Manager called security on me in Primark!

[spanieleyes22]

So what happened is I bought 2 tops the same a couple of weeks ago in primark: one size large and one size xl. Paid on different receipts as I bought large then walking out I saw they had an xl so went back and bought that too.

Decided to keep xl.

Went to return large today. Presented receipt and top. Girl calls manager. She says that's the the receipt for that top: that's a receipt for an xl.

Explained that I had bought 2 tops and must have brought the wrong receipt with me.
I tried to argue and said look it's the same top same price please can you give me refund: nope nope nope.
She starts saying that they have cameras in the store. And then she calls security!! At that point I just left. I left the top and receipt there I was so scared. She thought I had picked up the top in store and tried to return it using an old receipt. I thought I was going to be arrested. So now I'm down 12 pound and don't have the top. Maybe I should have stayed and argued but I felt I couldn't prove I had bought it. Don't think I will be buying anything there for a very long time. I will be scared to show my face there. And I haven't done anything wrong! Very shaken by it

She’s not wrong, though.

I appreciate it’s frustrating but it’s a problem of your making, not the shop assistant. You brought the wrong receipt, you wouldn’t accept the consequences of that mistake and argued, then you ran away.

Just put it down to experience and move on.

I once brought tickets to the theatre that were out by a full year. We all cock up sometimes.

You should have checked you had the right receipt. The shop assistant was right to turn you away.

In my Primark, all the staff on the tills are like 18-21 sort of age. I suspect it's their default to call security when a customer is obviously in the wrong.

In this case, I'd chalk up the £12 as the cost of some silliness on your part. I'm sure you'll be more careful next time.

Ring up and make contact with the store you purchased from.

Explain what originally happened and what happened when you tried to return the top. Give dates and times of both visits and tell them that you do have the correct receipt.

Explain how the situation in the shop made you feel and why you left and If they’re happy for you to return to store to sort this out you will. Get names of who you’ve spoken with and tell them when you plan to go and who to ask for.

For how much the top was and the 2 hour round trips each time, I wouldn’t bother unless you want to visit the shop again and feel comfortable in doing so.

I think you should have stood your ground

You have overreacted in terms of thinking you're going to be arrested! But I think by walking away, that has made you look even more dodgy. You should have stayed and told them "this is ridiculous, I haven't stolen anything, I have brought the wrong receipt which i explained to your colleague" and argued your point. They should have also offered you to swap it for another I believe. I remember shops used to do that if you don't have the receipt but item has tags on maybe not now? Or I might have that wrong? 🤔 anyway, if they can check cameras they can see that you bought the two tops can't they!?

This. You need to go back promptly while that manager is still in and remembers you, or else you just find that you are banned from the store. I’d also take your bank statement showing the transactions.

…bit rude !

But it wasn’t the same top. They were different sizes and on the receipt although it doesn’t state the size of item it shows the barcode which would identify the size of clothing. The sales assistant was correct and you were definitely in the wrong.

You wouldn't have been on camera taking the top so doubt you will have been arrested but do think staff was right.

Bit late to the party here... but I used to work in Primark. On the Customer Services Till, and this was a well known problem in the Primark Stores. I actually used to have to call security on a specific person when I saw them in the queue every week because they did this exact thing. Yet every week they would come back and try the same thing and be escorted out again.

So it's nothing personal, you are just one person in a long line of people they would have had that day trying to do the same thing. To you it's mortifying, yes. But to the woman on the till it's more 'oh, here we go again'

You could, call the shop/company speak to manager. Tell them what happened and that you find confrontation difficult so panicked.
Ask for an apology, and your receipt and top back. They are actually in the wrong and not you. They presumed guilt rather than error and you are innocent.
You could say I'm taking legal advice to sue you for upset (I dunno how this works but it seems to happen) .

Whatever happens I'd say Primark need to offer you an apology.

You didn’t read my message properly as I didn’t suggest any stores did accept a bank statement as proof of purchase.

so just for clarity and ease of reading and understanding:

1. i checked my banking app where I located my purchase
2. Sainsburys staff member took the payment reference number that was part of the transaction details
3. they used that reference number along with the date of the transaction to look it up on their system
4. they found my purchase which showed I had bought a pair of sandals and other items
5. refunded the cost of the sandals to my card.

Primark may not have such a system that allows that search to happen but I know other stores do as I’ve had the same experience elsewhere

🤣

Yes I can understand you mixing up the receipts etc. But then you could just say I will get the right one and come back. Don't leave it.

Problem is because you left the top and receipt behind and left the shop, they will think they were right and you had tried to scam them! You should have stood your ground- you hadn’t done anything wrong!

Unfortunately you made it far worse for yourself by walking out and leaving your top. Had they had you arrested or detained you, you'd have had the right to demand they pull their camera footage and have it prove your word, then you would have had a claim on your hands in your favour. Never be scared when you're in the right. Panicking isn't going to have any positive benefit.

I think you should write them a letter of complaint pronto with the right receipt or your credit card statement from the day you bought them.

Can you imagine being a cheeky shop lifter and choosing primark. It's very insulting to you.

Not sure I’d slap it in the counter but the rest, 👌🏻 😁

My oh and I regularly finish sentences with, you bitch lol
Kevin & Perry; Mrs Patterson, you bitch 🤣

I’m hoping you know what I’m going on about 🙃

I would be going back in with the right receipt and asking to speak to the manager! Theh cant say you stole if they have it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I used to work for primark , the only reason receipts now needed for refunds/exchanges is because the number of people that would steal something from one store in same city , go to another and get refund, or pick up in store then take to the till and insist on a refund. The type of shop doesnt matter i mean people steal from poundland.

I would complain to the manager of the store and they have now stolen your stuff.

Just find the receipt at home and go back in. Be brave! You ran out of there when you didn't need to. You can also show your bank statement on an app proving you bought something twice. I wouldn't let that lie and I'd be complaining too.

In retail there is a big issue with people buying clothes then trying to get refunds with incorrect receipts (can be fake goods being returned or sale items with a full price receipt etc), list is endless. So many stores now have receipts that match that particular item (not just size the actual item itself).
just accept and go back, no need to argue, remember they’re only doing their job and what they’re instructed, probably on low money too.

That sounds like a horrible experience.
It sounds like you have learnt that you have to have the exact receipt for the item, but calling security is ridiculous. I always feel guilty in situations like that, despite not doing anything wrong

All the comments saying you should have stayed calm, seriously! She took a top back thinking she had the right receipt and then suddenly accused of theft infront of god knows how many people queuing, made worse by an aggressive shop assistant and security being called.