packs of pants by the till when I was queuing, which were a fiver. Handed them over and asked for the coats behind the till that had been put by for me (this was a woman). She put everything in a bag for me, I paid with my card and out I went.

Anyway, it's only tonight I've pulled them out of the bag along with the receipt - and I have a receipt for £5.05 (the pants and a 5p bag charge). The coats weren't charged for. I didn't even check the amount at the checkout, just stuck my card in and paid.

WWYD? I feel really guilty even though it wasn't my fault. I don't know if the second person who served me just made a mistake or thought maybe they were already paid for (but why would they be?!). They've not got security tags on so one of them must have taken them off.

So keep and look at it as good luck or be honest and go back and pay for them? Opinion is currently divided in my house!

OP posts:
Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:51

School applications anyone?

I'm sure none of the MN's on this thread would have a clue about what you're talking of! Shock

OP posts:
ForChina · 30/09/2015 11:52

OP I think you're coping with the sillier posts with a nice calm head and a dose of humour - well done for not letting them rile you.

I think an important factor here is that the store made an error. Not you. If I walked out of a shop with something accidentally in my hand or pushchair or whatever, I'd go back. I have done. Mostly they laugh and take it back or let me pay for it or whatever. One time they acted like I was shoplifter, which I thought was quite funny (pretty crap shoplifter to buy £80+ worth of groceries and steal a £5 eyeliner pencil because it was rolling around in the trolley - and then bring it back! Not really criminal mastermind stuff...) It was a hassle and annoying each time but had to be done as it was my fault and I don't actually want to steal.

In the case where the store made the error, though, I think the onus is on them to fix it. I would make them aware of it but I would say that if they want to charge you for the coats they need to send you an online invoice or let you pay over the phone or similar. No way on earth would I trudge back down to the store for their mistake. I was once sent a double order of something (by John Lewis, actually, who I see have come up several times on this thread!) I contacted them and told them I'd got two sets of pyjamas instead of one. They said I should package up one and take it to the post office to return. I said no, that it was their error and why on earth would I spend my time and money going to the post office?! I told them to send a courier to get it. They ummed and flapped a bit and then told me to keep it.

leghoul · 30/09/2015 11:55

I think rabbit has a point, there - they'll see who served you from pant receipt etc...
drops moral compass, appropriates a new one later

rabbitwoman · 30/09/2015 11:59

i have on a few occassions been given free stuff from shops in a similar fashion and despite being a very honest person, have not returned to pay for them purely due to my own experience. whether right or wrong, that's open for debate.

LarrytheCucumber · 30/09/2015 12:03

I would probably go back and pay.

ConfusedInBath · 30/09/2015 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Justaboy · 30/09/2015 12:06

MinecraftWonder Well if you want me to explain what I meant by why you pulled me up on relationships. I once had what many blokes would consider a very attractive girlfriend. One night we went out to a very well known pub restaurant and it was quite a long very pleasant evening and we left and just forgot to pay the bill.

On the way home we were talking about what a great time we had and i said something like "that was bloody good for £££" an then realised that we hadn't paid for it. She then said,

"Great!, well you got away without paying, I do that in restaurants and places all the time"

The relationship ended there and then, I could not live with someone who had that attitude they were in my mind totally untrustworthy and not someone I'd want to be with.

Following day I called back to the restaurant clearly they didn't expect anyone who had forgotten to pay to bother to come back they were thankful for the payment at least the young waitress sure was who was there!.

If It were me in your "predicament" then the goods would have been back in the shop before now and I wouldn't be seeking approval to keep them as what it now seems clearly you are trying to justify. I wouldn't have put the matter on a public forum either.

That's it end of!

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:08

I've already answered that Confused...I don't normally check receipts at all, but the girl put it in the bag, so I happened to glance at it when I pulled it out with the coats. I then noticed, rummaged around the bag to see if there happened to be another receipt for the coats (there wasn't) and checked with the bank - £5.05 charged.

OP posts:
TamaraLamara · 30/09/2015 12:09

I'm still curious to hear the answer to the following:

OP, do you believe it is right for you to keep these coats but not pay for them? Yes or no?

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:10

I don't think that's anywhere near the same situation really Justaboy. But if you're concerned about my welfare, I don't think my husband is about to leave me over it so all is good at home atm.

OP posts:
ConfusedInBath · 30/09/2015 12:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Prettyeyedpiratesmile · 30/09/2015 12:12

Oh goodness look at all the saints out in full force on mumsnet today!! People ending friendships based on this sapele im looking at you You're all so holier than thou.....

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:14

Tamara - I don't think it's 'right'. But in the grand scheme of things, i'm still unsure of just how 'wrong' it would be - which is where the whole moral compass/internal struggle comes in.

Plenty have posted that they either definitely would keep them or definitely would return (although many more are saying they would return). I'm in the middle - so I don't suppose i'm either the best or worst example of society if you make it black and white.

OP posts:
mileend2bermondsey · 30/09/2015 12:15

i have on a few occassions been given free stuff from shops in a similar fashion
It's not being 'given free stuff' its a human being making an error and a greedy person profiting from it.

despite being a very honest person, have not returned to pay
Well youre clearly NOT a very honest person then are you? Confused Hmm

whether right or wrong, that's open for debate
No debate. You kept stuff you didn't pay for, that's stealing. Which is wrong. it's upsetting that this has to be explained to grown adults.

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:16

Another question I've answered several times Confused - because I was undecided what to do, and thought it would be an interesting post.

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/09/2015 12:16

So... I'm guessing you're not going to return them?

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:17

It's hardly an 'upsetting' situation mileend!

Keep a modicum of perspective at least - there are plenty of real upsetting situations to get your knickers in a knot over if you wish.

OP posts:
mileend2bermondsey · 30/09/2015 12:20

Yes it is upsetting to know that grown adults with children adovate stealing. For those of us with a moral compass it is anyway.

mileend2bermondsey · 30/09/2015 12:20

advocate*

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:20

I still don't know tbh - I haven't yet made any attempt to call or email them, but i'm chained to the house atm and couldn't go there yet anyway.

(My dishwasher has broken down so I have to stay in for an 'all day call out'...maybe this is my karma, who knows eh?)

OP posts:
Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 12:22

I suppose if you're that delicate then it's not surprising you get so over invested in such matters tbh. I wouldn't call it upsetting myself but different strokes...

OP posts:
mileend2bermondsey · 30/09/2015 12:25

Minecraft
yep please go on trying to take the piss out of me (which by the way I dont give two flying fucks about despite my 'delicate' nature) to what - steer the thread away from your lack of moral fibre, I presume?

lostInTheWash · 30/09/2015 12:25

I'd e-mail them and explain and ask how to pay them with as little inconvenience to me as possible.

It would just save me having to think or worry about the situation in the future.

Then I have pointed out the shop assistants have given me to much change - in one case £20 instead of £5. That partly as that's the example my Dad gave me and partly as I have worked a till and know how bad it can get when the till doesn't tally.

I think in the case described that it would be hard to assigned blame to one member of staff - as two were involved one who put in behind and the one who failed to bill. It is miscommunication and expect stock would be put down in the expected loss of items tally.

So it's more up to your conscience.

rabbitwoman · 30/09/2015 12:28

as i said, i was once a lowly shop assistant who by mistake did not ring through some items. Customer returned to pay for said items. It was hugely embarrassing for me and i got a disciplinary - for this reason, should i find myself in a similar position to the OP, i keep said items with thanks to fate, and make amends elsewhere.

not unreasonable to base my actions on personal experience.

Bearbehind · 30/09/2015 12:29

I realise you are determined to brand me hysterical but I've actually worked in loss prevention/ risk management for big retailers.

They won't 'track you down' in so much as they'll bang on your door and ask for their money back - but I wouldn't be as sure as you seem to be that they won't know it happened.

Someone is very likely to be told off over this and it is also very likely they'll know exactly who you are- even if they chose to do nothing about it.