It's not even lunch time this beautiful Twaturday and I've encountered the first SC of the day. Usually they wait until at least 1pm, but not today, no.
Enter one old woman so wizened, I'd swear she acquires a new wrinkle for each time she's evil to someone. Unfortunately, she's also one of our regulars and very well known for her behaviour as a result. You know the type, the ones who will literally argue about everything and anything.
Today our debit/ credit chip and pin machines are out of order, so any customer wishing to pay with card, needs us to manually swipe the card and the customer then signs the receipt. Just like the good old days.
For the majority of customers this isn't a problem, but oh no, witchy woman has to make a scene because...well I'll let you be the judge of this suck.
WW: I'm paying for this (handing me a bag full of sweets) on card.
Me: No problem, our card machines aren't working properly at the moment, so you'll need to sign for the transaction, is that ok?
WW: Why?! You don't need my signature.
Me: I'm afraid if you're intending to pay on card a signature is required. We can still take cash if you don't want to sign.
WW: I don't WANT to pay with cash, I want to pay by card but I'm not giving you my signature, how do I know you won't keep it and do something else with it later?! Anyone can fake a signature you know! Pin is much safer, this is ridiculous!!
(Why is everything suddenly ridiculous the second something is slightly different to the last time they performed a simple task?)
Me: (attempting to hold my tongue) Then I'm afraid I can't put this transaction through. A signature is required. I don't know that's your card, I would need to compare the Sig on the receipt with the one on the back of your card as confirmation. It's really just to protect the customer.
WW: Are you suggesting I'm trying to commit fraud?!
Me: (Thinking: No more than you were suggesting I would commit it, you old bat.) Not at all, but just as you do not know me, I do not know you.
WW: I come here all the time!
(She does, but she usually pays cash.)
Me: That is our policy. I cannot make one rule for one person and one for the rest. I'm sorry. (No I'm not, I'm really not.)
WW: But ANYONE can fake a signature!!!! This is
At this point WW begins to repeat how ridiculous everything is, how rubbish the staff are and how she will never come here again. Pah! If only that were true.
Me: (Finally forgetting to hold my tongue) And anyone can memorize a pin number. Now please, if you aren't going to sign for the transaction you will either need to pay in cash or come back when our chip and pin machines are working. But be aware you are holding up the line.
WW: (lots of huffing and puffing and mutterings about how crap teenagers are (I'm 33 by the way) but eventually agrees to sign.)
Me: Thank you, see you next week! (This I said as saccharine as possible.)
And I'm sure we will « sigh »
Enter one old woman so wizened, I'd swear she acquires a new wrinkle for each time she's evil to someone. Unfortunately, she's also one of our regulars and very well known for her behaviour as a result. You know the type, the ones who will literally argue about everything and anything.
Today our debit/ credit chip and pin machines are out of order, so any customer wishing to pay with card, needs us to manually swipe the card and the customer then signs the receipt. Just like the good old days.
For the majority of customers this isn't a problem, but oh no, witchy woman has to make a scene because...well I'll let you be the judge of this suck.
WW: I'm paying for this (handing me a bag full of sweets) on card.
Me: No problem, our card machines aren't working properly at the moment, so you'll need to sign for the transaction, is that ok?
WW: Why?! You don't need my signature.
Me: I'm afraid if you're intending to pay on card a signature is required. We can still take cash if you don't want to sign.
WW: I don't WANT to pay with cash, I want to pay by card but I'm not giving you my signature, how do I know you won't keep it and do something else with it later?! Anyone can fake a signature you know! Pin is much safer, this is ridiculous!!
(Why is everything suddenly ridiculous the second something is slightly different to the last time they performed a simple task?)
Me: (attempting to hold my tongue) Then I'm afraid I can't put this transaction through. A signature is required. I don't know that's your card, I would need to compare the Sig on the receipt with the one on the back of your card as confirmation. It's really just to protect the customer.
WW: Are you suggesting I'm trying to commit fraud?!
Me: (Thinking: No more than you were suggesting I would commit it, you old bat.) Not at all, but just as you do not know me, I do not know you.
WW: I come here all the time!
(She does, but she usually pays cash.)
Me: That is our policy. I cannot make one rule for one person and one for the rest. I'm sorry. (No I'm not, I'm really not.)
WW: But ANYONE can fake a signature!!!! This is
At this point WW begins to repeat how ridiculous everything is, how rubbish the staff are and how she will never come here again. Pah! If only that were true.
Me: (Finally forgetting to hold my tongue) And anyone can memorize a pin number. Now please, if you aren't going to sign for the transaction you will either need to pay in cash or come back when our chip and pin machines are working. But be aware you are holding up the line.
WW: (lots of huffing and puffing and mutterings about how crap teenagers are (I'm 33 by the way) but eventually agrees to sign.)
Me: Thank you, see you next week! (This I said as saccharine as possible.)
And I'm sure we will « sigh »
Comment