aldi.co.uk

My dyslexic father was abused and screamed at.

My dyslexic father was abused and screamed at in the west malling branch this evening, for a mistake he made due to being unable to read or write. He was not aware vapes were not allowed in stores, and could not read any of the signs, so instead of the manager kindly coming up to us and saying "Hi guys, sorry but no vapes allowed in stores please" - he proceeded to run up to us with a cruel and aggressive tone of voice, spoke to us like criminals and called my dyslexic father "sick" for "breaking the law". He wouldn't let neither me or my father talk, although he decided to speak in such an aggressive and dismissive tone and provoked us, walking away. I kindly asked him, as a manager, to please listen to us as customers, that my father is dyslexic, that we would never break any store policy or law intentionally to which he again, said he isn't "stupid enough to believe that" and call us liars. Again, aggressive in tone, getting in close proximity to our faces. I literally begged this man, calmly, to please believe that we would never do something like that knowingly, that my father is dyslexic and cannot read or write, so isn't aware of generally new laws and this man, twice my size, was treating me, a woman with mental illness, like vermin. He was being aggressive in tone, in mannerism, in body language. Mocking us, demeaning us, belittling us, refusing to believe me, speaking to me which such aggression that my father became really upset, stepped up to him and told him to never speak to any woman or person like that because it was so abusive. Again, the male manager walked off, claiming he had called the police for defending ourselves. Female staff members stood around, watching this male manager embarrass me in front of customers, be aggressive and shout at me and my father, one of them even looking at me, a fellow woman, like I should be ashamed of myself or like I was the one in the wrong, berating us for "shouting around kids" when the male manager had literally been aggressive and shouting at us in front of kids. Not one staff members stepped in to de-escalate the situation or to tell the male manager he had been unfair and grossly aggressive from his very first interaction with us and were just victim blaming and belittling. As we tried to leave the store, a female staff members walks nearby and my father told her he had no idea. She began to almost laugh at us, pointing at a tiny sign hidden in the corner, calling us liars again to which I had to shout three times that my father is dyslexic and cannot read or write, so how would he have been able to understand it? He had to step over the railing to defend himself calmly and explain he was dyslexic, but instead, another female staff member came running over saying "hey hey!" as if my dad was doing anything but calmly defending himself. Is this how Aldi treats it's neurodivergent customers? with aggression and contempt for a human mistake made by someone who cannot read or write to know about store policy or generally new laws?Why was my dad apologising at the start, saying he had no idea and would never do it again, not enough? Why, from the get go did the male manager think it was okay to be so aggressive in tone and body language, to call my father sick for being dyslexic and unknowing due to not being able to read or write and treat me, a woman whom he is twice the size of, like a horrible criminal with his bullying and aggressive way of speaking and getting in people's personal space? It was incredibly traumatic and distressing when I have shopped here for two years and never had any issues, have never broken any store rules or policy and have never been anything but abiding. Why would I have never made any mistakes in store yet suddenly witness someone else do it and lie about now knowing store policy or about my father being severely dyslexic?It's all very appalling and has sparked a mental and nervous breakdown.The male manager was twice the size of me or my father and was one of those men with muscles and an ego the size of the statue of liberty. He looked down upon me and my father from the moment the incident happen and called us "sick" for "breaking a law" we genuinely knew nothing about and was incredibly abusive and aggressive, talking to people in a way no human being should be spoken to. No benefit of the doubt, no understanding - just dismissive, abusive, aggressive, demeaning, belittling, like he was better than us just because a dyslexic man who cannot read or write knew nothing about a store policy or generally new law. I don't think this man would have even spoken to an extreme criminal in the same way he did to both me and my father. Grossly unprofessional, abusive and cruel. Shall never shop there ever again, not that I would be allowed due to something entirely out of my control. Inhumane.

Date of experience: May 25, 2024