Asda security searching my mam when she had paid!!

Esty76

I wanted to know how other than calling, I can send a complaint to Asda, my 78 yr old mam recently visited, paid for shopping but makeup she bought and paid for put in her handbag. (Bear in mind we're encouraged not to buy bags) My dad had receipt, went to car to load car while she put lottery on. No alarms went off, security stopped her and asked her to give him her bag as he said she hadn't paid. He asked for the receipt, she saud my partner has it if you come with me, shes in 2 walking sticks, thought she was gonna have a heart attack in frint of everyone. He saud i cant come, ill need to  keept these things as you can't prove. She walked shaking and cried all way to car, got receipt and brought it back all He had to say was, oh well, sorry here you go you can have them now!!
My mam was mortified,plus I'm pretty sure they can't search you? I see plenty alarms where there's 2 or more security if they're talking they dint even look!! 
I need email or something, but this can't go on!!




. 

MikeJXE

asda_stores@mailln.custhelp.com

Head it complaint 

Emmia

They are allowed to challenge you, and your Mam did not have the proof on her that she'd paid for those items. She also presumably handed over her bag or opened it for the guard to inspect.

It is unfortunately a fact that many people shoplift, including those with two walking sticks... Which is why security guards are employed.

I understand your Mam was upset and mortified by the incident, but I can't really see she's got grounds for complaint - fundamentally she had items in her bag, and no proof of purchase.

The_Unready

Emmia said:

They are allowed to challenge you, and your Mam did not have the proof on her that she'd paid for those items. She also presumably handed over her bag or opened it for the guard to inspect.

It is unfortunately a fact that many people shoplift, including those with two walking sticks... Which is why security guards are employed.

I understand your Mam was upset and mortified by the incident, but I can't really see she's got grounds for complaint - fundamentally she had items in her bag, and no proof of purchase.

It's also true that many supermarkets now ask whether you want your receipt when you pay at a self-serve checkout. The intent is presumably to help save the planet by not printing them.

I rarely print receipts so would have no proof of purchase if challenged at the exit, so how would that work? Presumably I'd be marched back to the till where some poor soul would need to try and match my shopping to a recent purchase.

However,  it's incumbent on security guards to have a justifiable reason for making a stop and search, and if the events panned out as described by the Op then there could not possibly have been a reason for her mum to have been stopped.

Very poor from the guard!

marcia_

 Same as above. Unless buying clothes or electrical appliances etc which I might need to return/exchange I don't get receipts from self service tills 

Emmia

The_Unready said:

Emmia said:

They are allowed to challenge you, and your Mam did not have the proof on her that she'd paid for those items. She also presumably handed over her bag or opened it for the guard to inspect.

It is unfortunately a fact that many people shoplift, including those with two walking sticks... Which is why security guards are employed.

I understand your Mam was upset and mortified by the incident, but I can't really see she's got grounds for complaint - fundamentally she had items in her bag, and no proof of purchase.

It's also true that many supermarkets now ask whether you want your receipt when you pay at a self-serve checkout. The intent is presumably to help save the planet by not printing them.

I rarely print receipts so would have no proof of purchase if challenged at the exit, so how would that work? Presumably I'd be marched back to the till where some poor soul would need to try and match my shopping to a recent purchase.

However,  it's incumbent on security guards to have a justifiable reason for making a stop and search, and if the events panned out as described by the Op then there could not possibly have been a reason for her mum to have been stopped.

Very poor from the guard!

The self service tills usually have video, so they'd march you back to the till, locate the video and use that to check you'd paid for everything...(And you hadn't put the whole lot through as carrots) Or they'd ask which till you used and use a central place to check.

It's possible mam put the items she wanted, not in the trolley, but in her handbag whilst walking round, before paying, or there was someone of a similar age who'd done this previously... And not paid.

Of course in protest they could just stop shopping there.

Edit: I'm sorry I can't quite go along with the OP, unfortunately I've seen little old ladies shoplifting, and then not being challenged when it was pointed out to the staff on the basis that they were little old ladies... Shoplifting just causes prices to rise for all of us.

HampshireH

I hate the fact self service don't provide receipts unless on request. I always take mine as I regularly don't have a bag and carry items from store to car without one.

The point above Is extremely valid if they don't issue a receipt how would you evidence purchase without someone pulling the back up roll from the machine

teaselMay

It's perfectly reasonable to stop and ask for proof of purchase. Using walking aids or anything else doesnt excuse from the normal rules. It sounds as though the security guard had seen something that looked suspicious and so did his job and stopped your mum to check. Nothing to complain about.

elsien

Any potential complaint would need to come from your mother. What does she want to do? 

Ergates

HampshireH said:

I hate the fact self service don't provide receipts unless on request. I always take mine as I regularly don't have a bag and carry items from store to car without one.

The point above Is extremely valid if they don't issue a receipt how would you evidence purchase without someone pulling the back up roll from the machine

You "hate" having to tap a button on the screen to ask for a receipt?   That seems a bit of an over-reaction.

sheramber

I always take a reciept.

It is not just proof of paying but proof of purchase if you need to return anything.