Shoppers leaving 'millions' behind at self-service tills

Absent-minded supermarket shoppers are leaving as much as £2.5 million a year behind them when using self-service tills.

Many people forget to pick up their change or cashback, despite flashing lights and warnings. Indeed, it's become a major concern for retailers, says Bryan Roberts, an analyst with Kantar Retail.

"Even if you take a conservative estimate of £500 per store per year, and say there are 5,000 stores with self-service check-outs with cash back, that's £2.5 million already," he tells the Sunday Post.

"I don't think it is outrageous to suggest it would run into the millions of pounds."

As a result, supermarkets have been forced to introduce specific policies to deal with the issue.

Asda waits a week to see whether the money's claimed, and then hands it over to police. Sainsbury's keeps the cash for a month and then gives it to charity if it's unclaimed; Tesco waits 'a few months' and then does the same.

Morrisons, however, waits 13 weeks and then gives the money to the person that handed it in. This policy is based on the legal guidelines for the handling of lost property.

If you happen to find cash left behind at a self-service machine, you should be warned that hanging on to it is an offence - called 'theft by finding'. Last September, a Welsh woman was cautioned by police for helping herself to cash she found left behind.

"We would just like to advise shoppers to be careful when using self service tills and to remember to take items and any cashback with them," warned PCSO Peter Simpson.

"We would also like to remind people that they are stealing and committing a criminal offence by helping themselves to any money left behind and not handing the money over to a staff member."

There are now around 42,000 self service tills across the country. However, they remain highly unpopular with shoppers, with a survey last year revealing that an overwhelming 93% of people dislike them.

Tesco is attempting to make them less irritating, by scrapping the 'shouty' voice; and Morrisons has responded to customer feedback by switching an extra 1,000 staff to manned express checkouts, so that customers have more of a choice.

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