Tesco Security Tag Not Disabled

Paul_Varjak

I visited a Tesco Extra store and purchased a Tesco-branded electric iron for £4. As I was leaving the store, the security alarm sounded and a security guard hurriedly approached me and asked to see my receipt, which I showed him. He said that the security tag was inside the box so I asked him how they disable those tags. I was astounded at his response, which was that they are provided with no means to disable them. If that is the case, I would suggest that is not reasonable grounds to suspect I have stolen anything.

When I got home, I noticed that the box had a label (printed as part of the packaging) saying it contained a security tag. I assume, therefore, that all Tesco branded irons have security tags inside the box and that anyone leaving the store having purchased such an item, would be stopped as the store cannot disable the security tag.

I have no objection to a store using security tags but they should, at least, have a means to disable the tag to prevent such false suspicions arising.

Torry_Quine

If the tag is in the box then it is normally removed at the till by the assistant rather being disabled as such. It is easy to overlook and the security guard acted correctly.

naedanger

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I visited a Tesco Extra store and purchased a Tesco-branded electric iron for £4. As I was leaving the store, the security alarm sounded and a security guard hurriedly approached me and asked to see my receipt, which I showed him. He said that the security tag was inside the box so I asked him how they disable those tags. I was astounded at his response, which was that they are provided with no means to disable them. If that is the case, I would suggest that is not reasonable grounds to suspect I have stolen anything.

When I got home, I noticed that the box had a label (printed as part of the packaging) saying it contained a security tag. I assume, therefore, that all Tesco branded irons have security tags inside the box and that anyone leaving the store having purchased such an item, would be stopped as the store cannot disable the security tag.

I have no objection to a store using security tags but they should, at least, have a means to disable the tag to prevent such false suspicions arising.

There will be a means for disabling or removing the tag, if for no other reason that if there was not it would create too many false alarms for Tesco themselves.

If it is any consolation I think the security guard's suspicion would have been that it was yet another false alarm. I have had the alarms go off and just been told to go on my way. Once I had an alarm go off on numerous occasions (something I had bought had not had its tag deactivated) and was never once stopped, other than by another customer (who I ignored) who suggested I go back.

Paul_Varjak

Torry_Quine wrote: »

If the tag is in the box then it is normally removed at the till by the assistant rather being disabled as such. It is easy to overlook and the security guard acted correctly.

I did consider that, but the security guard made no mention of it, so I assumed that they do not remove the tags at the store. At that particular store, I have frequently heard the alarm sound and seen people's bags checked. The same does not happen at the Tesco store I normally shop in, where they do check for and remove tags.

daytona0

Seeing as this is a "consumer rights" thread, I will comment on how you have the right to show the receipt to clear up this minor inconvenience.

hollydays

By showing them the receipt you could point out to them which member of staff had not remembered to remove the tag. It is a busy time of year for sales staff though.

naedanger

daytona0 wrote: »

Seeing as this is a "consumer rights" thread, I will comment on how you have the right to show the receipt to clear up this minor inconvenience.

The op actually exercised that right, so I guess they were aware of it.

They also had the right to refuse the security guard's request. Though I suspect exercising that right would have resulted in them being banned from either that Tesco store or all Tesco stores.

bris

They do disable the tags, there is a paddle that they swipe over that shorts them out, every now and again it doesn't work.


This is a common occurrence and one that the security guard would come across on a daily basis. I would be very surprised if the security guard said there was no way to disable it.

daytona0

naedanger wrote: »

The op actually exercised that right, so I guess they were aware of it.

I know.... I just can't find any other consumer right issue to discuss.

They also had the right to refuse the security guard's request. Though I suspect exercising that right would have resulted in them being banned from either that Tesco store or all Tesco stores.

Does that mean a genuine thief has the right to simply walk away from the security guard? Fair enough.

Paul_Varjak

daytona0 wrote: »

Seeing as this is a "consumer rights" thread, I will comment on how you have the right to show the receipt to clear up this minor inconvenience.

I did show the receipt without quibble.

naedanger

daytona0 wrote: »

Does that mean a genuine thief has the right to simply walk away from the security guard? Fair enough.

If the only evidence the security guard has is that the alarm has gone off then "yes" they would need to let the thief walk away. But they could (and I assume would) ban them from the store.

In fact they need a lot of evidence to detain a thief, and they will be well aware of this fact.