Couple issue warning after being charged almost $4,500 for two Starbucks coffees
A couple keen on their coffee have issued a warning to others after their coffees came to over $4k.
We all love a Starbucks, and with Halloween coming soon, it’s the perfect time to grab your pumpkin spice latte, caramel frappe and soy chai.
But one couple has been scorned after being charged an extra £4,444.44 for two drinks (£3308.06).
Starbucks is expensive, but it’s not that expensive.
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Jesse and Deedee O’Dell had been visiting the coffee hour for 16 years and enjoyed their go-to iced Americano and cappuccino for approximately $10 most days.
But in February 2023, they were mortified when $4,456.27 was taken from their account.
As it turns out, the pair had been charged a gratuity fee, even though they had selected the ‘no tip’ option at check out.
Shockingly, Deedee didn’t notice until later after their card was declined, while shopping with their four children.
Jesse was miffed, because he knew he didn’t select the tip option.
He told the New York Post: “I know how to press buttons. I didn’t press that button.
“If it wasn’t the barista, then it’s definitely your network, which is a really big issue.”
To rectify the situation, Starbucks sent the couple two refund cheques to cash in their losses.
But both cheques bounced back.
The couple went ahead and filed a police complaint in Tulsa, but it was then closed once the cheques were received.
At this point, all the couple could do was to call the customer helpline number - but the damage had already done.
“We contacted their customer service helpline probably 30 to 40 times that day," Jesse said.
As it turned out, the couple had to cancel a planned trip to Thailand to see Deedee’s sister.
This is because they could no longer to afford the trip now that Starbucks had their cash.
A spokesperson told the New York Post that Jesse had typed in the tip.
But Jesse said he was told by a district manager that it was probably a network issue that led to the large amount being taken from his account.
Because of the terrible situation, Jesse has warned couples who love their Starbucks, to double-check the receipt after paying.
Thankfully, new cheques were sent to the couple and they received their refunds.
This isn’t the only reason the coffee house has been in the news recently.
Starbucks have been quietly making changes behind the scenes recently, sparking controversy.
It began after hiring CEO, Brian Niccol, last September, who decided that some new things were in order.
The businessman has been a number of changes since then, and customers are going to feel the impact.
In a video statement, the CEO addressed said: "Starbucks has always been a place where people come together. We are revisiting our stores to make sure we’re offering the amenities you’d expect in a community coffeehouse."
First off, Starbucks Corporation, the chain’s public-facing name has been changed to The Starbucks Coffee Company – which is now on its website and on the app.
It’s also cutting 30 per cent of the menu and scrapping its open-door policy, meaning that if you sit, you pay for something.
Time will only tell what else is changed.
Topics: Food and Drink, Money, US News
Britt Jones