Check Chaos

[Dreamstalker]

I was on register, one of the two that seem to consistently have issues.

Today, the register was more or less fine (if you count the scanner scale being TOO sensitive as 'fine' <_<) but the MICR (check validating/printing machine) was deciding not to read checks. All I do is ask P (at the next register) a quick: 'what do I do if the check machine's not working?' and before AN could come over and show me what to do, A flies in. I know how to manually enter the check info, but not the exact key sequence to do it or even if I should. According to A the answer is yes. Complicating matters is the fact that the register is deciding to lag between keystrokes, so I can't enter info as fast as A is telling me to and when I do, it throws an error and I have to start over (A seems to think she needs to hover for everything, which causes me to get flustered and mess up, which causes her to get patronizing and hover more...).

Eventually it works. As the check has not been electronically validated, we have to keep it and the customer gets a receipt with the check info we input (normally the check is printed, customer gets it back and we keep a Telecheck slip with the signature).

SC: "Where's my check?"
Me: Ma'am, the machine isn't working properly so we need to keep the check. All the info you need is right on this receipt."
SC: (in that 'a-ha' suspicious tone) "I never had to do that before. Give me my check!"
Me: "I can't ma'am, policy is to keep any check that didn't go through the system."
SC: "You're stealing my account info!"

Lather, rinse, repeat. Finally I point her wrath over to where A is standing and say as sweetly as I can: "I'm only doing what my manager tells me, ma'am. You can take it up with her if you feel there is a problem." I didn't get to hear what else happened as AN commanded me to go on break (he wasn't amused that I hadn't had a break yet), but D later told me that the customer stormed out.

[PepperElf]

wow. i guess she never used checks until the last decade eh? cos that's how it use to be for all checks

[Arcus]

I stopped using checks around the time they made the change over. Now on the rare time I need to use a check I forget that they don't keep them anymore.

[bainsidhe]

I'm surprised they still allow you to key in checks manually. Our store used to, but sneaky fraudsters would just give us fake checks. Fake checks can sneak in, because they have no history of bouncing. That or the checks used some poor sap's stolen info. Either way, scanning the check would catch the fraud while keying it manually would not. So eventually we couldn't take checks if they didn't scan and get authorized by our system.

[Dreamstalker]

I didn't even think we were allowed to do it either; we can't enter credit cards by hand (fraud concerns), so why checks? The mind boggles.

So many policies there that seem counterproductive and/or directly contradict another policy...

[MoonCat]

If you wanted to steal her account info, you'd have the numbers even if you didn't keep the check, wouldn't you?

[Dreamstalker]

Only if it was somehow jotted down. At the bookstore I developed a bizarre ability to remember/match card numbers and CVV digits after looking at a given card twice (useless, but intriguing skill).