Can I get some advice on how to handle this- I was ripped off at a Sprint

[ariesgem]

store yesterday. There is a new Sprint/Nextell store that opened in the Pasadena, CA area. I go to authorized Sprint stores to pay off my cell when I run out of minutes. Keep in mind not all Sprint dealers are authorized to take payments. I decided to go to this new store because it was closer to my apartment and they have parking as opposed to the other store in the heart of Pasadena.

Anyway, I walk in and there's a couple ahead of me being waited on by a clerk at the counter. Another clerk comes out from the back and asks me if I need help. I asked him if I could pay my bill at that store. He says "oh yeah" and takes me over to the second counter and asks what I wanted to pay on my bill. I gave him $140 and told him that I would like to pay $125.

He starts entering stuff on the computer and said it would take up to 4 hours for the payment to post. He then takes my cash, goes to the back to get me $15 in change. I asked him for a receipt and he starts to enter stuff again in the computer (like he's trying to print a receipt) and he said he's having problems with the printer and cannot print a receipt. He cranks out a blank sheet from the printer, rips it off and writes a payment "confirmation no." and the amount that I paid on this blank receipt. He said that if I had any questions about the payment, use this confirmation no. as a reference.

8 hours later, my payment has not posted. I called Sprint to see if the payment is pending. They said they have no record of the payment or the "confirmation number". I told the operator what happen, she checked the address of the store and said that that store DOES NOT take payments.

The dude that took my money IS a Sprint employee (he came from the back, had a sprint badge on and had access to the register). I plan to go back there this morning to resolve this. I'm trying to figure out the best solution to resolve this short of knocking his block off! Should I get the Police involved and have them resolve it before I walk in, or try to resolve this with Management first? I have a fucked-up receipt that the clerk gave me so how do I prove this transaction. They have security cameras in the store so I'm hoping that they have this transaction on film.

I'm SO ANGRY I cannot think straight. Shit- This was all the money I had to pay for this bill. If he in fact stoled my money, I want him arrested! You really don't expect to get robbed by an employee of a reputable, well-known establishment. Short-changed, maybe but THIS???!!!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Random_Australian]

1. Holy shit. Arrest sounds like exactly the thing the person in question

needs.

:grr::mad::grr:

And for you:

:hug:
:pals:
:hug:

[ariesgem]

7. THANKS!!!

[Kutjara]

2. He could have simply made a mistake.

Before you call the police (who won't help anyway, because it's a civil rather than a criminal matter), go back and give him the opportunity to put things right. You said it's a new store, so the guy probably hadn't worked out the system yet (most on-the-job training is piss poor these days). He may have transfered from another store that does accept payments and simply assumed that this one would too.

I really doubt he intended to rip you off, but if he refuses to refund your money, you should definitely call Sprint and report him for fraud. They should take steps to sort things out, because he's their employee.

[ariesgem]

3. I hope you're hope right and will certainly give him the opportunity to

resolve this before I completely blow my stack. Without a valid printed receipt, they can easily deny that I entered their store. That's what's worrying me. When it comes to resolving issues with large companies, they rarely admit to mistakes.

[zonkers]

4. Keep cool. Go back to the store. Tell them it didn't post and ask

them to repost it and swap your old reciept for a new one (printer machine should be functioning now). If they cant accomodate you, which is highly unlikely, ask for your cash back and pay bill somewhere else. If they still can't accomodate you, get on the phone with Sprint supervisor and explain what happened.

[ariesgem]

5. PERFECT! That 's exactly what I'm going to do.

Thanks

[zonkers]

6. Written or printed, your receipt is a legal document and is the key to

this whole thing. You are welcome. More than likely, it is just a dumb mistake.