14.July:
I purchased supplies at the Ace Hardware store in Firestone, CO. At check out, I was asked to pay - which I did with a debit card. The card reader informed me that my transaction was successful.
The new store checkout agent informed me that he was having trouble printing my receipt. After about five minutes a female identifying herself as a store manager showed up - and asked me to wait. After waiting an additional fifteen minutes, I made a case to the store manager that I had waited long enough - absent knowing why, since my transaction was successful. The store manager stated that their computer system crashed. Albeit, the store manager agreed - yet took my name and phone number, in case there appeared any issues. I offered that if any issues were later raised, to just let me know - and I would cooperate in resolution. I departed the store.
About seven minutes after leaving, the same female called my cell phone in a flustered panic, once again identifying herself as a store manager. She stated that the computer system was restored, and she believed my transaction was unsuccessful. I told her I would return to the store within ten minutes and run the card again to solve the issue. Which, I did.
Later that afternoon, I logged into my bank account to discover my account had in fact been charged twice. I returned to the store with evidence. The female was gone. This time I was presented with a man who stated he was a store manager. He took my evidence and asked me to wait. Forty-five minutes later, now growing upset with the long wait, I asked a store clerk to get the manager back to address me. The individual showed up and stated that no human in the store knows how to issue a credit for a double charge. He asserted the matter would need to be turned over to the store accounting department for investigation as their time permits. Put off with that answer, I reminded him that redress was simple: Merely open the cash register drawer and refund my money; or, get on the computer and refund the charge to my debit card. The store manager asserted that such was impossible as no human in the store knows how to execute such refunds.
I then visited my bank to report the unethical fraud underway by the Ace Hardware store in Firestone. My bank recommended I give the store a couple days to resolve the issue before executing a dispute of charges.
21.July:
I returned to the Ace Hardware store in Firestone, CO. I asked the checkout clerk to let me speak with a store manager. A different male arrived within minutes and identified himself as a store manager. I explained the situation. He asked if I had any documentation. I shared with him my evidence. After playing with the store register for an additional fifteen minutes, the store manager stated that he agreed I was double-charged and stated he could see the charges. Although, he stated that no human in the store knows how to issue a credit for a double charge. He asserted the matter would need to be turned over to either another store manager or the store accounting department for further investigation as their time permits. Put off with that answer, I reminded him that redress was simple: Merely open the cash register drawer and refund my money; or, get on the computer and refund the charge to my debit card. The store manager asserted that such was impossible as no human in the store knows how to execute such refunds.
I then revisited my bank to report the unethical fraud underway by the Ace Hardware store in Firestone. My bank helped me successfully file a dispute of the double-charge.
Bottom Line:
The management of the Ace Hardware Store in Firestone, CO are unscrupulous, unethical, fraudsters. Having such a store in town is a good thing. But, having such a store - or any store - run by such deliberately fraudulent individuals is unfortunate. Many neighbors long shared horror stories with me about how fraudulent the store owners/managers are ... but I never paid sufficient heed to their words. Now - I fully understand. One does business with this group at one's own risk. Absolute fraudsters. read more
