A costly mistake turned into quite the ordeal.
Special education teacher Linda Massiezen unintentionally left a $5,000 tip during a recent transaction. She later spent months grappling with her bank and was left feeling overwhelmed.
Last year, Massiezen, a single mother dealing with shoulder pain, purchased a CBD gel for $129.28 at a Bay Area shop, as reported by KGO News.
She aimed to leave a generous $5 tip but struggled to see the credit card reader, even on her tiptoes.
“I thought I pushed just two zeros, but somehow it became three,” she explained.
Confused, she realized there was no decimal point and attempted to cancel the transaction.
The clerk processed the payment and, despite Massiezen’s confusion, assured her the charge was valid.
Some employees claimed the tip had not gone through, but her bank statement told a different story, leaving her flabbergasted. “$5,000? That’s just not possible for me,” she remarked.
Over the next few months, she reached out to Wells Fargo, her bank, 22 times in pursuit of a resolution.
After a long and frustrating wait, she finally saw results after KGO contacted the bank, prompting them to intervene.
Wells Fargo informed her that they would refund the full amount along with interest.
In a statement, the bank noted that they are committed to helping customers work through issues they face.
Late Friday, the bank was asked for further comments but had not responded. Meanwhile, a worker at the vape shop mentioned that ownership had changed in January and declined to comment further.
