£20 Note Seized by Co-op - Refuse to take details or provide reciept

misssarahleigh

My friend had a £20 note taken off her when paying for her shopping. The lady at the check out loudly announced it was fake and she could not have it back (making all the surrounding customers totally aware of what was going on)

She was upset and I said i would go with her as they should have taken her details. As far as i guess they should take her details, pass the note to the bank to confirm it's fake and if not hand it back.

Anyway, the manager approached, saw us and roled her eyes. I politly asked for some sort of written proof this money had been taken off my friend, she refused and walked away while i was still speaking to get another manager.

He refused to provide anything and kept saying i have to ring customer service and wouldn't speak with me.

Got home, rang customer service and asked 'please could you tell me your procedure for confiscating potentially fake notes). she said did i have one taken off me, i replied yes, she asked where so i named the town and she said (this bit is good). the manager has already rang, we can't give you a receipt, blah blah and went on and on, wouldn't let me get a word in. I eventually asked to be passed to somebody else as she was quite clearly biased and just said exactally the same as the manager had

Spoke to another lady and explained. My point was, the note may be forged but the co-op does not have the legal right to decide that. it must be tested by the bank, and if it turnes out a mistake has been made how will i get my money back when they refuse to take my details or give me written proof it was taken from me.

I'm also disgusted at the people i spoke to. I was made to feel like a real idiot, especially when the manager actually told the customer service assistant i would be ringing to complain, i mean are you kidding!!!!!!

I also explained the money was actually paying for business goods (my friend works at a pub and some of the money came from petty cash) and that the boss needed some proof of this.

If somebody could shed a little light in a legal sence on this it would be much appreciated, the treatment i recieved was disgusting. if i spoke to my customers like that i would be sacked.

vikingaero

What if the "fake" note was real? Then in that case the Co-op has stolen from you.

misssarahleigh

vikingaero wrote: »

What if the "fake" note was real? Then in that case the Co-op has stolen from you.

Thats my point. There must be some legislation otherwise shop assistance all over the country could make a tidy little profit by taking them off people they feel wouldn't 'make a fuss'. There must be some form of legal protocall

vikingaero

I would have thought that the store would simply refuse to accept an iffy note. You should ask if they have passed the note on to the Police, and if they have, ask for a reference number. If they haven't I don't know what you can do other than make a complaint to Co-op or the Police.

dacouch

They were not very cooperative

misssarahleigh

vikingaero wrote: »

I would have thought that the store would simply refuse to accept an iffy note. You should ask if they have passed the note on to the Police, and if they have, ask for a reference number. If they haven't I don't know what you can do other than make a complaint to Co-op or the Police.

They are refusing to provide me with any proof the note was seized

The_Pedant

I appreciate that they are not able to hand the note back.

However, I would only accept the word of an 'appropriately trained/informed person' before accepting that it was indeed a fake (unless it's totally obvious).

I therefore would not leave the store without a receipt for the seized note, including the serial number. I'm not sure if it'd be too much to expect a crime number too (as a crime has technically been committed in passing forged currency?). That way, whether or not the note was forged could be formally verified. Without that, I have no guarantee that they aren't simply pulling a fast one.

Without that, I only have their word that the note is forged. Even with some of the detection methods, there can be false positives that can result in the wrong determination being made. Therefore on face value, I would only accept the obvious lack of the main security features as anything approaching suitable evidence of a counterfeit note.

As they refused to provide and such receipt, and the attitude of the staff you mentioned, I would follow up with a formal complaint to their head office. In that letter I would request details of the crime reference number to allow you to verify the facts, or to expect the money to be returned to you without delay.

As far as I know, the banks may submit counterfeit notes without police involvement. I thought that anyone else discovering suspect currency has an obligation to involve the police. Hence, my standpoint.

misssarahleigh

My friend was shocked as not quite as stubbon as me. She had a number of people stood glaring at her and was very unconfortable.

Where do i find the law on this? who would be the authority?

The_MoneySavingKid

"What should I do if I think I have been given a counterfeit note?
If you think a note that you have is a counterfeit you must take it to the police as soon as you can. They will provide you with a receipt and send the counterfeit to the Bank of England for analysis. If the note is genuine reimbursement will be made in full.
A counterfeit note is completely worthless and it is a criminal offence to hold or to pass on a note which you know to be counterfeit.
Don’t get caught out by the counterfeiter; always check your banknotes."

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/about/faqs.htm

What I would do is either tell them that you will take it to the local police station, (perhaps while you leave something such as passport or the like) to get a receipt to show that you have reported it, or insist that they come with you. Or ask that they go to the police, and once they have been reimbursed if it is real, they return the money to you.

Just some ideas.

misssarahleigh

Looked at that section. My friend left the shop and i returned with her 30 mins later. They refused to speak with us, refused to give any receipt.

I at this point do not have the money nor the proof it was taken so the below options are not possible. I have emailed the BOE to see what they say.

I don't think you truley understand how rude these people where. They would not speak with me regardin the situation. i was basically told to go away and wine somewhere else, and when i did they had already rung ahead to tell them i was making a complaint. Shocking really

Antispam

They are not very fair trade either they pay the least to British farmers for milk than any major supermarket

dacouch wrote: »

They were not very cooperative