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AIBU?

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Original poster

Lost phone and Tesco's lack of common sense

88 replies

seenna · 03/02/2019 21:05

Just wasted 1 hour trying to retrieve a phone I stupidly left in the basket. As soon as I came home I realised I must have left my phone in the Tesco Express 5 minutes down the road. So I raced down there and was made to pretty much beg for an hour whilst a lady behind the till seemingly enjoyed seeing me squirm. The thing that annoys me is that my DRIVING LICENCE, debit card and railcard were inside the case. But was told it was policy to cut these up (which really mess up my commute tomorrow). I'm not someone who considers myself "above the law" but the lack of common sense and their overall attitude was extremely unhelpful.

I was told the manager had gone home early and they weren't going to call her back. They kept saying very unhelpful things like how it's odd I don't have a letter with proof of address in my car and how strange it is that my mum's card is saved on my phone. I told them I could open it with my thumbprint/tap in code but still it wasn't good enough. I hate to say it but I really think the woman was enjoying yielding some power over me. My dad even rang at one point but wouldn't let me answer it to confirm my identity/get him to come down with my passport. The background photo was of my dog that was in the car! I didn't appreciate her accusatory tone. Towards the end, I did say that I was unhappy to leave my phone (due to apple pay) and the woman was very offended!

WIBU to expect them to hand my phone over given the numerous ways I could prove it was mine?

OP posts:
QuitMoaning · 03/02/2019 21:52

I left my phone in a shop before and they did pretty much the same only less aggressively.

They wanted me to describe the cards stored in the case as proof despite me saying I was only person who could unlock it with thumbprint. I was utterly confused by their logic that thumbprint wasn’t good enough.

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 21:53

The manager wasn't apologetic but just got on with it. She asked for the pin and then checked the details I gave her with the cards in the case.

OP posts:
trooth · 03/02/2019 21:56

Would complain 100%. She was out of order. Doesn't matter that you go in there often, what is she going to do? Probably just scowl at you, because she knows you'll complain again if she has a go 😁

TwelveThirtyTwo · 03/02/2019 21:58

I also wouldn't be happy about a staff member knowing your pin no

TwelveThirtyTwo · 03/02/2019 21:59

Sorry pin not pin no Blush

Doilooklikeatourist · 03/02/2019 22:00

It’s utter rubbish that they cut up your cards
I left my bank card in the card reader ( actually did it twice ) and they could not have been nicer , I just needed to bring proof of Id ( passport ) and it was bought down from the safe
They have many left behind each day

tillytrotter1 · 03/02/2019 22:00

I lost mine in Mrrisons car park and it was handed in. When I called them to ask if I'd lost it there they asked me to ring the phone, I then went down, identified myself and got the phone back. Tesco seem to be making a big deal out of it.

Bleurgh0 · 03/02/2019 22:01

I left my purse in Sainsburys. Got it back after describing it's contents. Took two mins.

I went to a Tescos which is open 6am-midnight to return a faulty item. Arrived at approx. 8am and was told they could only issue refunds 9am-5pm! The two members of staff who told me this were stood having a natter in front of the customer service desk but were adamant they couldn't give me a refund until 9am

AdoreTheBeach · 03/02/2019 22:05

As another poster says, not Tesco policy. A bit naughty, but I have my card to my husband to pop into Tesco to buy something (joint account anyway). Silly bugger left it at check out, when we got home, I asked him for my card. He void t find it - we went straight back. They had it behind the customer service desk. Asked me about the card and for ID. I always carry my drivers licence so produced that.

Never mentioned anything about cutting up card.

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:05

Doilooklikeatourist I did the same thing in the Sainsbury's at Euston (so far busier). Just had to tell the guy the name of my bank and the name on the card. Skipped off to my uni library with absolutely no hassle.

OP posts:
ColdCottage · 03/02/2019 22:06

I'm confused, if they take s driving licence as ID to serve you alcohol as a legal document form of photo ID then what leg did she think she had to stand on not to return your property based on that alone.

I wouldn't care if I was there 10 times a day I wold be writing to head office to complain of the terrible customer service and copying in a letter to the store manager. I'd be livid at this.

BIgBagofJelly · 03/02/2019 22:08

I'd be bloody fuming and the cheek to be offended when you said you weren't happy to leave your phone with her after all that!

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:09

ColdCottage she didn't want to handle the cards. So refused to initially look at the cards, waited until the manager came.

Oh and my case is transparent!

OP posts:
Earslaps · 03/02/2019 22:10

Thank goodness our local shopping centre have more sense.

I dropped my phone there, it was handed in at the desk and they looked in the emergency section, found my husband's number and rang him to say they had the phone. He went to get it and they happily handed it over (picture of him and the DC- who were with him- on the lock screen).

MotherOfDragonite · 03/02/2019 22:10

This is all super weird.

Surely they could have identified you from the photo on your driving license?

Or, as you say, accepted your finger print as proof that the phone was yours -- hardly something anyone could fake!

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:13

BIgBagofJelly definitely the most egregious part. Apparently, I was strange for having my mothers card in my case (same surname, needed to return stuff for her today-wrong I know), not knowing my precise phone model or the long card debit card number and not having a letter with proof of address/passport in my (dad's) car.

OP posts:
Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:15

Her snide remarks were out of order tbh.

OP posts:
whiteworld · 03/02/2019 22:26

Definitely not Tesco policy! I’ve left my credit card in the self service till a couple of times. They collect them, log it, keep them in a locked room. If you go to customer service and ask, they check through their list of cards. You show another form of ID and you get your card back.

The woman you spoke to was bonkers!

whiteworld · 03/02/2019 22:28

She asked for the pin??! But that’s mad. There’s no way she can check that.

anitagreen · 03/02/2019 22:29

I left my card in Tesco in the reader and they made such a big scene about not giving it back I was fuming I had my two kids with my id just done the shopping, my bank card matched the till receipt and they was so hesitant to give it back, I honestly wondered if they wanted to keep it to do fraud or something, sounds mad but so what their behaviour Confused

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:31

whiteworld the phone pin

OP posts:
whiteworld · 03/02/2019 22:32

Oh dur, sorry.

Original poster
seenna · 03/02/2019 22:33

No worries, my posts are not very clear!

OP posts:
crazycatgal · 03/02/2019 22:34

I'd complain, it doesn't matter that you shop there regularly, she's the one in the wrong.

Wannabeyorkshirelass · 03/02/2019 22:44

I left my wallet in a supermarket recently and when I went back to get it I took my passport to prove it was my name on the cards. The woman on the desk was really funny with me and eventually produced a little photo she'd pulled out of my wallet as if it was EXHIBIT A and said 'I'm just concerned because this isn't you though, is it?'

I just gawped at her and said 'No, it's my mum. I don't carry around a photograph of myself, funnily enough'.