Anthony Taylor was told not to return
09:24, 02 Nov 2025
Anthony Taylor outside his local Aldi store, where he is now banned(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A pensioner has been banned by Aldi after a disagreement with staff – including a checkout worker he said ‘needed to go to Specsavers’.
Both Anthony Taylor, 75, and his wife Regina, 65, have been told they cannot return to the supermarket.
Aldi says the couple were ‘abusive’ to staff inside the Merseyside store, but Anthony insists they did nothing wrong.
The couple say they regularly shopped at the Aldi supermarket on Washington Parade, in Bootle, since it opened around a decade ago.
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But their monthly stock-up of groceries turned sour earlier this month when they got to the till, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Anthony claims the couple usually bulk buy their items, and when doing so they only unload one of each item, before telling staff how many they have in their trolley.
Aldi on Washington Parade in Bootle(Image: Liverpool Echo)
But after being told to unpack their entire trolley on October 4, Anthony – who says he has osteoarthritis – refused.
Anthony, who met his wife while working in South Africa before moving to Merseyside, said: “The member of staff demanded that we had to empty the trolley.
“She said she couldn’t see what was in the trolley so I said she needed to go to Specsavers. If she could not see what was in the trolley she needs glasses.
“The manager then came over and took the trolley from us and told us to leave the store. I know it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things but there I had put a pound in the trolley so I went back in and I asked for the pound back.”
Anthony admitted becoming involved in a disagreement with the staff member but Aldi claims the couple became verbally abusive towards staff.
A spokesperson for the supermarket chain explained that the normal policy for the company is that all items need to be scanned at the till for accuracy, which is common practice for most supermarkets.
The spokesperson admitted store staff were not aware of Anthony’s back problem but said Aldi will support customers where they can with additional assistance.
The spokesperson told the Echo: “Our colleagues work hard to provide great customer service, and we don’t tolerate any form of abusive behaviour in our stores.
“In line with our policy, all products must be scanned through the till at point of sale, however, our colleagues are always happy to assist customers who may need a little extra help.”
Anthony said: “I am very old school. I’m old enough to have been brought up in a very different era, an era where you do not swear in front of women.
Anthony admits he is ‘very old school’(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“We are embarrassed and we are incensed by it, that is why we came to the Echo. We have shopped there since the store opened and now we are travelling three or four miles to get our shopping.”
Anthony admitted when security stepped in during the heated exchange in the Bootle store, he said ‘get your f*****g hands off me’ as he claims he was concerned about losing his balance.
The couple said: “We just want an apology and to be able to do our shopping at our local Aldi.”
It’s understood the couple remain barred from the store.
