Take Note: A Copy Of Something Will Copy It
(I work at a business that offers free notary service. A woman comes into my office to have some forms notarized. She has partially filled out one of the forms incorrectly, with the wrong person’s name, which means I cannot notarize that document.)
Customer: “I have this form I need notarized, but I filled it out incorrectly. Can I just cross through it and refill it, please?”
Me: “I’m sorry, no, not for a document that needs notarizing.”
Customer: “Okay, just make a copy, then, and I’ll fill it out correctly.”
Me: “Ma’am, I cannot notarize a copy of it either.”
Customer: “WHY NOT? MAKE ME A COPY SO I CAN FILL IT OUT CORRECTLY AND NOTARIZE IT!”
Me: “A copy will still have the incorrect information on it; I’d be making an exact copy of what you’re holding.”
Customer: “NO! Make me a copy and I can refill it out.”
Me: “That’s not possible.”
(She left after threatening to move her accounts elsewhere. I don’t think she ever understood what a “copy” meant.)
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
