A mother was left 'disgusted' over claims she and her son were told they couldn't pay with change at a toy store. Emily White, 26, said the issue arose when she tried to pay for a toy airplane and a tea set from Smyths Toys Superstores, at the Portland Retail Park in Mansfield, on behalf of her two-year-old son on November 24.
But when she tried to pay with change, which the boy had saved up, she said she was told she needed to pay by card or go to the nearest cash machine. She claims staff at the store told her and her mother, who was also present, that there was a limit of £10 for people trying to use coins to buy items. This, according to Emily, was the store's policy.
Emily, who lives in Sutton-in-Ashfield, explained she'd taken her son to spend money he'd saved in a money tin. She said she'd separated the money beforehand "so it wasn't just small change".
Read more: Police issue message to speeding drivers
"I took [my son] to Smyths to pick what he wanted. We were walking round, he was fishing what he wants, we get to the till. My mum pulled out the bag with the money in and the worker is like 'I can't take that'. We said 'what do you mean?'
"She said it again and said she'd get someone over to explain it to us. So someone came over and said 'sorry, we can't take that but there's a cash machine at the Sainsbury's'."
But Emily, who was left stunned, said the Sainsbury's was a fair distance away. "They [Smyths staff] said 'come back, pay for the toys, and then it's all sorted'. Well obviously at that point my mum was questioning what was happening.
"We were told there was a £10 limit in how much you can spend in pound coins. So I just got my card out and paid for it on my card, as you would because I didn't want my child to go without. I just think it's a bit disgusting that my child is three in February and he needs to learn the value of money and that's how they dealt with it."
Emily's stepdad Peter Kirk, 52, who also lives in Sutton-in-Ashfield, said the money the young boy had saved consisted of mainly pound coins and 50ps. He added: "The Sainsbury's where the cash machine is in Mansfield is some trek. It's so far, I couldn't believe it. It's disgusting." Nottinghamshire Live has contacted the Smyths chain for comment.
Why not sign up to one of our newsletters by clicking here to keep up with all the latest news from across Nottinghamshire.
