I was today approached in marks and spencer by a security guard who called me by name although I had never set eyes on him before. I was five or six years ago convicted of shoplifting at one of the local m and s stores although this was quoshed on appeal and I never had to opay the fine originally given to me. This man told me he had phoned his manager at the other local branch and I was not to shop in m and s again as I had been given a trespess letter. I told him I did not know what a trespess letter was and had never been given one and also that my appeal had succeeded and I had no conviction. He said I should correspond with head office and not to shop at any branch of m and s again. I don't understand how he knew me, which I find rather creepy. He was a big burly chap who I had never set eyes on. I have shopped in m and s for several years since the debarcle of being falsely accused, have never had any problems and have never been approached before. I was only in this branch today less than 110 minutes and this security guard seemed to pounce straight on to me, I wasn't doing anything wrong and find it very odd how he knew how I was or that I was indeed in the shop? All very big brother and worrying. I felt sick and came straight home on the bus. I phoned the CAB straight away and they told me to write to head office. Is this the correct thing to do. Please can someone advise. Thank you.

If you want to enter the store and were told to write the head office, explain the situation and ask permission, then that's what you have to do. Unless the merchant is discriminating against a class of people, race, religion, some other profile, I see no legal problem here.

Whether it's odd that the security guard spotted you and called you by name is immaterial.

Thank you for your reply and indeed I or my solicitor will write to Head Offic
e. It may be immaterial to the question as to how this security guard knew who I was or indeed that I was in the shop - all of ten minutes, not 110 as I previously typed - sorry error but it certainly is not nice to have big brother marks and spencer watching your every move when you haven't done anything and they have been more than happy to accept my money for the last three years with no issues or problems at all. Surely people have the right not to feel intimidated when they are going about their own business and not bothering anyone.

Private business - and you are in the UK and I am in the US so we very well may not be talking about the same thing - can and does have the right to tell anyone to stay out of a business establishment for any or no reason.

My late husband owned Pharmacies and we did have a list of people who were banned for arrests in other stores. Security did not intimidate anyone. Security just asked people to leave. If they didn't, they were arrested for trespassing.

At least here in the US, you may be denied entrance to a business if they do not want to serve you.

A tresspass warning is a notice not to shop at a store or be on a property any more. This can be verbal or in writing.
And this has to be given before you can be arrested or given a ticket for tresspass.

And 110 min in a store is almost 2 hours and is a long time.

Many stores have computers that monitor people coming in their store and compare them to photos of people who they have previously had trouble

Hi, thanks for your help. I did make a typing mistake and it should have read I was in the store only approx 10 minutes as just dashed in for some birthday cards. That was one of the things that spooked me, that it was all so quick.

Anyway, thanks again and will be taking the matter up with their Head Office just to clear my name. As it stands I don't feel I want to go in there again now but it would be nice to have the choice.

Also just to add again that I had frequently shopped at two branches of this shop since the original problem, having not had this trespass letter they speak of, the matter being resolved as far as I was concerned and going about my business as usual. This has been over some 2/3 years and at no time has anyone approached me or told me I should not be there and I have been in there frequently, not just the odd occasion. There have never been any problems, I have always been courteous and polite to people as they have to me. It seems so strange that out of the blue this has occurred when they have been happy to take my money all this time. I often meet or met friends there for coffee and or lunch. It just all seems extremely odd.

Many thanks for your replies.

It just all seems extremely odd.Hello c:

It doesn't seem odd to me. Facial recognition software is just coming into vogue. I'm sure they had your picture in their database and it worked. It matters not HOW long you were in the store. The fact that other stores in this chain haven't recognized you and this one did, doesn't mean anything either. Maybe they'll get the software later.

In any case, they're allowed to refuse service to you, if you're in the US. I don't know about the UK or Canada.

excon

PS> If you've ever been photographed for a drivers license, the cops know when you enter the airport. I wouldn't be surprised if they could identify you walking down the street. In MOST cities, if you're out and about, you're on some camera. What? You don't think they'd do that?? Bwa, ha ha ha.

Hi back

Yes am sure you are right. Obviously this facial recognition is a new thing I reckon and that must be what it is.

Will contact the head office as I said for all the good it'll do me but on pont of principle will give it a go.

Am sure your'e right about all those other cameras! Big brother is watching us all. C.