Asda exclusion notice / lifetime ban - feel awful, what can I do?

[chillypenguin]

Hi all. A few weeks ago I took a few items from Asda (a bedsheet and an inexpensive ornament, came to around £10). No excuse, but been in touch with my mental health coordinator because I think this is stress-related. Never done anything like that before, and what's worse... I didn't even need the items.

Security caught me. I asked if I could pay for the items, they said no. They asked to see ID, I gave them my bus card – so they know my name, and possibly have a copy of the photo ID. Then I was given an exclusion notice which says lifetime ban and was told the security camera system would be able to identify me if I came into the shop again, and I'd get a £1000 fine and be exposed to 'media'.

Not really sure what to do because I need to go to Asda sometimes to get things I can't without difficulty get elsewhere.

I don't feel I can just ignore the ban because the guard recognised me – I think that's why he stopped me actually. Over a year ago I had a problem with one of those scan and go things. It didn't work, genuine mistake. He clearly didn't believe me and took it upon himself to remember my face. He even said I was pretending to be ill.... I'm disabled! This guard really is a piece of work.

What can I do?

[BankFodder]

You don't need to worry about the threats from Asda or the security guard – although it does sound as if the security guard was exceeding his remit – but I suppose they do that from time to time.

You probably won't hear anything more from them. There is an outside chance that you may get a letter from some bounty hunting firm that demands a payment from you or else they will begin legal proceedings. If you get a letter like that and come here. The legal proceedings would not be criminal – they would be civil so they would simply be asking you to pay compensation but we always recommend that people ignore these demands and get on with their lives.

It is probably a good idea to keep away from the Asda for a while – maybe a year so you need to find an alternative shopping source. I'm quite sure you go into another Asda somewhere else and there would be no problem.

I think the most important thing for you is to ask yourself why you've done this and you should talk to somebody such as your GP and also somebody you trust in your family if you can.
You don't say if you are someone who is in desperate need of the kind of items which you still or whether it was simply an opportunistic moment. Particularly if it was simply an impulse and you didn't need the items, then it would be a good idea to discuss with a health professional as to why you have done this – and if you can start to understand then you will be less likely to do it again.

Although it's extremely important that you try to deal with this kind of behaviour, the most important thing is that you stop fretting and get on with your life but learn from the experience.

Go and see your GP

Edited April 4, 2021 by BankFodder
Highlighting an error

[BankFodder]

In fact it's just been pointed out to me by one of my site team colleagues that I am mistaken and that in fact that the bounty hunters don't begin legal proceedings. In fact they have no authority to do so. If you get letters from them which threatened legal proceedings then they are just empty threats.
However if you do get letters then don't hesitate to come back here.

Sorry for misleading you and thanks very much to @dx100uk for pointing out my error