Corner shop ban on malicious customer?
Discussion
We have a nearby corner shop run by a Sri Lankan family who we have helped out from time to time understanding officialdom - form filling, that sort of thing. They're a really lovely family who go out of their way to help and look after the community, especially local OAPs. However, there is one old dear who is a bit batty but is malicious with it. She claimed some food was out of date though it was pointed out that was a a 'sell by' date with a day to run and she bought it (my O/H happened to be in the shop at this time). A few days later she returned, claiming eating it had made her ill and was going to report them but wouldn't if they gave her half a bottle of brandy - which they did, afraid of the trouble she might start.
Today, they found a freezer unplugged after she had been in and are checking their CCTV; they are convinced she did it.
My questions are: can they ban her from the shop? Can they put up a notice naming her and stating that she is banned?
They really don't deserve s
t like this, they've already been subject to vandalism and racial slurs, it makes my bood boil that some of the most hard working, kindest, thoughtful people I know should be victimised.
Today, they found a freezer unplugged after she had been in and are checking their CCTV; they are convinced she did it.
My questions are: can they ban her from the shop? Can they put up a notice naming her and stating that she is banned?
They really don't deserve s
t like this, they've already been subject to vandalism and racial slurs, it makes my bood boil that some of the most hard working, kindest, thoughtful people I know should be victimised.bhstewie said:
hstewie said: In simply so I can keep up with comments but my understanding is you can refuse to serve anyone you like so long as it isn't discriminatory.
Putting up a sign saying "Doris Smith is barred" is, I'm guessing, unacceptable.
I can't see it being any different from a pubPutting up a sign saying "Doris Smith is barred" is, I'm guessing, unacceptable.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertyc...
You or they may enjoy watching this program I watched on BBC4 the other night about corner shops.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0864zn9/time...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0864zn9/time...
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: In simply so I can keep up with comments but my understanding is you can refuse to serve anyone you like so long as it isn't discriminatory.
Putting up a sign saying "Doris Smith is barred" is, I'm guessing, unacceptable.
A couple of decades ago my local (like a few others) had a chalkboard displaying the names of those currently banned up in the entrance as you approached the bar. At one time my girlfriend was on the list. Quite rightly.Putting up a sign saying "Doris Smith is barred" is, I'm guessing, unacceptable.
I owned a retail / service shop in a city centre for a while, and I happily banned two people in that time for being rude to my staff. That said, I didn't have their names and mugshots publicly displayed - that would probably be against the rules!
A shop, despite having an implied right of public access for obvious reasons, is still a privately-owned entity and as such, you would be withing your rights to not allow anyone in, as long as it isn't on the grounds of discrimination such as racist etc.
A shop, despite having an implied right of public access for obvious reasons, is still a privately-owned entity and as such, you would be withing your rights to not allow anyone in, as long as it isn't on the grounds of discrimination such as racist etc.
Yes they can ban her for as long as they like.
Customers always have this misconception they are always right, that is false.
A shop might be open, it might have stock on the shelf and it might be priced. However the shop can choose not to sell you that if they wish.
Unless it's discrimination of course, which in this case it is not.
There is no contract, there is no legal right to buy the stock.
Customers always have this misconception they are always right, that is false.
A shop might be open, it might have stock on the shelf and it might be priced. However the shop can choose not to sell you that if they wish.
Unless it's discrimination of course, which in this case it is not.
There is no contract, there is no legal right to buy the stock.
Riley Blue said:
Update: the old dear was banned after she hooked over a display with her walking stick. Apparently she's also been in the shop shouting that it smells of blood in there and last night someone covered the shop front in tomato soup. It looks like a restraining order may be needed.
Looks like she need sectioning not restraining.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Sounds as though she has mental illness or other problems - that's beyond nastiness. Hope the shopkeepers are OK - nothong worse than bigotry, whatever the cause.
The police have been involved so hopefully a friendly word will be sufficient to stop her being a nuisance in the future. It's ironic that the shop owners go out of their way to cater for OAPs only to be repaid in this way by one of them.
Well the Police shouldn't have any trouble finding her, as we all know her name is Doris Smith 
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