What would you have done?

I was in the filling station this afternoon refuelling a hired minibus before returning it tomorrow morning. I went in to pay and the attendant asked me to pay a sum significantly more than the amount I was expecting to pay. I pointed out my vehicle and the attendant told me that someone else had paid my bill instead of their own before driving off. I informed him that I wasn’t expecting to pay for more fuel than I had purchased and he agreed with me but asked if I could pay with cash, I duly paid, got my receipt and came home.
I hope the other driver feels pleased with himself, I think it was despicable and I also feel for the employee.

I didn't expect to have my own moral question arise on the back of this thread but here's one!

I went to the supermarket this afternoon (nice & quiet there as everyone's at home watching sport!). I saw a nice bread bin and popped it in my trolley. It went through the check out with everything else and I paid up.

Dh cast his eye over the receipt when we got home and couldn't see the bread bin on it. Strange. After poring over the receipt he found an item in that weird code supermarkets use which we think indicates 'kilner glass jar £2.50'.

It seems that the bread bin has the wrong bar code sticker on it - there are no other stickers anywhere on it. Do I go back to the supermarket, which means a 40+ mile round trip and a gallon of petrol, or do I accept that I've made a lucky purchase because of their error?

Sue, lucky purchase, (Shhh)

I'd have done what you did. One time I though he had missed something and he did a recount and he had been right the first time! I was positive he had missed something. I use my phone calculator now!

I'd have done what you did, too, Chucky - IF I had noticed it. Which I probably wouldn't have.

Thanks, Sharon103!

* SueDonim*, what do you think?!

But then, I appear to be the bad girl of GN.

Sue Donim I would say next time I am in the shop.
Chucky I would have done what you did.
Stealing is stealing. I wouldn't want someone to steal from me. So I have to practice what I preach.

Chucky,
You most definitely did the right thing.

Most of us learned sound values growing up. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and people start 'bending' rules until they are no longer recognized.

Someone who knows they have been erroneously 'undercharged' is ethically bound to speak up. Choosing to stay silent and walking out of the store with the goods in hand would be the same as stealing!

I would have told him, you did the right thing. I respect honest. ?

I think if you take it back to the supermarket and show them they would probably say not to worry about it. Even if you have to pay for it you haven’t lost anything and I personally would feel better for having done the right thing. ?

We bought the champagne for my daughter's wedding at Waitrose - seriously good special offer. On the way home my daughter checked the invoice and realised we had been under charged by two cases of 6 bottles. (We had bought a lot of champagne!!) We did a U-turn and went back - the poor person on the till was so relieved and the store gave us two bottles free as a thank you.

I always say something if overcharged or undercharged also if change is not right. I can live with myself quite comfortably this way. Honesty all the time.

Honesty every time, (but I do think I'd like to be able to just walk off with the free/stolen goods!)

There are many occasions when we are the only person who knows whether we have done right or wrong. Whether it is being undercharged at the supermarket, or taking a few envelopes or sellotape from work.

I know I couldn't feel good about myself in any circumstances. I can still remember "stealing" a packet of sweets from a local shop on the way home from school. I must have been about seven at the time. I had to eat them all before I got home or mum might have seen them. I was terrified and never did it again.

Far back on this thread I notice ginny didn't have to pay for drinks and puddings in a restaurant, this has happened to us we even spoke to the Manager about it but he insisted we didn't owe anything - very odd as there were no notices anywhere that we could see.

The thing is, the supermarket is 40+ miles away and I'm not likely to go there again for four to six weeks. It would cost cost me at least a fiver in fuel to make a special journey plus extra pollution. There is also no identifying label on it except for the kilner jar one. They'd think I was barmy, haha!

I really think I'll chalk this down to being in the right place at the right time and put some extra donations into the food bank collection to salve my conscience.

The only thing that worries me is, if the assistant has made a mistake will I get her/him into trouble.
I once didn't go back years ago when the assistant had keyed in the wrong amount. Although this can't happen nowadays.

I would point out a mistake no matter whether it was Tesco or the corner shop because that is the standard I hold myself to. Whether it is a superstore or a little shop is irrelevant. They are my standards. The status of the 'victim' is irrelevant in that case.

You did the right thing, my motto is, If I can sleep at night with the decision I made, I did the right thing.

I would have done the same - it is the right thing to do.

I once got too much change back in my hand in M&S. I returned to the till just as the cashier was serving the next person and said "I think you made a mistake with my change". The cashier sneered (I was 14 and in my school uniform) and replied "I don't think so, we don't make mistakes here" and shared a smug smile with the next customer. I said "Oh well, if you're sure" and promptly left. I dropped the excess change into a charity collection box and would have loved to have seen the woman's face when she cashed up her till to find it short by a couple of quid!!

Only herself to blame Grannyliv

I've had 2 experience recently with meals- 1 where the drinks were missed off and 1 where the desserts were missed off. Both times I told the staff and they appreciated the honesty. I would do it everytime. I couldn't go back again with an easy conscience and it shows to others that there are decent people about. I once left my handbag on a shopping trolley and when I went back 2 hours later it had been handed in, so I always try to be honest.

Slightly different but, LizaJane, you triggered a memory. I was a ward sister and one day went into a local cafe where, to my surprise, an ex-patient turned out to be the manager. When I tried to pay the bill, she tore it up saying something about a thank you for her care.

I thanked her but, never went back again in case she thought I was angling for a free meal.

I'd have done that too Chucky. Many years ago Mr. S. and I went on my works Christmas do. There were about 20 in all and the bill was split so everyone paid the same.

On the way home our boss graciously gave us all some money back, about £8 per couple I think, as the bill had been added up incorrectly. We didn't agree so suggested that the restaurant be contacted, told of the error and the money repaid. As no one else was in agreement we took ours and sent a cheque with a note to say we'd recently been under charged but had not realised until we'd got home.