Best Buy Sends Customer To Jail For Paying With AMEX Gift Card

[hegemony]

http://consumerist.com/2010/02/best-buy-se...-gift-card.html

[VK]

http://consumerist.com/2010/02/best-buy-se...-gift-card.html

 

wow, that is something else.....unbelievable

[TheBanker]

Reminds me of when a local coffee shop barista refused to take my credit card. Apparently, to her, no company would spell (or, misspell, in her words) its own name as "Citi." I really wish I was joking. The stupidity of that day still haunts my dreams.

 

I wasn't arrested, however.

[hendry70]

Reminds me of when a local coffee shop barista refused to take my credit card. Apparently, to her, no company would spell (or, misspell, in her words) its own name as "Citi." I really wish I was joking. The stupidity of that day still haunts my dreams.

 

I wasn't arrested, however.

 

 

Wow.

[TheBanker]

Reminds me of when a local coffee shop barista refused to take my credit card. Apparently, to her, no company would spell (or, misspell, in her words) its own name as "Citi." I really wish I was joking. The stupidity of that day still haunts my dreams.

 

I wasn't arrested, however.

 

 

Wow.

 

Seriously, that was pretty much my reaction. I thought it was a bad joke at first.

 

Alas, Santa Cruz is a weird place.

[Ron1]

[x-large debt]

Oh great, I gave some of those for Christmas.

[glacious]

Oh great, I gave some of those for Christmas.

 

I personally do not like giving gift cards nor do I like getting gift cards. Gift cards have been deemed the new "fruit cake" in terms of giving gifts.

[Uncle Leo]

Reminds me of when a local coffee shop barista refused to take my credit card. Apparently, to her, no company would spell (or, misspell, in her words) its own name as "Citi." I really wish I was joking. The stupidity of that day still haunts my dreams.

 

I wasn't arrested, however.

Wow.

Seriously, that was pretty much my reaction. I thought it was a bad joke at first.

 

Alas, Santa Cruz is a weird place.

Santa Cruz... that explains it.

 

Your story reminds me of the story I read where a person was arrested for passing counterfeit money... $2 bills.

 

 

I personally do not like giving gift cards nor do I like getting gift cards. Gift cards have been deemed the new "fruit cake" in terms of giving gifts.

Depends on what store, for me. If it's my favorite camera shop, I'm happy as can be. If it's a place I'm not likely to frequent... meh.

[swanky]

I hate gift cards also. What a racket.

 

This is an interesting story. I tend to support Best Buy in that the cards did seem

shady. All they did was report it to the proper authorities as they should. I think that AMEX

is at fault here. I would think about hiring a lawyer and going after them.

I would be PISSED if I were her dad.

[Thirteen]

I hate gift cards, they suck.

 

I got an AMEX gift card around Christmas and was only able to use it once before AMEX cancelled the remaining balance for unknown reasons. The company that gave it to me had to reimburse all of us with checks for the "purged" balances. They said that AMEX couldn't even explain to them why it happened. I called AMEX when mine wouldn't work and the reps at AMEX were so unprofessional and clueless -- they just kept transferring me, I swear I must have spoken to every single person who worked there and their dog too. It took two, hour-long phone calls to get absolutely nowhere.

 

I would only give gift cards to someone I don't like. (I hope that's not the reason I got one, come to think of it)

Edited February 3, 2010 by Thirteen

[x-large debt]

Oh great, I gave some of those for Christmas.

 

I personally do not like giving gift cards nor do I like getting gift cards. Gift cards have been deemed the new "fruit cake" in terms of giving gifts.

 

gosh, then they can return them to me. Honestly, a gift is simply that... a gift and they should be thankful they got something in this economy. Nobody is owed a gift for any reason.

 

am one of the rare people in the world who loves a good fruitcake! I make them myself though

[ericgunit]

Only in NYC! Where everyone is suspicious and no one can be trusted! I am originally from Brooklyn abd visit very often. I hate when I visit and you have to go through all these hassles to make a purchase in most places.

[mk_378]

Technically the police decided to take her to jail, not the store.

 

But by the way NEVER go to the back room of a store. If they want to call the cops on you stay in the front of the store, where there are witnesses.

Edited February 3, 2010 by mk_378

[Uncle Leo]

But by the way NEVER go to the back room of a store. If they want to call the cops on you stay in the front of the store, where there are witnesses.

Word.

[mahler444]

am one of the rare people in the world who loves a good fruitcake! I make them myself though

 

bleh bleh bleh

 

I could not find the puking smiley face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding with ya.

[Uncle Leo]

If anybody's "at fault" most, it's Amex and their CSR that gave bogus information.

[hinklesc]

I think my attorney would be deciding who is to blame.

 

He would have been called the MOMENT the officers showed up.

[x-large debt]

am one of the rare people in the world who loves a good fruitcake! I make them myself though

 

bleh bleh bleh

 

I could not find the puking smiley face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding with ya.

 

I used to be a hater... a real big hater until the day I decided to make my own version, with my own dried fruits/dates/figs. Never same as a store bought version or even same if you use store bought dried fruit. I am one of those people who can taste a huge difference in for example canned pumpkin vs. fresh pumpkin or between coca-cola and pepsi.

[Uncle Leo]

I think my attorney would be deciding who is to blame.

 

He would have been called the MOMENT the officers showed up.

Best Buy ended up being wrong, but are they not allowed to be suspicious if they think something may not be legit? They did make an effort to call to confirm, after all. Same with the police.

 

I'd bet that, after learning these facts, your attorney would tell you to hit the road, you're SOL... and I don't mean statute of limitations.

 

It sucks, but please explain exactly what either did that would be a lawsuit-worthy offense.

[hinklesc]

I think my attorney would be deciding who is to blame.

 

He would have been called the MOMENT the officers showed up.

Best Buy ended up being wrong, but are they not allowed to be suspicious if they think something may not be legit? They did make an effort to call to confirm, after all. Same with the police.

 

I'd bet that, after learning these facts, your attorney would tell you to hit the road, you're SOL... and I don't mean statute of limitations.

 

It sucks, but please explain exactly what either did that would be a lawsuit-worthy offense.

 

If my attorney told me that I was SOL, then I suppose I would give up at that point.

 

Attorneys see things we do not.

 

Maybe,

 

Best Buy contacted law enforcement when no crime was committed, leading to false imprisonment.

 

American Express sold gift cards, that led to embarrassment and involvement with law enforcement despite being legally paid for.

 

Throw in a little pain and suffering, as most of us are not cuffed and frisked for buying a Blu Ray player.

 

Attorneys are able to bend things to match the law, and can prove it to a jury if the company does not settle.

 

Would probably name Best Buy and Amex as Co-defendants... someone WILL settle.

[Uncle Leo]

I think my attorney would be deciding who is to blame.

 

He would have been called the MOMENT the officers showed up.

Best Buy ended up being wrong, but are they not allowed to be suspicious if they think something may not be legit? They did make an effort to call to confirm, after all. Same with the police.

 

I'd bet that, after learning these facts, your attorney would tell you to hit the road, you're SOL... and I don't mean statute of limitations.

 

It sucks, but please explain exactly what either did that would be a lawsuit-worthy offense.

If my attorney told me that I was SOL, then I suppose I would give up at that point.

 

Attorneys see things we do not.

 

Maybe,

 

Best Buy contacted law enforcement when no crime was committed, leading to false imprisonment.

 

American Express sold gift cards, that led to embarrassment and involvement with law enforcement despite being legally paid for.

 

Throw in a little pain and suffering, as most of us are not cuffed and frisked for buying a Blu Ray player.

 

Attorneys are able to bend things to match the law, and can prove it to a jury if the company does not settle.

 

Would probably name Best Buy and Amex as Co-defendants... someone WILL settle.

Best Buy was led to believe by Amex that their suspicions were correct. They were not, but Best Buy can legitimately claim they honestly believed fraud and theft, hence no false imprisonment. If the facts are as stated, and there are no other extenuating circumstances, I would not vote to place blame on Best Buy if I were a juror. And I say that as someone who has no love for Best Buy, I just think in this case they're stupid, not criminal.

 

You're probably right that somebody will settle, but unfortunately, unwarranted settlements only serve to encourage more questionable claims and drive up prices for me.

[hinklesc]

I think my attorney would be deciding who is to blame.

 

He would have been called the MOMENT the officers showed up.

Best Buy ended up being wrong, but are they not allowed to be suspicious if they think something may not be legit? They did make an effort to call to confirm, after all. Same with the police.

 

I'd bet that, after learning these facts, your attorney would tell you to hit the road, you're SOL... and I don't mean statute of limitations.

 

It sucks, but please explain exactly what either did that would be a lawsuit-worthy offense.

If my attorney told me that I was SOL, then I suppose I would give up at that point.

 

Attorneys see things we do not.

 

Maybe,

 

Best Buy contacted law enforcement when no crime was committed, leading to false imprisonment.

 

American Express sold gift cards, that led to embarrassment and involvement with law enforcement despite being legally paid for.

 

Throw in a little pain and suffering, as most of us are not cuffed and frisked for buying a Blu Ray player.

 

Attorneys are able to bend things to match the law, and can prove it to a jury if the company does not settle.

 

Would probably name Best Buy and Amex as Co-defendants... someone WILL settle.

Best Buy was led to believe by Amex that their suspicions were correct. They were not, but Best Buy can legitimately claim they honestly believed fraud and theft, hence no false imprisonment. If the facts are as stated, and there are no other extenuating circumstances, I would not vote to place blame on Best Buy if I were a juror. And I say that as someone who has no love for Best Buy, I just think in this case they're stupid, not criminal.

 

You're probably right that somebody will settle, but unfortunately, unwarranted settlements only serve to encourage more questionable claims and drive up prices for me.

 

I would have handled this situation differently myself.

 

After the officers arrived I would have not said or explained anything at all to anyone ( invoked my Miranda rights/5th Amendment).

 

After I was booked, would have lawyered up and went from there (explained to attorney about how gift cards purchased, along with receipts/cc statements). Posted bond immediately of course.

 

Ca-ching!!!

[hinklesc]

A smart attorney once said "If you are involved with the police do not talk. If you are guilty, do not talk. If you are innocent, definitely do not talk".

[Uncle Leo]

A smart attorney once said "If you are involved with the police do not talk. If you are guilty, do not talk. If you are innocent, definitely do not talk".

I agree with this. For several reasons.

 

Going OT, but I watch alot of true crime tv shows, and it amazes me the number of people that think they can talk their way out when they're caught. All they do is seal their own fate. Every. Single. Time.

 

Then, when a person truly is innocent, they sometimes end up getting screwed anyway, just because what they say matches close enough to what the LEO thinks happened and they run with it.