Accused of Shoplifting in Asda

[mummatom]

Hi peeps. I shop in Asda all the tine, couple times a week I'd say. On this occasion I decided to use the self scan til. I had my 9 month old with me and I'm also 7 months pregnant, going to a very tough patch with my husband. Anyway, I scanned my heavy items and put them at the bottom of the bag and then scanned the lighter ones. For some unknown reason I was picking things up a couple at a time, scanning the bottom one and putting them in the bag. I guess it was the lack of sleep I've been having with the baby as she's teething and just doesn't sleep...!! I went to leave thinking nothing of it (and of everything else I needed to do that day) and I was stopped by security who asked me to follow them. I obliged as I didn't have a clue why. I thought I might have been a witness to something. They asked for my receipt and then it clicked. I apologised profusely but I was ignored while they went through every item. The baby then started playing up :( I said I was sorry it was a mistake and I had the cash to pay for the items (I meant to pay for them all with cash but automatically I paid by card through the lack of sleep). The lady went out with the items and the cash I had given her (total was about £7 worth I think) and the guy phoned his manager. He came back in to say I could pay for the items but I would be banned from the store FOR A YEAR... I was in such a shocked state that I just kept saying ok and thank you (so stupid). I was written to the store manager to appeal as he said I could and advised of the above and the fact that I can only buy the ready made formula (only thing daughter will drink) from there etc. I'm mortified. I haven't told a sole. Can someone advise how long the appeal took or the success rate!? Thanks!

I know it sounds silly but can you not just go in in disguise?! If you wore a hat and sunnies would they really recognise you?

You're no doubt very embarrassed and ashamed to tell your husband.

That's understandable, it's is right and normal to feel ashamed of yourself and embarrassed.

But just take a deep breath, pull up your Big Girl Pants and tell him. He needs to know and the sooner it's off your chest the sooner you can start feeling calmer about it.

agree with pp it would surely come up with unidentified item in bagging area either way you can hardly be surprised they banned you

Only you know if it was deliberate. However I can understand the retailer stating that they are unwilling to believe you, they will have people use such excuses all the time.

You mention scanning things the way you did. Anywhere I have used a self-checkout it is designed to stop you doing it that way. So unless you scan and put down the item you are unable to scan the subsequent item.

Ask whether you are able to use the home delivery service, if so use that for your regular shopping. For top ups go elsewhere or your DH will need to go to Asda

Dang. It is easy to make mistakes when you are exhausted and over burdened but’s shops don’t play with stuff like this.

I’m more concerned with the fear you have of your husband. Why doesn’t he do his own damn shopping?! Is he abusive in other ways to you?

I'm more worried about how you talk about your husband's reaction. It's not even shame,that's proper fear. Not to mention your worry about being asked to pick up something (why can't he) and being unable to.

Well, as products are weighed in self scan, why wasn’t this picked up? I can’t fart without a self scan machine going crazy with lights/bleeps/noises etc.

I’m sure they won’t even recognise you. I’d do online for a couple of months and start going back. Just always go to someone serving on a checkout from now on and you can’t go wrong.

Why won’t you tell your husband? And why won’t he get the things he needs?

You've been going in there twice a week for ages. You've been caught this time because they've clocked onto what you've been doing and have watched you on this occasion.

Security probably reviewed the previous cctv and compared what you put in the trolley to what you actually scanned and paid for.

Acting all innocent and palming it off as sleep deprivation fools no one in retail security, they see it all the time.

You're very lucky they didn't call the police. Shop elsewhere now. You'll be watched like a hawk and your image will be up in store at the security desk. Cringe.

Sounds like OP was using Scan and Go, which means taking a hand-held scanner around the store and bagging the items as you go. There is no self-scan till involved to weigh the items.

Accused of Shoplifting in Asda

Caught shoplifting in Asda more likely.

I went to JS on Sunday, I bought some herb seed packets with my shopping, I scanned them, threw them in the bag and the scanner bleeped, the seeds had landed awkwardly and not registered.

If the scanner can register a pack of seeds landing awkwardly, then you must be really accomplished.

Suck it up.

After that treatment I wouldn't shop there again anyway

After what treatment? She got caught leaving the shop with items she didnt pay for. They allowed her to pay for them & didnt phone the Police. Id say that's pretty good treatment

Sounds like OP was using Scan and Go, which means taking a hand-held scanner around the store and bagging the items as you go. There is no self-scan till involved to weigh the items.

no it doesn't she said I scanned my heavy items and put them at the bottom of the bag and then scanned the lighter ones thats not scanning as you go

Are you scared of your DH?

I don't think an appeal will work as you did it.

I don't believe in banning someone from shopping in a store nonsense. Not to be judgmental here, I'm therefore, giving you the benefit of the doubt, what with teething baby, lack of sleep, etc. Asda must have a few thousand customers going in and out each day and I don't think any of the staff recognises you - unless you're a serial shoplifter in which case they will definitely know you. But as you said, this is your first time. Wait a few days and go shopping there again and if anyone stops you, ask them for a reason for being stopped and if they even mention anything about theft/shoplifting or something similar, then threaten them about your solicitor writing to them about slander. Since there was no further action taken in the previous incident, you can simply tell them you have no idea what they're talking about and will they please stop harassing you and prevent your free movement?

The problem is, store staff hear excuses everyday like the one you gave and it makes no difference as they simply don't believe them.

What did you or will you give as the reason in your appeal?

I believe you op. I always make mistakes on the self checkouts (in both my favour and the shops favour) so now I only do self service is I have no dc with me (they are terrible at distracting) and I have only a handful of things. I think they are riddled with potentials errors.

No advice though, you'll just have to shop elsewhere and stay away from self service if you have dcs with you!!!

No one picks up two items and only scans the bottom one. Well maybe once in error, not multiple times.

Wonder why the "unexpected item in bagging area" buzzer thing didn't go off ?

Scan and go doesnt weigh items.

You scan the item and put in straight in your bag. You then take the scanner, to the scan and go area and their machine reads the scanner.

They have periodic quality checks. The algorithm, is quite complicated. You can be quality checked at anytime. They quality check by staff scanning items from your shopping until they add up to a certain amount. If there is anything missing they have ti scan the whole shop. They dont usually ban for a one off missing item.

They would only know if they quality checked you, which they didnt. Or if they were watching you on CCTV. Which is usually only done because they are suspicious. They have probably seen OP and suspected before, recognising her because she is there often.

OP, you shop lifted. Picking up multiple items and only scanning one is a common way people shoplifting using scan and go. No one in store or the company will believe you did this several times and just didnt realise.

I am also confused that you planned on paying cash. The majority if scan and go do not accept cash. If any do at all. It's a pain in the arse.

I am also unaware of a baby milk that only asda do.

You will need to order online and get bits inbetweeners shops from elsewhere.

I am more concerned you are scared to tell your dh. Whats going on there?

It sounds like your DH is an abusive twat reading your other posts, shopping at Asda is the least of your worry's OP.

Just order online? Tesco is 3.50 for midweek delivery for a whole month. Can't remember what asda is, though that wasn't much either.

They’re watching too. I once scanned around the shop and got and scanned some cheap clothes and draped them over the side of the trolley. Later my dd wanted to get in so I hastily shoved them all into a bag so she didn’t tread all over them. So it looked like I was just shoving a load of clothes in without scanning. When I got to the payment section they were basically waiting for me and checked everything. I’d scanned it all but still felt guilty because it was so obvious they’d flagged me up. Did a random check the next time too where they do a few items.

Oh was it scan and go?

Op missing one item is a mistake, 2 even, several? Nope, you were shoplifting and got gripped.

I literally can't imagine standing there holding two items at a time and only scanning one, then putting both in my bag. I mean come on? Im pretty sleep deprived at the moment but nobody is that tired. At the end of the day, you stole from them. They don't care what excuses you come up with.