Would you have returned it?

I never check my change ! Oh dear I better start , I would have gone back , nipped to the front of the queue muttering and with scarlet face

Or even given it to the security man ?

woman , person !!

Gosh , yes , what a predicament ! The cash register will show a shortfall , the cashier might be questioned or be puzzled when it didn't all add up at the end of the day . Like you my conscience would bother me but the queue length would have put me off too . Maybe pop the mistake into a charity box then forget about it ?I don't know . I once saw a £10 note on the floor of a huge 24hr supermarket and didn't know what to do , I pointed it out to my wee grand daughter who ran and pocketed it !

Why can we not edit in this forum ?

I would not put the difference into a charity box because the person who gave you the wrong amount may have to give it back from his/her own purse. I would return today and hope that somebody was around at customer services.

I always pay by card in a supermarket no matter how small the amount because then I get cashback from my bank

I believe it's a legal obligation to pay back the amount you were overpaid but I doubt if there'd be any way to identify you. You have to go with your conscience...

I don't deal with cash much these days but when I have and have noticed I've been given too much change at the till I always give it back. Otherwise my change goes straight into my purse and I really wouldn't know...

www.theguardian.com/money/2012/sep/25/fraud-accept-too-much-change

Maybe you got the change wrong

Put it in a charity box.

I'd probably have done the same as you, pipstocking, if I was in that much of a hurry. Like you, I would have felt a bit guilty but only for five minutes! Forget about it - life's too short and it was not megabucks.

Plus, I'm pretty sure check-out operators don't have to pay shortfalls in the till out of their own pocket. Mistakes happen, and if it's only occasionally no suspicion will fall on them.

Always do the right thing in life, then you don't worry and feel the need to write posts like this!

Do you ALWAYS do the right thing, aquagran?

Yes.

I once saw £5 lying on the floor in a shop. Quick as a flash, the security man picked it up and put it in his pocket! As for your dilema, I would go back to the shop and say you were given too much change. You will feel much better after doing this.

Give it back!

A few years back, I found a purse down the side of my chair in a pub. (With cards and cash in it), the barman looked a bit shifty so. I took it to the local police station and they took my took my name and address. A week later I received a bunch of flowers and a lovely letter from the grateful owner.

I would take it back. Some companies make their staff put their own money in if the till is short by any amount.

I would have gone straight to the front of the queue and interrupted, I'm sure customer and cashier wouldn't have minded in the circumstances. Two seconds to say you'd been given too much change and plonk it on the counter and go. Failing that I'd hand it over when you can because it's obviously bothering you.

I don't always check my change.

Yes I would have taken it back. I once found a £5 note-all folded up- on the car park floor at a local supermarket. Feeling it was all a bit futile I joined the (smallish) queue at customer services and the man in front of me sighed, said he'dvlost £5, anyone handed it in? I asked how it could be distinguished and he said it was all folded up and I opened my hand and said like this? He beamed and said yes! You could see it meant a lot. Who knows?