(When customers pre-pay for gas with a credit card, but their vehicle won’t take as much as they’ve put on it, the system automatically refunds the remaining portion onto the card that was used. This conversation takes place near the end of a 10-hour shift.)
Customer: *in a not-so-nice tone* “I sent a kid in here earlier to get gas and he only pumped $17, but I was charged for $25. Why was I over-charged?”
Me: *looks at his receipt* “Oh, well, it looks like they pre-paid for gas and it was charged to a credit card. The remaining portion would have been automatically refunded to your card.”
Customer: “I need a receipt showing that it refunded.”
Me: “I am so sorry, sir, but I can only print receipts for the past 10 transactions, and it looks like the kid you sent in got gas well over two hours ago. There isn’t a way for me to pull it up.”
Customer: “Well how the h*** am I supposed to know that it refunded? How do I know you didn’t steal my money?”
Me: “As soon as the nozzle on the pump is hung back up, it refunds automatically. You could actually call your credit company right now, and it would show that the balance is there.”
Customer: “No! I will not call them! I want you to show me proof right now that you didn’t steal my money!”
Me: “As I just said, there is nothing I can do. It’s been several hours since this transaction took place, so I can’t look it up. I assure you, if you would just call…”
Customer: “I need you to write down that I only pumped $17 worth of gas and sign it so I can dispute it when it charges me $25 on my bill!”
Me: “Sir, I have no idea how much gas you pumped, so I will not sign anything saying you only pumped $17. Furthermore, you’ve been yelling at me for over three minutes during a very busy time and I’m the only person here to ring out the 12 people behind you. I’ve told you that all you have to do is call the number on the back of the card to verify that you were only charged for what you pumped, and yet you’re still unsatisfied. The only other thing I can offer is that you call our customer service center and file a complaint. The number, and our store number are posted right beside you, and my name is on your receipt from earlier.”
Customer: *shoves a pen and his receipt in my face* “I’m not leaving until you write a statement about my gas and sign it!”
Me: “If you don’t leave, I will call the police to escort you from the premise.”
(Just then, one of our regulars, who is a police officer and in uniform, walks in. I sigh in relief, but the customer doesn’t notice.)
Customer: “You WILL write down that I only pumped $17. I’m not going anywhere!”
Me: “Hey, [Officer], could you do me a favor?”
Officer: “That depends… What is it?”
(The customer looks over at the officer, back at me, and scrambles out the door.)
Me: “Never mind; he left on his own.”