Britannia_C

I took a 16 day tour of Spain and then returned to the Madrid Airport for my flight back home to Canada. I went into the above duty free store and was asked by a security guard to come with him. He brought me to the back of the store into a small room where a stern-looking woman was holding up an empty jewellery box. She said I was a thief and to give back what I had stolen. Paralyzed with fear, I began to say that I had no idea what was going on. She told me to shut my mouth or they would call the police. She dumped by bag contents on the floor, searched my person and found nothing. She looked at my passport and muttered something under her breath. After being humiliated and abused, I was told to pay for the item I stole. I did so just to get out of the store and catch my flight. I still do not know what was in the box. I have written to authorities, the store etc. and have not gotten any answers. I would like to know if this has ever happened to anyone else and what I could do in the future to prevent something like this. My flight was leaving very soon and I couldn't risk missing it. Any input would be great. I don't know if the Aldeassa has a BBB type organization because I would like to lodge a complaint.

annesherrod

I am stunned. It sounds like a scam but how do they get away with that at the airport. I was just at that airport several weeks ago.
I think i would have pushed them out of my way and walked out quickly but that is me. ... especially since they found nothing on you.

I am so sorry that happened to you. I wish i had more siggestions for you.

Britannia_C

My last resort was to contact the store directly in Madrid. I don't expect to hear anything. The two people were towering over me and I am a small woman. I was too shocked to do anything.
I was also in a small locked room. I would love to get to the bottom of this and would welcome any help that I could get.

november_moon

Hopefully you paid with a credit card - then you could at least take it up with the credit card company and have the charge reversed.

I have heard of similar things happening in US malls - including the shakedown.

For advice about what to do in the future should something like this occur - NEVER go into a back room with store personnel or security. Anything that needs to be handled, should be handled in plain sight. By going into the back, you have no witesses and you have given away your control over the situation. When you are in the public area of the store, you are free to walk away and if they want to detain you, then they will have to make a scene to do it. Anyone trying to perpetrate a scam does not want a scene.

If store personnel or security insist that you have stolen something, then insist that they call the police - even if waiting for the police will inconvinience you - do it anyway. If it is a scam, then this should make them stop hassling you right then and there. If they truely believe you have stolen something, then wait for the police to arrive and have the police search your belongings. Never let store personnel or security touch your things.

In this case, when they threatened to call the police and you didn't tell them to go ahead and call them, they probably figured you were either guilty of something and they could use the threat of the police against you or that you were easily intimidated. Sounds like the second guess was correct.

Britannia_C

Thanks for your reply november moon. Hopefully, I won't encounter this again and if I do, I will know what to do! My credit card company will not reverse the charge since I cannot prove anything.

scotinlatam

This sounds very strange . Aldeasa are a very serious company. Let me make some calls tomorrow and hopefully I can get some information for you.

Britannia_C

Thank you very much!!!

fmpden

.....My credit card company will not reverse the charge since I cannot prove anything......

I would do a like further checking. It is my understanding that the merchant has to prove it is a valid charge - not you disprove it. Also I would call it fraud.

Britannia_C

This happened on October 23/10 at the Duty-Free Terminal 1.

Britannia_C

To Scotinlatam: Here is some more information: TIme: 09:47 Date: 23/10/2010 Terminal 504 ALDEASA DFT447 SHOP - F F SCHENGEN NIF A84205863 Ticket 53853 Caj 02415 Pos 2.

Melnq8

Wow.

I would have asked for the police.

I learned never to go into the little room at the airport while living in Indonesia. That's where the shake downs happened.

Britannia_C

Until now, believe it or not, I had never heard of a shake down! Is it just to get their anger out, have their power trip and humiliate and abuse you. Actually, I can't sleep tonight because i am still seeing the mean face of the woman that terrified me, made me drop to my knees to put things back into my backpack. She took me by the arm to the cash register and forced me to pay. It is truly a nightmare.

joannyc

How much did you pay at the cash register and what does the receipt itemize the article to be?

Britannia_C

46.00 majorica SS TU-Y

joannyc

While you were in the store, did you happen to notice if their pearl jewelry was out in the open or in locked cases?

lincasanova

so it seems we have some sticky finger security guards that like to steal items then make unsuspecting tourists pay for them.

xmas is near.. this is a good heads up. I am also shocked and will notify my family to NEVER go into the back of a store and insist police be called.

Thanks for posting.

Was this T2 or T4? It would be good to have them investigate these two guards.. they may have a little business set up. hope they get caught.

Britannia_C

The pearl jewellery was out in the open.

lincasanova

T2 ( terminal 2)

Britannia_C

It was in Terminal 1

josele

Why on earth did you "pay for the item you stole"? Thus you are admitting implicitly you stole it, it is a written evidence against you. Then, why should your credit card company return you the money? Why should Aldeasa apologise? Why should anybody believe you?
BTW, Rocio is a woman's name.