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Original poster

I accidentally stole an entire big shop

624 replies

Rayoffingsunshine · 07/12/2023 20:17

I spent about £95 on a big shop 3 weeks ago. I went through the scan and go. I had my two boys with me (2 and 3 months) and I paid using contactless. I didn't grab the receipt which I didn't notice until I got home and was annoyed because the supermarket had an offer for money off voucher if you spend so much that I had intended to grab but only realised I didn't have it when I got home.
I budget everything and wrote the shop on my budget app straight away so I noticed the discrepancy on my account within a few days. I thought it was just taking a little longer than normal to process but 3 weeks later there's still no record of it. I've checked every account I have including my husband's just in case I had his card though I'm certain it was just my day to day debit card. The only thing I can think is that the payment didn't process and I just didn't notice and walked straight out. But surely someone would have stopped me! I remember a friend telling me once, with a tiny shop, just a quick lunch on the go kind of shop, this happened to her once and she was stopped in the car park by security. I don't understand how this has happened. I wouldn't have been quick to leave because my 2 year old moves at a snails pace.

If I go and talk to customer service in the shop will they believe that is was a genuine mistake and just let me pay for it or will I get in trouble?

OP posts:
timenowplease · 07/12/2023 20:37

Take the win OP. Get yourself and the kids something nice.

Motheranddaughter · 07/12/2023 20:37

Of course you should go back and pay

stayathomer · 07/12/2023 20:38

£95 is absolutely nothing to Tesco
Sorry I hate this way of thinking, in our chain (giant book and stationary store)we hear this all the time, ‘sure it’s nothing to ye, they make so much etc etc’, yeah until they start randomly cutting staff because profits are down

Mrgrinch · 07/12/2023 20:38

Honestly I think it would be nearly impossible to pay for it now.

You'd need to remember exactly which items you bought and it's more than likely that many of them have changed price in the last few weeks with offers ending and new ones starting.

If you have a guilty conscience about it then I like people's idea of doing a large food bank donation, I'm sure that would be greatly appreciated this time of year.

catchmewhenifall · 07/12/2023 20:38

Go back and explain and they'll likely let it go.

I'd be worried I was now on some sort of shoplifting list!

BananaSplitsss · 07/12/2023 20:39

greenacrylicpaint · 07/12/2023 20:22

pay it forward.
give generously to the foodbank or other charity.
the shop has already written off the lost stock you took.
don't feel bad, you had the intention to pay.

Yeah this . Absolutely

CountZacular · 07/12/2023 20:39

If you want to pay, phone customer services. Don’t go back to the store. You don’t have a receipt and it’s not just going to be a case of ‘I’d like to pay £95.72 please’ - they would need to match it to the transaction which will take a lot of time - if they even have the records available.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2023 20:40

I'd go back only because I'd feel like included never go to that shop again!

greenacrylicpaint · 07/12/2023 20:40

it was 3 weeks ago

3 hours - yes try to pay. but after 3 weeks, it will have been written off and probably the cctv is no longer available.

Lorelaigilmore88 · 07/12/2023 20:40

Gowlbag · 07/12/2023 20:32

I am always so delighted when someone comes back when they’ve realised they accidentally didn’t pay.
It does happen, if the person on the scan as you shop tills isn’t paying attention or is busy serving a cash customer. It will have been noticed and the cameras checked to see what happened. It will have been obvious you tried to pay and walked away without noticing. The assistant will have gotten in trouble for it, possibly had disciplinary action and it is a weight off their mind if the customer comes back to fix their mistake.

It’s all very well saying the supermarket can afford, it but those of you who just tap and walk without waiting to see if it’s gone through are responsible for the operators getting in trouble with their managers.
You won’t be in trouble, the store will just be very pleased and won’t feel they have to watch you like a hawk next time.

The employee on self scan will not have 'gotten in trouble' or 'disciplinary action' and its ridiculous to say so. Please don't try and make op feel bad, it was an accident, she's not a thief.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 07/12/2023 20:40

Well if its like our tesco where you have one harassed staff member dancing between a dozen till very easy to do.

ButterCupPie · 07/12/2023 20:40

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 20:36

Yes because no theft occurred

Show quote history

Unjust enrichment has though.

ny20005 · 07/12/2023 20:40

You can call your bank & they'll be able to tell you the exact amount & time the transaction declined. Then you can go back to the shop & pay for the shopping.

It wasn't deliberate but it still needs to be paid for. Some poor staff member will have got their arse booted for missing that Blush

Flump8 · 07/12/2023 20:41

PronounsBaby · 07/12/2023 20:29

£95 is absolutely nothing to Tesco, however if you were to put £95 worth of food in a food bank that would make a massive difference to a family in need.
As pp's have said, pay it forward

This makes no sense. According to this logic, I could steal from a wealthy person and justify it by giving the goods to someone poorer, because in my eyes it's "fair".

The only responsibility she has is to the supermarket. If she wants to pay £95 to a charity, that's lovely, but that should be from her own pocket, not from a company's who hasn't consented to this.

Sunshineclouds11 · 07/12/2023 20:41

If it was within the last few days I'd go back but 3 weeks, I like the idea of paying forward.

ButterCupPie · 07/12/2023 20:41

stayathomer · 07/12/2023 20:38

£95 is absolutely nothing to Tesco
Sorry I hate this way of thinking, in our chain (giant book and stationary store)we hear this all the time, ‘sure it’s nothing to ye, they make so much etc etc’, yeah until they start randomly cutting staff because profits are down

Monty Python character - 'what's twenty quid to the Midland Bank?'

Ibizabar · 07/12/2023 20:42

I wouldn't worry about it. I certainly wouldn't go back and pay for it and I don't believe anyone else would either.

Flump8 · 07/12/2023 20:42

timenowplease · 07/12/2023 20:37

Take the win OP. Get yourself and the kids something nice.

?!?!?!

plumtreebroke · 07/12/2023 20:42

I remember my father getting into an argument about a purchase in a shop. He was actually trying to say they had under charged him, they assumed he was saying they over charged him. Totally stupid and he gave up trying to give them some money back it was a horrible scene in the shop and they just didn't understand he was actually wanting to pay more. Just forget it, after that I would never bother.

notahappybunny7 · 07/12/2023 20:42

Crazykefir · 07/12/2023 20:30

The tills have cameras.

And?

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 20:42

ButterCupPie · 07/12/2023 20:40

Unjust enrichment has though.

Show quote history

Oh no

Cherry8809 · 07/12/2023 20:42

I would absolutely call them and explain what happened. It may well be the case that they can’t locate and cancelled/voided/incomplete transactions for that amount/on that till, but you should really try.

I disagree with the “pay it forward” comments - you received the items from the store without fulfilling your side of the contract - the payment.

LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 20:42

I would ring customer service (on a burner phone! 😉) and explain what has happened and ask what you should do.

But if you don't have the receipt won't it be difficult to bill you correctly anyway? Or do you think they would accept what you wrote in your budgeting app and put it through as one big miscellaneous transaction?

LittlePudding1 · 07/12/2023 20:43

It was 3 weeks ago, highly unlikely the Tesco police will be knocking down your door now.
Just forget it and move on. Agree with the poster that said make a donation to the food bank. Much better to give to those most in need of it

2catsandhappy · 07/12/2023 20:43

I take my hat off to anyone who can do a big shop with 2 dc in tow and be awake enough to use a budget app.
Phone customer service for their advice to put your mind at rest.
You sound like a lovely and thoughtful lady x