Unsafe and Unreasonable Treatment of Customer – Woodmead Branch

My husband was inside the store actively shopping. I was standing stationary in one corner of the store with my two minor children seated in a shopping trolley. I was not moving through the store, causing disruption, or obstructing staff or customers. I remained inside the store solely due to legitimate safety concerns, as I did not feel it was safe to stand outside alone with two young children. I was instructed by a staff member to leave the store on the basis that trolleys were not permitted. I wish to place on record that no signage was displayed on the store window, entrance, or inside the premises indicating that trolleys are prohibited. This policy was therefore not reasonably communicated to customers. A male staff member acknowledged my safety concerns and appeared understanding; however, he stated that the cashier would “make a noise” if I remained in the store. Shortly thereafter, the cashier spoke sternly and dismissively to her colleague, insisting that we leave the store immediately. No reasonable accommodation or alternative solution was offered. Expecting a parent to leave a retail premises and stand outside alone with minor children is unreasonable, unsafe, and contrary to basic duty-of-care principles, particularly in a high-crime environment. The conduct of the cashier was intimidating and unprofessional and reflects a failure in customer service standards, staff training, and the reasonable consideration of child safety. This treatment caused unnecessary distress and was entirely inconsistent with the standards expected of a national retail brand.