This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 48

(I work at a popular clothing store where we also offer a brand credit card. We currently have a card-only coupon available to customers. I’m just finishing up a transaction with a customer, who has told me she has a card with us, but doesn’t have it with her. We do look-ups by social security number.)

Me: “Okay, so just enter your social right there and we should be able to pull the account up for you so you can use that coupon!”

(The customer enters her SSN, and the register pops up with a message saying that there is no account under that number. I have the customer try again, and the same message appears.)

Me: “Has it been a while since you used your card? They get shut down after a few months for security reasons.”

Customer: “Oh, yeah, it might have been a few months now.”

Me: “All right, that’s fine! We can get you set up with a new card today if you want, and that way you’ll get the coupon, plus an additional percentage off for opening a card!”

Customer: “Okay… Yeah, let’s do that.”

(We go through the entire process, which includes swiping another credit card for the credit check, and answering a few confidential financial questions. In the end, she’s approved for the card.)

Me: “Awesome! So, you were approved again for the [Brand] Credit Card! In order to get the discount, you have to put this purchase on the new card, is that all right?”

Customer: “What? I didn’t know I was signing up for a credit card. I don’t want it anymore.”

Me: “But you said you had had one before…”

Customer: “I don’t want it!”

(In the end, there was nothing I could really do except give her the phone number to cancel the card in 24 hours. I’m still not quite sure how all the confusion happened.)