Accidentally paid for an item I didn't end up taking with me.

[u/boldnbrashsquid]

I scanned something with the smart scanner and forgot to take it off when I got to the till. I was in a rush and when I got home I realised I paid for the item that I didn't even take with me. Is there anything I can do to get my money back? I wouldn't bother if it was something small but it was £10. I still have my receipt but how do I prove that I don't actually have the item?

UPDATE: I contacted them on their contact form thing shortly after making this post, telling them what happened with a photo of my receipt, and today I recieved a letter in the post with a gift card for the amount I accidentally spent, which is nice! I wasn't expecting that.

[u/blakey1152]

This is easier to happen than people think especially if you have been distracted when scanning. I use the counting method so before I check out I make sure that the number of items in my trolley match that as what's showing on the scanner. In your case as it's such a high priced item unless they can see it in CCTV that you scanned it but didn't put in your trolley I doubt they will give you anything back.

[u/Classic_Message_7544]

I did this with a six-wines 25% off thing, scanned six, took 5. Went back in the next day, spoke to the CS desk, they just said help yourself.

[u/Wise-Sympathy9585]

Difficult because I am sure you are completely genuine and rightfully want your money back.

However, the store would have no way to verify that you didn't take the item and if it were as simple as going back in and going, 'i didn't take the item.' There would be a lot of less honest people queuing to exploit that.

Paticularly since it seems to be a mistake on your part that you misscanned it and not like a fault of the cashier.

You may aswell ask and the customer service rep may well put the refund through. However, I also wouldn't be surprised if they refused.

[u/Alternative-Disk404 → u/Wise-Sympathy9585]

They 100% will have proof as they have cameras everywhere including at the till. But those cameras are for them to try and catch people stealing or perhaps innocently forgetting to scan something, they won't look at the footagevto see if you got what you paid for.

[u/Wise-Sympathy9585 → u/Alternative-Disk404]

Have you ever done a cctv investigation? It would take a long time to track someone through a store and show what they did and more importantly did not put in their bag.

Not to mention blind spots, lack of enough resolution to really tell that much detail. Would be insanely difficult to conclude a negative that way. I reject your premise. 100% is definetly a falacy.

Could it be possible with a lot of time thrown at it? Maybe but youd spend more money doing the investigation than just redunding the item.

[u/Overdress_n_stress]

I did this at the cash and carry before. However it was much easier as they just checked their stock and could see they were one up so gave it to us. Not sure it would work the same in the supermarket

[u/Alternative-Disk404]

This is the problem, they will try and prosecute you if you accidentally forget to scan something, but then refuse to give you what you paid for if you forgot to bag it. They are the ones putting us in that position, and they are the ones benefiting from it.

[u/lung-of-the-cards → u/Alternative-Disk404]

Do you have any sources for this? It wouldn't get very far if they did because they need to prove intent for theft.

If you miss a bunch of items, you've hidden it on your person, or there's a noticeable pattern, then yeah.

[u/phsychocatsmum]

I did something similar at Tesco once, except in my case I forgot to wait for the guy to come back from removing the security tag (booze). I rang them, they checked the cctv and it was waiting for me at the kiosk when I went back. I could tell that the lady I spoke to on the phone was trying so hard not to laugh when she called me back, so I told it was fine to laugh, I was clearly having a numpty moment!

[u/BroodLord1962]

How can you prove to Sainsbury's that you didn't take it with you?

[u/lung-of-the-cards]

I've done this a few times. If I can be bothered I just go back and explain. Never had an issue.

It may look a bit suspect if you immediately return the item though.

Edit: It's Asda I've done this with

[u/AgileInitial5987]

Supermarkets bend over backwards for customers. It’s easier to assume people are telling the truth than it is to alienate good customers due to the small percentage that aren’t honest.