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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:
mileend2bermondsey · 30/09/2015 10:53

Ah ok, there's not really any point in this thread is there?
OP asks is she being UR to keep stolen property, the majority of the thread says yes, she doesnt care. Case closed.

I really hope no staff suffer because you chose to profit from their mistake. Though I doubt it will affect your non-existent conscience.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/09/2015 10:57

Please don't attempt to be the injured party here Op or act like you are being unfairly treated here. You have stolen those coats unless you pay for them. Surely you understand that? It's not difficult.

Sapele · 30/09/2015 10:58

I agree. The OP clearly doesn't give a stuff. In my mind, that makes her a bit of a crap person and if it were real life I would end a friendship based on this.

Maybe I know her IRL, maybe I don't. I hope I don't.

Is that what you want OP? Is that what you want people to think of you? If not then don't behave like an immoral jerk. Because people will judge you for it.

DamnBamboo · 30/09/2015 11:04

You paid on your card.
You must have seen the amount is is would have said £5.05 - press ok if correct and then you do the PIN bit etc..

I fail to see how you didnt' notice this.

Having said that, you have not paid for the coats and so yes, I would go back and pay.

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:13

Paul - i'm really not. I find some of the posts slightly hysterical though if i'm honest so I'm struggling to take some posters seriously.

I'm a nice person, generally. I work, I pay my taxes, I give to charity, look after my kids well. I don't actually stamp on kittens.

This is a situation that's not actually of my making (and that I've been aware of for less than 24 hours incidentally) which I internally struggled with - see my earlier posts (torn between a 'result!' feeling and feeling guilty). And thought it would make an interesting talking point - which I think it has.

I'm hardly a criminal mastermind or the biggest. cunt. ever. It's those points which I find...perplexing? Amusing?

OP posts:
Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:15

Those posts rather, not points.

OP posts:
LoveChickens · 30/09/2015 11:16

You'll get ripped apart for calling people hysterical now Grin

TamaraLamara · 30/09/2015 11:17

One thing that has got buried under all of the wrangling over semantics is this:

OP, do you believe it is right for you to keep these coats but not pay for them?

If no, then you'll presumably pay for them. If yes, then you'll presumably keep them and not pay.

So, do you think that to keep them but not pay for them is right? Yes or no?

Sapele · 30/09/2015 11:21

It's like the ring in Tolkien. Once you have something, it's hard to then let it go or to ring up and freely give your card details over the phone. The coats have become your 'precious' Smile

That didn't end well for old Gollum, now, did it?

TheFairyCaravan · 30/09/2015 11:22

I don't believe for one minute that you didn't know that they hadn't charged you for the coats. The tills in Matalan have electronic displays facing the customer, you'd have to have your head firmly placed up your arse to not notice it saying £5:05 in bright red figures. They always tell you how much it is, and it always says how much it is on the chip and pin machine.

Sapele · 30/09/2015 11:22

(and that I've been aware of for less than 24 hours incidentally)

Irrelevant. It's now 11:22am. They are open. I would have rung them by now and sorted it out, ie paid for the sodding coats.

DamnBamboo · 30/09/2015 11:26

Why did you post OP.
You clearly don't think it's a problem and don't intend to pay, so why as for opinions!
Keep the misappropriated coats - nobody can stop you.
But don't kid yourself that you aren't the owner of misappropriated goods.

DamnBamboo · 30/09/2015 11:26

ask for opinions.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/09/2015 11:26

The initial situation is not of your making, correct. However, your reluctance to go and pay for the clothes and blasé attitude on here have resulted in responses which are of your making. You live your life to the basic decent standard for an individual in this country (paying taxes etc) whooptydoo! That doesn't give you the right to not pay for these clothes. Previous good behaviour doesn't negate current bad behaviour.

DamnBamboo · 30/09/2015 11:31

And working, paying your taxes and giving to charity have got nothing to do with this.... At all.

You work, pay your taxes, give to charity and steal coats!

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:33

You'll get ripped apart for calling people hysterical now

Yes probably!

OP posts:
LoveChickens · 30/09/2015 11:34

I don't take much notice of any the nonsense spouted on here nowadays! Quite amusing to watch though...

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:34

You clearly don't think it's a problem and don't intend to pay

Another mindreader! MN is just full of them lately.

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/09/2015 11:36

Well to be fair, you have made no indication you will pay for them. Just poorly attempted to justify not paying for them. Not mind reading, just reading what you've said.

Sapele · 30/09/2015 11:36

There is really actually no point to this. We are talking, the OP is presumably reading, but she isn't doing anything about it.

I think it's time I sod off and sort the laundry out. My life is too short to fuck around on here for someone else's amusement.

Ta-ra

PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/09/2015 11:38

Think I'll go and forget to pay for a pair of boots I want. I pay my taxes and give to charity, so it's not really stealing. Enjoy your laundry Sapele.

Original poster
MinecraftWonder · 30/09/2015 11:41

I've not attempted to justify anything, at any point - I've responded to people's silly posts with facts.

Such as (paraphrasing here) 'the cashier will get in trouble/be sacked' - she won't, they weren't scanned and won't be linked to her. 'The police/Matalan/MN will track you down, your photo will be passed around retails outlets, you'll be branded a shoplifter' - seriously, that really won't happen.

Not to mention the 'enjoy your grubby escapade', 'why not start shoplifting now op', 'i'm glad you're not my mother' posts.

I can't help but be amused by how - hysterical (there really is no other word to use) - some have become by the situation!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/09/2015 11:41

Well it's not your fault it happened but once you realised you need to take them back and pay - not because the staff might get into trouble or you might get caught but because if you don't it's theft.
It doesn't matter how big the company is, who's fault it was or or anything else really, the fact is if you keep them you have stolen them and if you aren't ok with that you should go back and pay

MoonSandwich · 30/09/2015 11:45

OP, As I have said early I would return the coats without a second thought but I have to agree with you that some of the posts are a bit OTT. It's not crime of the century and I think a fair few people would keep the coats.

I still think you should take them back. You did say in your OP that you felt 'really guilty' ... I'm not sure if anyone has managed to post anything that could make you justify keeping them.

There is that saying that every man or woman has their price. It's beginning to sound like yours might be £45 Wink

I think people's morals are fascinating. Some people love the thought that they have strong morals but when push comes to shove they can find a way to justify doing whatever suits them. School applications anyone?

rabbitwoman · 30/09/2015 11:49

please keep them.

Many years ago i worked in retail and made a similar mistake. Customer came running back in and explained to my manager infront of me that i had accidentally not charged her for some items.

it was pretty embarrassing and i got a disciplinary.

Doesn't sound to me as though the clothes were run through the til, so the shop assistant will not be short when they cash up.

if you feel guilty about getting the clothes for free, pay it forward - give a bit of cash to charity.

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