Nightmare in Boots -need some help ***Resolved***

[chloeair]

Sorry, second time of writing this as lost my first post.

 

Hope someone can give me some wise advice!!

 

I was shopping today in boots, bought a few items paid and left quite happily

with my toddler who for the first time EVER I let him walk with me rather than pushed in the pushchair

although still had it wth me!

 

Left the shop quite happily, spent ages faffing in the car park changing my little boys nappy

and sorting him out - chucked pram in car and got in.

 

Just as I was pulling off, a knock on my window from a security guard..

 

I opened my window and he asked me if I paid for a face cream that I DID pick up..

..contemplated paying and then put back in not the same place.

 

He said he couldnt find it and would I mind showing him my buggy..

..I got it out..

.shook it out and nothing there.

even offered willingly to show him my handbag which had nothing in .

...and offered to let him look in my car but he said he couldnt do that

and would have to give me the benefit of the doubt!! was so upset!!

 

got home told my husband and he was furious I'd been accused.

 

However this evening my husband was cleaning the car and rolled under the car seats is the bloody face cream!

 

i am horrified. ..... so my question is,

 

I am not going to take it in to them for fear of what they will do..

..but if I posted it back to them, or posted a letter with the money value

is that worth anything at this point?

 

my husband is scaring me with suggestion of me being all over cctv etc etc.

 

What is the best thing to do?

[rebel11]

Hi chloeair

 

First of all, there is no point in worrying. Nothing is going to happen to you. You were probably concerned about your child and not concentrating on anything else, that is understandable. I wouldn't get involved in any conversations with them or send them anything as you don't know how they will react to an honest mistake, you could end up receiving lots of unwarranted letters.

 

Next time your in Boots, put the value of the item in the charity box, hopefully that will ease the burden you feel.

 

Stop worrying.

[ericsbrother]

No intent on your part so nothing criminal done. As for giving you the benefit of the doubt, that is not for them to decide and certainly the use of the words is prejudicial but only to be expected.

take a few deep breaths and get on with your day.

[chloeair]

Thank you.

 

My concerns are I guess....

 

although I was extremely miffed that he stopped me in my car....he was actually right, I had actually had something although 100% I had no idea......convinced my little one was either holding it or had put it in the seat or the pram etc?

 

Is it likely as his 'hunch' was right, although my husband says if he was absolutely convinced I had it he would of asked me to go back in the shop, and me being me prob would of gone with him! Is it likely that if they review CCTV they can persue me after the event?

 

I paid for my goods, ironically by my rewards points! so can they chase me that way if they wanted to persue?

 

I may be being very dramatic but I have images of my face being displayed in the local paper as a CCTV image!

 

It's just the value! of all things my little one could watch me pick up and put down its a £20 face cream he chose!!! I dont think I can go back in there - I said to the shop assistant who accompanied the pretty abrupt security guard, I buy all my baby things in here, I come in weekly I dont steal and even she give me a grimaced look......

 

So I guess my question is can they chase any event 'after the event' and after in their eyes they have dealt with it and let me go?

 

Thanks for the advice!

One worried mummy whose child will remain securely strapped in apushchair for the rest of his childhood shopping vists!!!!

[renegadeimp]

Nothing will happen. Genuine mistake.

[SabreSheep]

I would imagine that If you returned the product unopened and stated that you later found this and that your child had picked it up with you being unaware then that would be the end of the matter

 

Nothing would have been lost

The police would not be interested as no theft would have occurred as you would not have permanently or intentionally deprived the owner of their goods.

 

I have had a parent drag their teenage son back to my shop after finding out that they had stolen chocolate, were apologetic and forced him to apologise and made a scene humiliating the lad. I nearly felt sorry for him. I think it was good parenting.

 

The shop should be happy to get the stock back.

[caro]

I agree with sabresheep. Return it and explain it was an honest mistake. Apart from anything else it means you won't have to worry about it.

[rebel11]

You could post it to their Head Office, send it Recorded Delivery, explain that you would have returned it to the store, but found the staff were unhelpful and didn't listen to what you had to say. Security staff are known to be 'overzealous', they not great at listening.

[citizenB]

You could post it to their Head Office, send it Recorded Delivery, explain that you would have returned it to the store, but found the staff were unhelpful and didn't listen to what you had to say. Security staff are known to be 'overzealous', they not great at listening.

 

This sounds like a very good idea.

[chloeair]

thank you for your help!

Sounds like an excellent idea, I am going to send it back to head office with a letter - should I copy a letter in the home store too, or just let it filter down from HO?

Brilliant idea.....I actually think I would be too nervous to go back into the store again, which is a real shame as I am a total Boots addict!!!

[rebel11]

Hi chloeair

 

I would just let it filter down from Head Office, don't be deterred from buying from Boots, they probably have other branches close to you and website.

 

Let us know how you get on and what they say.

 

thank you for your help!

Sounds like an excellent idea, I am going to send it back to head office with a letter - should I copy a letter in the home store too, or just let it filter down from HO?

Brilliant idea.....I actually think I would be too nervous to go back into the store again, which is a real shame as I am a total Boots addict!!!

[caro]

I agree and I'd be inclined to use the boots you normally do as you know you've done nothing wrong!! But maybe I'm just a bit more bolshy than you!

[2Grumpy]

This has happened to lots of us.

 

I suspect that the re-stocking of this item might cost more than it's worth - to you as well as Boots!

 

Unless there is a seal then they might just bin it anyway & claim that it is not re-sellable

 

I would be tempted to just accept that as compensation for the way that the security guard harassed you or for the times that you have bought something from them that was unusable for some reason but never took back

[SabreSheep]

 

I would be tempted to just accept that as compensation for the way that the security guard harassed you or for the times that you have bought something from them that was unusable for some reason but never took back

 

That surely then becomes an offense. I cannot go into a bank "accidentally walk out with money or stock and then justify keeping it because of all the harassment that bank has given me" At that poiont you have decided to permanently deprive the lawful owner. The OP is quite clear here and wants to do the right thing. Lets not give potential illegal advice

[rebel11]

I think 2Grumpy has worded it poorly, but I don't think your interpretation has helped.

 

That surely then becomes an offense. I cannot go into a bank "accidentally walk out with money or stock and then justify keeping it because of all the harassment that bank has given me" At that poiont you have decided to permanently deprive the lawful owner. The OP is quite clear here and wants to do the right thing. Lets not give potential illegal advice

[2Grumpy]

That surely then becomes an offense. I cannot go into a bank "accidentally walk out with money or stock and then justify keeping it because of all the harassment that bank has given me" At that poiont you have decided to permanently deprive the lawful owner. The OP is quite clear here and wants to do the right thing. Lets not give potential illegal advice

 

Mainly because Boots might not want to re-sell things things such as cosmetics - which this sort of is.

 

I wouldn't worry too much if I found that I accidentally hadn't paid for an item of groceries from my usual store that I hadn't paid for because, over the years, I have not returned stuff that was poor quality or where 1 item of 12 was missing from a pack or I realised that I had been overcharged but did nothing about it.

 

I would just see it as evening up the score.

 

I was just making the point in case the OP is in the same position with Boots.

[chloeair]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for all your comments - I posted back special delivery yesterday to Head Office with a long letter about my treatment but equally to 'confess' that a product was found.

 

The lady from Customer Services was just lovely. She was horrified the way I was treated and very shocked at 'my honesty'. I did confess I was more worried about my picture appearing in the local paper to find out who I was from the CCTV.

 

She is calling the store manager now and is replying with a letter. A very positive conversation where I told her just how worried i'd been and how I was too scared to go back in the shop.

 

I just wanted to say thank you for the very wise advice. I've not slept properly since Saturday! I feel a bit more reassured now and feel like I have done the right thing.

 

You have all been very kind - thank you x

[rebel11]

Well Done chloeair, you might just get some vouchers with the letter.

[caro]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for all your comments - I posted back special delivery yesterday to Head Office with a long letter about my treatment but equally to 'confess' that a product was found.

 

The lady from Customer Services was just lovely. She was horrified the way I was treated and very shocked at 'my honesty'. I did confess I was more worried about my picture appearing in the local paper to find out who I was from the CCTV.

 

She is calling the store manager now and is replying with a letter. A very positive conversation where I told her just how worried i'd been and how I was too scared to go back in the shop.

 

I just wanted to say thank you for the very wise advice. I've not slept properly since Saturday! I feel a bit more reassured now and feel like I have done the right thing.

 

You have all been very kind - thank you x

 

I'm so glad it's sorted.

[SabreSheep]

Fantastic.

Im glad you have made that decision. You can sleep now

 

It has also highlighted to boots that their security made A genuine customer scared to return. Had they have handled it in a more sensible fashon u would have returned it to the store without fear and carried on spending.

 

Instead they risked loosing a valueble customer.

 

I hope too that they give you some vouchers

[Alfie29]

But won't RLP go after her? Worry's me as being honest sometimes AIN'T the best policy?! I would if i was u just put some money into a charity?

[ims21]

But won't RLP go after her? Worry's me as being honest sometimes AIN'T the best policy?! I would if i was u just put some money into a charity?

 

This has been sorted.

 

Even if it hadn't been, RLP are not involved.

 

And again, even if they were involved, they are just impotent bullies and can do nothing.

[2Grumpy]

But won't RLP go after her? Worry's me as being honest sometimes AIN'T the best policy?! I would if i was u just put some money into a charity?

Theft requires intent. If you return something picked up by your little one it shows a total absence of intent as well as a high degree of honesty. I doubt that even RLP would even consider going for their 40 pieces of silver in this case! I can't see Boots risking the extremely bad publicity that would result in them sending the OP's details to RLP.