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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:
LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 22:32

greenbeansnspinach · 08/12/2023 21:51

On the basis that it’s ok because it’s a huge company, suppose it was a small shop - but we knew the owner wasn’t a nice person? Are we allowed to make judgements about when and towards whom we need to be honest ?

Apparently quite a few here think they are. Lowdown and low class.

"Character is how you behave when no one is watching."

user1492757084 · 08/12/2023 22:33

I would explain to the shop. Give as much detail as possible.
They need feedback to refine their systems so that this doesn't happen often.
Be prepared to pay.
If it transpires that they are happy to write it off, you are lucky and might like to transfer some generosity sometime..

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 22:34

likethislikethat · 08/12/2023 21:26

Life gave you a bonus, forget about it.

Do people really think like this?

So if you lose something of value, the finder should just smirk and say "Life gave me a bonus!" rather than return it to you? If your wages are accidentally deposited into someone else's account, should your employer just say "well, life gave them a bonus; deal with it!"

Worriedmother123 · 08/12/2023 22:34

Isittimeformynapyet · 08/12/2023 00:17

The till only prints out a receipt when successful payment has been made.

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No, a receipt comes out when they void the transaction. There was absolutely a record of it.

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 22:35

Bloodyel · 08/12/2023 20:44

My point is that morality depends on how the majority of people are affected, and the minority shareholders won't pull enough heartstrings to make the public care about theft in this situation.

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My god, what a sick and ignorant attitude.

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 22:37

Abbyant · 08/12/2023 21:39

Something similar happened with my sister she passed 3 bottles of alcohol to the staff to have the alarm taken off but forgot she hadn’t scanned them, she thought she’d be banned for life but she’s been to the supermarket again several times and nothings happened. I would take it as the blessing that it is.

The opportunity to be a scurvy thief is now a "blessing" ?

Who raises these people?

Ibizabar · 08/12/2023 22:41

What is a scurvy thief? Someone who nicks Oranges?

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 22:44

https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=scurvy

Scurvy: worthless, contempible, shabby, discourteous

McYummy · 08/12/2023 23:23

You sound lovely OP. Mistakes happen. Tell the shop. It will make you feel like the better person it sounds like you actually are. Be prepared to pay, but honestly, chances are you won't have to. If you don't have to pay, then consider paying at least some of it forward.

FlynnD93 · 08/12/2023 23:28

I worked for Tesco security hub, yes all tills including self serve and scan & shop have cameras but responsibility for theft on these tills lies with staff who are paid to cover the tills. (staff are not cash responsible). Forget about it you won’t be chased now. It will have been written off by the end of the day. They are more interested in active habitual shop lifters, staff that are allowing over 18 products without checking ID, staff that are pushing products through without scanning them and cash returns.

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 23:33

FlynnD93 · 08/12/2023 23:28

I worked for Tesco security hub, yes all tills including self serve and scan & shop have cameras but responsibility for theft on these tills lies with staff who are paid to cover the tills. (staff are not cash responsible). Forget about it you won’t be chased now. It will have been written off by the end of the day. They are more interested in active habitual shop lifters, staff that are allowing over 18 products without checking ID, staff that are pushing products through without scanning them and cash returns.

Maybe Tesco doesn't care but one would think an individual would have a conscience.

If we only all behaved when there was a possibility of being caught, our society would be an interesting place. Whatever happened to integrity?

CelestiaNoctis · 08/12/2023 23:44

Take the added money and use it for something nice, they're a giant corporation, they won't miss it.

Safxxx · 08/12/2023 23:45

carddino · 07/12/2023 20:33

These shops are weird.

I had a home delivery Friday.

They brought yogurts. And left. I was bathing kids, four, who were unwell. DH never said a word. Took the shop in.

We are about 70 minutes from store.

I noticed at 8 we had no food, had the standard domestic about his ridiculous attention and called the local store.

Was transferred eventually to a lady in Japan. She said because two hours had gone by she would refund the 100 shop. I said that he was likely still in the area.

Not possible to contact him.

10pm. He comes back. With the shop.

I am mortified as I would have known. DH claims he is not psychic and I maybe only ordered yogurts.

Refund appeared. I called the, three times. Nobody has a clue what to do so they sent me a twenty pound gift card. Hmm

So you got your food, refund plus a gift card wow...send some luck my way lol

Daisybuttercup12345 · 08/12/2023 23:45

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.

This.
Just go back and explain what happened.

MissingMoominMamma · 08/12/2023 23:49

Flump8 · 07/12/2023 20:36

So strange to me that people are suggesting you don't go back and pay. It's so obviously the right thing to do. Sorry to be blunt, but you have unwittingly stolen almost £100 worth of goods - of course you should go back and tell them. They may well not ask you to pay because they won't be able to process it all again, but it's your responsibility to try and pay.

Reading these replies... Is casual theft really this common?

No, she hasn’t stolen the goods- unwittingly or not.

The shop made a mistake- there was no theft.

But yes, I would probably go back and tell them.

Justfinking · 08/12/2023 23:50

CelestiaNoctis · 08/12/2023 23:44

Take the added money and use it for something nice, they're a giant corporation, they won't miss it.

I hate these stupid responses. The cost gets passed back to the consumer, you and me. Why do you think prices creep up year after year? 😒

Tryingmybestadhd · 09/12/2023 00:05

It’s probably a glitch and will come out later , o had a Tesco shopping coming out 6 weeks after . This being said if it didn’t go though and you didn’t pay then move on hun . All this almighty people here 🙄🙄 . Pay it forward . Don’t dwell on it

Notenoughtime23 · 09/12/2023 00:17

This happened to me once. I bought lunch at a shop near work. I walked out, went back to the office and ate my lunch. A few hours later I realised I hadn’t paid. I went back and explained and they were fine. I paid and they didn’t really know what to do as they had never had anyone go back and apologise for accidentally stealing before. However as toys had been so long I would just donate to a food bank

Butterflywings18 · 09/12/2023 00:31

I would be tempted to say nothing for a few minutes then realise there's no way I'd remain comfortable. I would call the store let them know the circumstances and probably say your mistake has caused me to overspend my budget in the hope they would Vito my bill. Failing that I'd pay.

mumsy27 · 09/12/2023 00:34

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 21:25

How could you call me that ?

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Remember morality is subjective.
I would say it is big fat fat theft.

Greeeg · 09/12/2023 00:40

Mr Tesco is not going to lose sleep over £95. But to you, that is a win. Spend the money on your children / Christmas / charity and go about your life without worry. Nothing will happen.
I have worked in supermarkets & restaurants and you’d be surprised how much gets written off stock wise.

Greeeg · 09/12/2023 00:43

😂😂 grow up and live a little that’s not the way it works. Inflation is due to 100 other things before ‘lost stock’.
she will be fine.

Pingu32 · 09/12/2023 00:51

You aren't going to get into trouble by going back. If that's genuinely your only concern about going back, you should definitely return. Many of the people who are saying not to go back wouldn't have even entertained posting this on Mumsnet - but you did, presumably because something isn't sitting well with you. Do the right thing and you'll feel better for it.

littlealex2021 · 09/12/2023 04:55

Pay it forward. Any video of you will show you using the co tactless system. It's not your fault the technology isn't up to scratch. They won't come after you anyway, the police are totally under resourced and they are after organised repeat offenders!

littlealex2021 · 09/12/2023 04:58

Also, the law states that if your intention was always to pay for goods, then if challenged, pay for them, or if non-persishable, return them. If you do that, no offence was committed