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  • Declined check becomes drive-off incident

    This story happened a week ago Friday during the evening rush. Both registers were going full blast. One of our regular sucktomers gets in my line to pay for $10 gas that he had just pumped. I can't stand this particular sucktomer because he is always rude and argumentative every visit. He is the typical crochety old fart who grumbles and groans whenever he doesn't get his way. Especially after this last stunt, I'm completely in favor of banning him permanently.

    Sucktomer presents a check to pay for his gas. I groan to myself knowing what's coming next. More often than not, Telecheck declines his checks. Then, I have to go through the hassle of telling him the check was declined. Every time, he gets huffy and protests that the check should be good. Finally, after several attempts to get this point through his thick skull, he either throws some cash down to pay for the purchase, or he storms off. Voiding transactions is not a big deal so long as I write the reason on the receipt. Moving the items to the back counter out of the way is the hardest part of that, and that's not difficult either.

    This time, however, sucktomer informs me that he has no other way to pay for the gas. I would have possibly been understanding had this been a fluke. However, his checks ALWAYS seem to be declined by Telecheck. I again tell him that he'll have to find some other way to pay. He again insists that he has no other way to pay. I've officially lost my patience with him at this point. I write down the information off his check and toss it back toward him. I'm mad enough that I don't care about politely handing it back to him. I write down his tag number and vehicle description. Then, I tell him again that he needs to find some way to pay for the gas. He again says that he can't pay for it because he has no money. So, I inform him that he will be reported as a drive-off if he leaves without paying for his gas. I'm sure as hell not going to take any sort of blame for a drive-off or any other shortage beyond my control. I have all the information I need for a drive-off report. He just keeps standing there looking blankly at me, insisting that he'll have to pay for it later.

    I call the manager to my register to explain the situation to her. She tells me what I already knew, call it in as a drive-off if he leaves without paying. Sucktomer then tells me that he could pay for it Wednesday, five days later. Manager tells him that's not good enough. It has to be paid TONIGHT. She walks off. Sucktomer just keeps standing there staring blankly at me while I'm talking to manager. Other customers are still waiting in line behind him even though my coworker on the other register is diverting them to his line as quickly as he can handle them. Coworker hands me a piece of paper with sucktomer's tag number on it. I thank him even though I'd already written it down. I'm beyond frustrated at such blatant stupidity. I tell sucktomer one last time that I have no choice but to turn him in as a drive-off since he has indicated a refusal to pay for his gas by another method. He nonchalantly replies that it's fine with him, and walks off. In disgust, I throw my "Register Closed" sign out, log out, and take my notes to the office to call the police.

    So, I call in the report hoping just to get a case number for my report. They want to send an officer to follow-up. I go talk to my manager, then return to the office to fill out our report. Officer arrives as I'm finishing the report. Officer interviews me, then coworker, and fills out his report. I go update manager after officer leaves.

    The rest of the night goes on uneventfully, thankfully.

    Then, on Sunday morning, sucktomer visits again. This time he wants to buy a bottle of orange juice. He hands me a bunch of change, insisting it's right. I can tell it's not just by looking at it, but I count it anyway. As I thought, it was 15 cents short. Sucktomer asks if he can have it anyway. I tell him no, and move the orange juice to the back counter. He goes and grabs a different brand, which is the same price. I already know without ringing it up. I just grab the bottle and slam it on the back counter. Sucktomer gets huffy because "I have a rotten attitude." I tell him that we just went over it. I grab the bottle, scan it, and point out that it's the same price. He asks if he can get something cheaper. I've had enough, so I tell him that he needs to leave now. He huffs up again, but leaves.

    An hour later, he comes in to get a lighter. He slams some change on the counter, and grabs a lighter. He has enough for the lighter he grabbed, and I'm fed up beyond belief with his antics. I scan the lighter, toss it on the counter, cash out, and scoop the change into the drawer. I don't even want to talk to him long enough to ask him if he paid for the gas. It's already out of my hands anyway. I have the reports to cover my butt, so I don't care any more. I just log off the register, and walk away to the coffee bar area. Sucktomer leaves without saying anything. Thankfully, he did not return for the rest of my weekend.

    Manager informed me later in the week that she has discussed the matter with regional manager. They've agreed that a permanent ban is in order. This is why I wish the company would get over being afraid to "inconvenience" whiny customers with making everyone prepay for gas. I'm sick to death of dealing with such nonsense at work.
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  • #2
    It's funny to me to think that prepaying for gas could be considered an inconvenience.

    Prepaying just makes sense.

    Even when it comes to restaurants I always kind of feel weird because I'm receiving a consumable product, which cannot be returned, before I've even paid for it.

    Every gas station should be pay then pump. Its how things have to be since so many people are selfish thieving jerks.

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    • #3
      Quoth jjllbb View Post

      Even when it comes to restaurants I always kind of feel weird because I'm receiving a consumable product, which cannot be returned, before I've even paid for it.
      I thought I was the only one :\
      Thou shalt not take the name of thy goddess Whiskey in vain.

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      • #4
        Quoth aurelemsrealm View Post
        This is why I wish the company would get over being afraid to "inconvenience" whiny customers with making everyone prepay for gas. I'm sick to death of dealing with such nonsense at work.
        Oh God - the fear of "inconveniencing" them - tell me about it! We have signs up at work asking customers not to be offended if we FOLLOW THE LAW and have quantity restrictions on certain products! I think it's very sad that we live in a world now that we have to apologise to customers for simply doing our job and complying with the law

        As for the customer in your story, you have a lot more patience with him than I would have had, and I hope the ban stays permanent and one of the higher-ups doesn't suddenly lose their spine and let him back in.

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        • #5
          Quoth jjllbb View Post
          It's funny to me to think that prepaying for gas could be considered an inconvenience.

          Prepaying just makes sense.

          Even when it comes to restaurants I always kind of feel weird because I'm receiving a consumable product, which cannot be returned, before I've even paid for it.

          Every gas station should be pay then pump. Its how things have to be since so many people are selfish thieving jerks.
          to be honest, it makes sense, but there isn't a single petrol station in England (that i know of) that does prepay, we are all so used to pump, then go in and pay.
          "You can only try so hard to look like you are working before actually doing your work seems easy in comparison" -My Boss

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          Me: ummm, I ....retent stuff?

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          • #6
            I'm a bit confused here. He was reported to the police as a drive-off, then came back a few days later and shopped? I would have called the police and had him arrested on the spot!

            And i agree, a perma-ban is definitely in order here.

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            • #7
              Why hasn't he been banned long before this? Would it be that your managers don't have a backbone?

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              • #8
                I have to admit, I am a person that dislikes pre-pay. Especially when I'm paying cash, because I have to estimate low instead of filling my tank completely. I will avoid pre-pay only stations for that reason if there is a place nearby that will let me pump first,then pay. (I also know which stations say pre-pay but will actually allow me to pump first during the day... I guess that makes me a bit of an SC.)

                But at the same time, if everyone just went to pre-pay, I'd adapt and deal, not fuss about it because I do understand the reason for it. Too many people taking advantage mess up any type of "honor" system.

                Hope the guy gets banned. It's nice when karma can hit the guilty party instead of just ruining things for everyone.

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                • #9
                  Sounds to me like he should be arrested, not just banned.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Prepay can be annoying, but I definitely understand the logic of it. Customers like the one in the OP are prime examples why as a whole, people cannot be trusted. However, in some stations that I have seen around a larger city, I kind of get annoyed with the prepay system they have in place. If you use cash, it's automatically prepay (obviously) and also a lower price. If you use credit, you pay more. I'm sure it has something to do with the fees that are paid to the credit card companies, but it's still bothers me. If I'm using a card, I have to swipe it first and then pump, which takes care of any drive-off danger, but I'm still penalized for it. I try to steer clear of those stations if I can help it, unless I'm using a set amount of money and not wanting to completely fill my tank.
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                    • #11
                      Now here is a comment from outside looking in...

                      about once a month my debt card flakes out and cant be used for 24 hours. I buy all my gas at the same place and when it flakes out, they always say. I have 24 hours to pay it off, and I always do.

                      its enough to make you pull your hair out sometimes...

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                      • #12
                        To be honest, I get nervous receiving product before paying as well. I usually try to make sure I have cash on me if I'm eating out, or I pay as I go (pubs, you have to). Just a few minutes ago, I had to fill my car up, and I was so antsy pumping without having paid (because I wanted to get a drink and some ice creamy goodness inside the convenience store, and would rather only pay once).
                        GK/Kara/Jester fangirl.

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                        • #13
                          My chain is a pump before you pay, it's the ONLY pump before you pay store in my area as all the other gas stations have switch to prepay only. However, our store will NEVER change to prepay only (but don't quote me) because our store slogan and motto is: "Why go anywhere else?"

                          Therefore it has become: "Why go anywhere else if you're a lying stealing jerk off?"

                          We've got specific forms for customers and us to fill out when someone comes in and cannot pay. However we cannot take anyone who is from out of state, they would have the same type of situation, they would HAVE to pay some way before they left or we would have to get the cops to chase them down.

                          We have a code...there are three kinds of drive offs:

                          1. "Oh shit, I forgot my cash!" These are usually $4.50 drive offs.
                          2. The ones that forget they didn't pay. These are usually $20.00 drive offs.
                          3. I came, I saw, I STOLE ALL YOUR GAS, TRY TO CATCH ME COPPERS!!! These are $67.84 drive offs.

                          The ones that REALLY irk me are the serial drive offs...right now there's a red Chevy Blazer that's going DOWN next time I see it. Muahahaha.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Quoth bankworking View Post
                            (I also know which stations say pre-pay but will actually allow me to pump first during the day... I guess that makes me a bit of an SC.)

                            Too many people taking advantage mess up any type of "honor" system.
                            Well, there is ONE station here that will let me pump, then pay (I literally pull up to the pump, wave to them, and they turn it on) -- but I VERY seldom do it. Thing is, I've been going there for TWENTY YEARS. I wouldn't even try it elsewhere >_<
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                            • #15
                              Ugh, sounds a lot like what I go through with gas sometimes at work. We have the ability to do prepay, if a customer asks, but normally, they pump first, then pay. The greatest one was when a guy actually went to court to fight a drive-off. He showed up in the same red truck, and the same outfit that he'd been in when he'd driven off with gas. (Now former) co-worker N was there to testify on our behalf, because she'd seen him that night. She all but laughed when he tried to claim that it wasn't him. It ended up costing dude not only the $30.00 in gas that he drove off with, but court fees and such as well!
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