Morrisons - wrongly accused of theft and no apology after 3 months!

Paul_Varjak

Some years ago, I was in a Safeway store (Willerby Branch), now bought by Morrisons, of course! I had mentioned on previous occasions that a freezer had ice about 3 inches thick but nothing was ever done about. When I got a new mobile phone (with a camera) I took a picture of the freezer to send to the local Council. As I walked away, the then manager of the store grabbed me behind, putting his arm around my throat and choking me. His other arm attempted to remove the camera phone from my pocket. The only words he was saying, were 'give me the camera'.

I was absolutely gobsmacked. I just stood still as he kept repeating the words, 'give me the camera'. I was being suffocated by on arm, whilst his other hand still kept trying to retrieve my camera phone. Eventually, I managed to back the manager up to a display and removed his arm that was choking me.. He then grabbed hold of my arms attempting to pull me out of the store. I am a seriously disabled man and can only walk with the aid of a leg brace. I then had to push this man up against the display in order to get him to release me.

When I called the Police I could barely speak because of injury to my throat. The manager told the Police that he grabbed me because he thought I was going to attack him. The truth was that he attacked me from behind and without warning. I told the Police to get the CCTV tapes but the store manager said that the camera was not working on that aisle!! The Police believed him of course.

I wrote to Safeway, with my complaint and the only response I got was that I was banned from that store and all other Safeway stores. Luckily the Willerby Store was not my local store anyway and I knew the manager in my local store and he was happy that I could continue shopping there!

I sent my photo to the local Council and the upshot was that the store had to spend £10,000 on freezer repairs! In fact, the officer at the local Council told me that they had acted on a similar previous complaint of mine and so this was the second time the store had to spend £10,000 on repairs. I then realised why the store manager attacked me!

Sooler

RacyRed wrote: »

All the OP wants is a letter from Morisons saying "sorry we sent the police to the wrong address".

What on earth is so wrong with the OP wanting that?

the police went to the right address and eliminated them from their enquiries ... nothing for Morrisons to be concerned with.

if someone drives off without paying they are hardly going to waste time checking cctv while the suspect makes their get away.

gordikin

marleyboy wrote: »

The same place in law a company can falsely report a customer to the Police.

Did the OP get an apology? ...a simple y/n will suffice!

Sooler

zaksmum wrote: »

So you wouldn't be mortified if the cops came calling, peachyprice?

I certainly would and so would most people I know.

Why, what you up to?:D

gordikin

Cops would get a cuppa here!...

gordikin

£10,000 ...is a nice round number?

Sooler

marleyboy wrote: »

lets assume she did NOT have the receipt ...

Oh no, please not, why do we have to do that?

gordikin

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

Some years ago, I was in a Safeway store (Willerby Branch), now bought by Morrisons, of course! I had mentioned on previous occasions that a freezer had ice about 3 inches thick but nothing was ever done about. When I got a new mobile phone (with a camera) I took a picture of the freezer to send to the local Council. As I walked away, the then manager of the store grabbed me behind, putting his arm around my throat and choking me. His other arm attempted to remove the camera phone from my pocket. The only words he was saying, were 'give me the camera'.

I was absolutely gobsmacked. I just stood still as he kept repeating the words, 'give me the camera'. I was being suffocated by on arm, whilst his other hand still kept trying to retrieve my camera phone. Eventually, I managed to back the manager up to a display and removed his arm that was choking me.. He then grabbed hold of my arms attempting to pull me out of the store. I am a seriously disabled man and can only walk with the aid of a leg brace. I then had to push this man up against the display in order to get him to release me.

When I called the Police I could barely speak because of injury to my throat. The manager told the Police that he grabbed me because he thought I was going to attack him. The truth was that he attacked me from behind and without warning. I told the Police to get the CCTV tapes but the store manager said that the camera was not working on that aisle!! The Police believed him of course.

I wrote to Safeway, with my complaint and the only response I got was that I was banned from that store and all other Safeway stores. Luckily the Willerby Store was not my local store anyway and I knew the manager in my local store and he was happy that I could continue shopping there!

I sent my photo to the local Council and the upshot was that the store had to spend £10,000 on freezer repairs! In fact, the officer at the local Council told me that they had acted on a similar previous complaint of mine and so this was the second time the store had to spend £10,000 on repairs. I then realised why the store manager attacked me!

Quoted for the record!

Sooler

marleyboy wrote: »

The OP wants to know (and is within her rights) WHY such a mistake occurred, who made such a major mistake, and is there any chance this could happen again next time she gets fuel.

It wasn't a mistake, it was a genuine suspicion of a drive off so they reported it to the police. Yes it will happen again, as it should.

Next time get the driver to go in and pay, or emphasize the payment is on behalf of another customer.

Sooler

marleyboy wrote: »

at least I can then clear my name over the issue

the OP doesn't need to clear their name as they weren't assused of doing anything wrong.