West Norwood Iceland store hides its trolleys in t...

West Norwood Iceland store hides its trolleys in the corner of the departing alley - in the corner - so you have to fight leaving shoppers to get one - impossible during peak times.

I normally take a Sainsbury's elephant bag which I empty at the till - and theatrically turn it upside down to show it is empty. I then transfer the items into a wheeled trolley when they have passed through the scanner. I have done this for years and years and years. It's only relatively recently that I actually spotted the wire trolleys in the corner.

On this occasion I had filled the Sainsbury's bag with six cartons of four-packs of a soft drink and to save the till woman's back I let her see the items to count if she wishes - still on the belt, then carry them through for her. Something I have always done for heavy items.

The security man had previously advised me that I shouldn't do this and I said ok - but he didn't like being told I had done it for years and said he would throw me out if I did it again. Gross rudeness - I asked for his name and he replied 'Ian'.

He then stalked me to the till and proceeded to lounge on the trolleys at the exit right by the till which I had waited an age to get to. When I arrived he proceeded to talk across me to 'Alice' - the till woman. Unbeknown to me he had advised Alice that he wanted to search the bag so she refrained from even starting the scan - I had told her there were six packs in the bag. I also jokingly asked her to tell 'Security' to shut up! At which point she told me that she had to let the Security man do his thing. My trolley on wheels was wide open and empty and the Sainsbury's bag was physically checked and the Security man satisfied himself that all was in order - whereapon he gave Alice the all clear to process my shopping.

I said that this was a prickly Security man to which she replied "well you did tell him to shut up". Unfortunately this man then asked "Did he tell me to shut up?" - so I responded that I didn't like his shouting and making a scene and to address me with the usual forms of courtesy - and then added that customers pay his wages and this hardly encouraged them to come back. To which he sarcastically replied that "Sorry, but I thought I was paid by my Security company" and leant forward so I could see the label 'Cordant Security'.

On finding out that I had told him to shut up - he then proceeded to remove my shopping from the belt side to the exit hopper and said he wanted me to leave - In full view of many many customers who were most inconvenienced as they all had to shuffle across to join the other queue.

While he was doing this I appealed to the Supervisor serving in the next queue and asked "Are you going to allow him to do this?". She pulled out a pen and pad and said I should write down my contact details.

He then handed me my folded Sainsbury's bag and I left - but not without telling the waiting, patient customers that '"Scuritee didn't like being told to shut up - but sarcasm is allowed".

Now my understanding is that before you can be searched a Security guard has to 'see' you shoplift before he can 'assault' you legally. On what grounds can a security guard evict you from a shop? The Supervisor seemed helpless. Since when does a Security guard have this power?

'Ian' from Cordant Security has a training need for dealing politely with customers - and when he handed back my folded bag I was wary that he may have planted something to justify this scene. However he hadn't. How come? Well I wouldn't put it past someone so ignorant of retail law of doing such a thing - but maybe he will next time such is his ignorance? It must have been a disappointment that he couldn't find any other reason to eject me.

I was unable to give my contact details as I was ushered humiliatingly out of the door - I will be taking legal advice on this treatment and Iceland have not heard the end of this.

One of the Google feedback postings says "Cordant Security is a rude lying company.... " . I'm surprised that Iceland employ such people.