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Original poster

Evil Tesco Lady has emotionally scarred my dd for life!!

143 replies

thehockeyandtheivy · 10/12/2005 09:43

Took dd to the HUGE Tescos on Tuesday, the ones with those car trolleys. Anyway, dd (3) got fed up and shouted a little bit when we had to give the car back (they dont go outside so you trsnfer your shopping to a normal trolley). It wasn't a tantrum by any means, I just said "Don't shout at mummy" to her. The woman on the till got off the till went over to her, got down on her level and said in a really nasty voice "You are a naughty, naughty little girl, you don't deserve a good mummy. When Father Christmas comes he's not going to leave you any presents, he's going to take your mummy away and you will never see her again"

I was absolutely flabbergasted. DD screamed and screamed, I have never seen her so scared in her life. She will now not let me out of her sight, is clingy still (after 4 days), has said she doesn't want Father Christmas in the house and is just crying and crying that she's scared I'll go away. She is already a bit clingy because of this pregnancy (a lot of them do that anyway) but is so much worse now she seems like an emoptional wreck this week.

What should I do?

OP posts:
Socci · 20/12/2005 15:16

Message withdrawn

NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles · 20/12/2005 15:20

Socci, I don't think they would at all. Papers are just sh!**y.

Have seen it doen in our local paper before and commented then on it. Totally unecessary.

TwoIfBySanta · 20/12/2005 22:43

Tesco customer service is cr*p based on personal experience.

We were charged twice for our shopping, realised it when dh phoned the phonebank. Went to the shop to see what had happened only to have the checkout manageress and the store manager treat us like we were trying to swindle them. Really, all we wanted was for them to say what had happened and that the money would go back into our account. They were unbelievable rude and nasty (Tesco South Queensferry fyi.)

DH then phoned the customer services and the guy on the phone sounded like he was furious and would do something asap. When we got the letter it was obvious they decided to act like we were blaming the poor check-out woman! The whole complaint was about the behaviour of the managers.

I've written another letter pointing out what our complaint was about and hopefully will hear that the managers have had some sort of hand slap!

Good luck to you hockey, hope you get a better response. I've not been back to any Tesco since and will not be going back anytime soon.

lovecloud · 20/12/2005 22:58

Somedays when I am in a foul mood I am waiting for some evil witch to pi*s me off like that - ooooh she would wish she never was never born.

She must have a mentak problem - she should be sacked!!!

No adult in their right mind would even say such a thing. I would make her apologise to my child if It meant standing on her neck whilst she said it!

You should take your child back to Tesco's and the manager should explain that what that lady said was very naughty and the your child was a good girl and then take her to the toy aisle and allow her to choose whatever she wants.

Write to your local paper and get that evil cow shamed!!!!!

myrrhthamoo · 20/12/2005 22:58

I've only just read this and I am so shocked. Can't believe Tesco has not responded. Fwiw, I probably wouldn't go to the press - not because I think it's the wrong thing to do - if you have the chutzpah for it I think it's absolutely the right thing to do - but I, personally, wouldn't be able to do it. What an evil woman - she really shouldn't be working in the public sector if she can say such unhinged things to a child.

And - for those who have expressed a little disbelief - I can believe it. I used to work with a bloke who told a lost child in our library - "your Mummy's gone home and left you here because you're naughty". I've never seen such an hysterical child - and I was left comforting him while my colleague walked off chuckling to himself. Sadly, there are some warped people in the world.

lovecloud · 20/12/2005 23:05

Well those warper people better keep well away from me if they want to stay alive.

I would absolutely lose it if anyone said such a thing to my dd.

It is making me so angry now that I want to got and find that witch!!!

lovecloud · 20/12/2005 23:05

That should read warped!

Original poster
thehockeyandtheivy · 21/12/2005 09:30

I phoned Tesco yesterday but there store manager was out. I told customer service to inform him that I would be calling back today if I had no response in todays post. I know that they are busy with Christmas but that's no excuse to avoid customer service. I'll let you know later on how I get on. Thanks for all the support by the way!

OP posts:
paolosgirl · 21/12/2005 10:08

Oi - my BIL is a customer service manager in a Tesco store in Cambs - and he is fantastic!!!

I've just read this thread and am shocked - as in sharp intake of breath - when I read your post, hockey . I'd do the same as all the others here, and complain to the highest level possible - not only for the actual incident. but for the appalling way it's been dealt with (or not dealt with) so far. I hope you get a good outcome with this, and hope DD has a good Christmas

LoveMyGirls · 21/12/2005 11:55

Hockey have you rang them today yet? also i think they are fobbing you off there must be someone that can deal with your complaint you dont leave a shop without someone to manage it!

MIstletAOU · 23/12/2005 13:06

still no joy, hockey?

ChunkerXmasCake · 23/12/2005 13:30

Hockey, take it to the press. They're being arses.

zippimistletoes · 23/12/2005 14:02

It is very poor customer service to have heard nothing back.

I am wondering whether the assistant responsible might have a social skills type of problem as otherwise it doesn't seem possible that someone would say anything as specifically nasty..this doesn't however alter the fact that Tesco have not responded as they should have done.

PantomimEDAMe · 23/12/2005 14:13

Unfortunately NT people can sometimes just be downright nasty, like this woman. IF she does have poor social skills, she shouldn't be dealing with the public anyway.

I can't believe a. the original incident and b. that Tesco's hasn't even had the decency to acknowledge your letter. I'd definitely go to the local paper. The store manager needs to be taken up on this and to be made to understand that what happened was wrong and that their lack of response is equally wrong.

Hope your dd is OK now.

maddiemostmerry · 23/12/2005 14:38

I work for a large supermarket chain and it does employ many people with social/communication and other disabilities. By the very public nature of shop work, people with communication difficulties are put in a position where they have to deal with the public to the best of their abilities. Members of the public are sometimes aware, in the case of staff members with ds but for staff with no physical appearance to their disability this can make communication hard and we do have public who get very impatient and treat staff badly.

Having a social/communication disablility does not mean an employee should not be allowed to speak to the public and only put on basket stacking as this does little for their morale.

However, in this case it is unlikely the woman in question has such a difficulty. I would call customer service and ask for name and what time their shift ends to keep continuity going. You will probably find that it is the customer service manager or duty manager who would deal with your complaint.

maddiemostmerry · 23/12/2005 14:49

Realised I sound a bit uptight. Just wanted to make it clear that there is a huge difference between people with social skil difficulties and those that lack manners or are plain nasty

Weatherwax · 05/01/2006 16:19

Have you had a reply yet?

Normsnockers · 05/01/2006 16:30

Message withdrawn

bigmouth · 05/01/2006 16:42

you should try and compfort dd as much as possible and make santa out to be a nice person as much as you can.

as for the till thing i would go to her manager and complain and i would ask for either an applogie from her or for her to be sacked.

as i think she had right to say things like to any one let alone a 3yr old.

Original poster
thehockeyandtheivy · 06/01/2006 12:54

Just heard back today - 3 1/2 weeks ;ater - crap customer service. Did geta proper letter from the compliance manager at the store. Just a letter though nothing else by way of apology. Saying blah blah we pride ourselves on good customer service (3 1/2 weeks wait for a letter not good) that we constantly retrain staff in customer service blah blah, but they said they had identified the lady who had had no previous complaints before and that they had warned her that disciplinary matters would be taken if she did anything like that again. They hope I'll shop there again (uhmm no, I might have done if I had had a prompt response and a small recompense to get my dd a present with or something - but I wont be).

I'm surprised at their crap response, I'm glad they say they've identified and trained her but not at all happy with the timescale involved and the lack of thought for dd.

Boo Tescos!

OP posts:
catsmother · 06/01/2006 15:25

That's a really crap response.

They haven't apologised for HER and they haven't apologised for their OWN tardy response.

If I were you - and I know you might feel differently - I'd now take the attitude that I'd given Tesco more than enough time to respond PROPERLY, and call the local paper, or maybe even one of the national tabloids.

I really find that sort of response quite contemptuous .... after all we are talking about a very small child here, who was completely unable to assert or defend herself, unlike us adults who could have stood up for ourselves had we been subjected to the same bullying rudeness.

From my own experience of Tesco so-called "customer service" I really get the impression that they're so big now, they don't give a toss if they lose the odd customer along the way.

As you say, WHAT possible incentive have they given you to continue to shop there ? Oh yes .... I love going shopping where my child's bullied, where my complaints are ignored for ages, where no-one can admit they when they are in the wrong and where they make no effort at all to put things right.

madmarchhare · 06/01/2006 15:33

Further complaint required me thinks.

RTKangaMummy · 06/01/2006 15:33

that is awful

deffo go to the papers

also as they have agreed she did say it you can't be done for slander

Socci · 06/01/2006 15:37

Message withdrawn

snowleopard · 06/01/2006 15:40

That is o rubbish - but someone said earlier they have had a better response to a complaint fromtheir store, so that suggests it varies. Si if I were you I'd now write to head office and threaten to go public if they don't show you a bit more respect and offer an apology.

Tesco customer services address here