The "I'm dying" Card

[Anakah]

To me this was a whole new low.

All right this guy comes to my window to get money off of his credit card. He already ran it through the atm and it sent him to us because he didn't use a pin and for a security precaution they're sent to us.

Me: Okay, I need the card that you used and your ID please.

Whips out the card but only flashes his ID really fast. I knew that would be trouble because he wouldn't let me see it.

Me: I'm sorry I need you to take out the card.

He finally handed it to me and it turned out his card expired in 2006. Crapola. In the cage his ID is pretty much useless. Invalid.

I sighed heavily and told him I'd be right back while I went to the supervisor. I KNEW we couldn't take it but I had to let the SV know because I had a feeling it'd be a big issue.

So I go to the SV who says no but runs it by the head honcho cage manager who also says no.

I go back out there and thats where the fun beings.

Me: Unfortunately your ID expired two years ago. It's considered an invalid form of ID.

SC: What about my money??

Me: Well, it will drop out of our system within a few hours and will return to your card in a few days.

(I HATE telling them that. I always feel awful that their money is hanging in limbo and I can't get it for them)

SC: I want your supervisor.

I knew that was coming.

SV comes out and explains to the guy the situation and the guys friend comes out and says something that had me fuming.

SC2: You should just give him the money, he has cancer he's dying in five years.

Me:

SV told him he'd get the cage manager.

Enter CM.

By this point I had to walk away because he was talking all about his chemo, in and out of hospitals and I started to tear up. For personal reasons.

I came back and found out they still told him no.

SC: But I've been going back and forth on a plane. They didn't care! I have the extentsion but its in my car in CA!

The CM and SV were very patient with him but our policy wasn't built around such variables. I honestly felt horrible for this man. I really did. I think it was really crappy to say that but I also probably would've done it for him but it could've been a lie.

Finally the guy gets pissed and yells at my supervisor: I don't need anything from you, screw this!

I suddenly wondered had I just changed the expiration date on the program none of this would've happened but I had to do my job.

You'd think that was the end...

They come back a few hours later when the CM went home and only had the SV.

Later I see the men again. They came straight to my window--lucky me.

SC: Can we fax the extentsion to you?

ME: Um, I'm not sure let me find out.

I went o the SV and he said okay.

Went back out there and said yes. Now they called his daughter and had her try to fax it over. By this time I was on lunch break and just got to watch.

The daughter must've been sending the fax wrong because it came back blank everytime she did it. I wondered if she had it wrong side up.

The cage manager told SV NOT to let them cash anything but...

After dealing with these guys for four hours, SV finally gave in and gave them the money. They were never seen again. But said thanks and left.

I honestly don't know if he was for real about the dying thing but if so I feel so bad for the guy. I don't think it was appropriate to throw that in there but if I were dying that soon I wouldn't want a big hassle either.

I don't know if he was sucky but it was a horrible ordeal and I hate to tell him but the casino doesn't care if you're dying, blind or anything else, the rules are set for everybody and doesn't allow circumstance. It's cold and horrible but thats a business. I'm glad I don't run one. I couldn't tell someone no after hearing a story like that. I'm glad he got the money. I hope I don't sound cold or anything I'm just saying how the casino's rules are.

[Gerrinson]

They were lying about the cancer. 5 years to kill you and it can't be treated? Yeah, no. 5 weeks/months maybe, but not years.

[marasbaras]

I've always wondered: Why is ID invalid if it has expired? It's not like after my driver's license expires that I suddenly change my face. Does anyone know?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I agree. That guy was full of it.

Using something that awful to try to get special treatment? Nice.

Don't feel bad for that guy. That's what he wanted you to do, feel bad. He sucks.

[Eireann]

He has cancer and he knows he's going to die in exactly five years?

Yeah, right. Diagnoses are never that precise.

[hinakiba777]

5 years is a long time to KNOW you're dying of cancer. It's possible to have cancer that long and just get lucky not die. But I don't think any doctor would actually give a cancer patient 5 years to live.

[tollbaby]

either way, whether it was true or not, it was completely irrelevant to the situation.

Besides, if the guy is dying in five years, then he has more than enough time to wait a couple of days for the money to be returned to his card. (not to sound callous, but throwing that in there was really sucky of them).

[gunsage]

Depending on the casino, you could've told him "Oh you're dying, eh? You know...we have some people...in the back...that can help you with that." Suddenly, The Godfather music starts playing...SC darts out the door.

Edit: Just a thought, really...what if scamming you was on his bucket list?

[Dips]

Wow. What most of us wouldn't give to have 5 years notice of our impending doom.

If I knew I had five years left to live, I sure wouldn't waste time grumbling at casino cashiers.

[donruss]

I've always wondered: Why is ID invalid if it has expired? It's not like after my driver's license expires that I suddenly change my face. Does anyone know?

Umm, not to be sucky here but that is what the term expired means.

ex·pire /ɪkˈspaɪər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ik-spahyuhr] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -pired, -pir·ing.
–verb (used without object)
1. to come to an end; terminate, as a contract, guarantee, or offer.
2. to emit the last breath; die.
3. to breathe out.
4. to die out, as a fire.
–verb (used with object)
5. to breathe out; emit (air) from the lungs.
6. Archaic. to give off, emit, or eject.

[Ree]

I don't think any doctor would actually give a cancer patient 5 years to live.

Actually, that's pretty much what the doctor told my mother.
She has carcinoids in her liver, and he told her that the average survival rate is 5 years.

I doubt he was told he had exactly 5 years to live, but with his type of cancer, he was probably told the odds for survival, based on statistics and averages.