Rita Seymour: Great-grandmother banned from Sainsbury’s for life over Euromillions ticket row
A great-grandmother was left “distraught” and feeling like a “guilty” after being banned for life from all Sainsbury’s stores following an alleged row with an employee.
Pensioner Rita Seymour, 79, has claimed she was accused of being “rude” when she tried to buy a Euromillions Lotto ticket. He claimed a member of staff then began “yelling” at him and accused him of “pinch” his shopping before escorting him out of the store.
Ms Seymour said she had been informed that the ban was being implemented nationwide due to “inappropriate” behavior during “a number of events that have occurred over time”. However, the great-grandmother vehemently denies that further events occurred.
Ms Seymour, who has lived in Hook, Hants, since 1981, visits her hometown Sainsbury’s store once a week to shop.
But he is no longer allowed into his local supermarket after he was banned by the store chain over accusations that he was rude to a member of staff.
Ms Seymour, who works in customer service, said: “This really upsets me, I have done nothing wrong.
“It’s a terrible thing to feel inside, I can’t get in there anymore. It’s like being a criminal.”
Sainsbury’s’ tough action followed Ms Seymour’s visit to the supermarket in June for her weekly shopping; During this visit Mrs Seymour usually spent between £80 and £100 on shopping.
Ms Seymour, whose husband is disabled, said she paid for her shop before going to the small goods counter to buy Euromillions Lottery tickets.
The mother of one, who has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, said she asked staff several times for her lottery ticket but received no response.
He said he then heard the staff member talking through his headset and saying ‘this customer is being rude to me’.
The pensioner said store managers then began ‘yelling’ and ‘waving their arms’ before attempting to activate a body-worn camera, with Ms Seymour admitting pushing the camera out of the woman’s hand and onto the floor.
He said: “I’m not the guilty party, I didn’t mistreat her. I [nearly] I’m 80 years old, I don’t cause trouble with anyone.
“I’ve been in customer service all my life and I’ve never been spoken to that way.”
He said staff asked him if he had “troubled” him while shopping, but he showed him the receipt before being escorted out of the store.
Ms Seymour, who has heart disease, said she was ‘very surprised’ by the incident.
He said when he returned the next day he was given a letter stating: ‘The invitation to enter and shop at any Sainsbury’s or Argos stores, including their adjoining grounds, petrol stations or car parks, has been permanently withdrawn.’
He said: “I was so shocked I was shaking when I left, I could have cried.
“They shook my confidence, I wanted to hide, I didn’t know who to turn to to fix this.”
Ms Seymour complained to Sainsbury’s South head office, but she said staff responded by saying they were on her side.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said it ‘takes all forms of abusive and inappropriate behavior seriously’.
Now she faced a 30-minute walk to shop at Tesco, while Sainsbury’s was just eight minutes from her home.
He is determined to fight the ban, describing himself as an ‘ordinary customer’.
“I never lie. I have lived here for 45 years, there is no flaw in my character. I never lie.”
“I’m not a troublemaker, but I won’t stand to be treated like that. Why would I put up with that?”
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We want everyone who shops with us to feel welcome and our colleagues work hard to create a positive experience in store.
“We take any abusive or inappropriate behavior seriously and following a series of incidents over time, the decision has been made to revoke this individual’s right to shop at our Hook store.
“This action is not taken lightly, but the safety and well-being of colleagues and customers always comes first.”
Ms. Seymour said she was not involved in any other incidents at the store.
