Often times events occur that test one's moral compass:
I had a billing dispute with a large corporation. The corp agreed that they had double billed me in error. It took some time and aggravation to correct it.
The billing was a pre-authorized credit card charge and although they assured me when I set up the payment system I would get the bill and be able to dispute it before my card was charged that turned out not to be the case. The customer service rep said it was too late to correct that month's bill even though my cc had not yet been debited.They agreed to reverse on the next month's bill. My next month's bill did not have the reversal. I call back to ask why I was quite the irked customer at this point. My ability to be polite had been exhausted.
Due to my ire they not only agreed to send me a paper cheques as rectifying the error electronically seemed inexplicably complex but a small goodwill amount for my trouble and potential cc interest charges their error might have caused me.
I might clarify at this point the amount in question: The original bill was ~ C$95 plus~C$20 for goodwill. Not a major amount but something worth disputing. I did indeed receive a cheque and although I was not exactly thrilled with the huge corp, at least it was settled.
Then a month later they send me another identical cheque. Obviously this Big Corp has big issues in their billing department.
Should I cash it?
-- 'When my coffin is sealed and I'm safely 6 feet under Perhaps my friends will see fit then to judge me When they pause to consider all my blunders I hope they won't be too quick to begrudge me.' -crash test dummies
"rdclark" wrote: Never give up the high ground. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That is a good way of putting it.
As a practical matter, since you have seen how screwed up they can get, be sure you document what you do. I would keep the check, notify them of their error, and keep a copy of the letter.
Then later, when they discover the double payment, and try to get it back, you have something to show them.
"maxo" wrote: (clip) There is a difference, and if you can't see it, I don't care to explain. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That's fine, 'cuz I don't care to hear how you rationalize dishonesty.
On 4 May 2005 05:47:15 -0700, "Colorado Bicycler" <dnvrfox@aol.com> wrote:
Send them a certified explanation letter explaining the situation and>requesting what THEY want you to do. Let them decide.
I think that's what I would have done. But honesty compels me to admit that it would depend on the company concerned and just how pissed off I was with them.
Then a month later they send me another identical cheque. Obviously this >Big Corp has big issues in their billing department.>
Should I cash it?
Let me flip this around - say they had accidentally billed your credit card twice, and they discovered it months later (well after you would be likely to do so). Should they keep it?
IMHO, life's too short to be compromising your character over a few bucks.
No explanation is needed because both are stealing. That you've> rationalized stealing from people you never see face-to-face doesn't> change that.>
Regards,> Bob Hunt
Cashing a mistaken $30 dollar check from a large faceless corporation isn't stealing from "people". It's taking advantage of a mistake. They probably waste tens of thousands of bucks a day on various items like paper clips and striping parking spaces.
There's nobody crying, "crap, I'm out thirty bucks!"
I said I wasn't going to explain, but I guess I did. ;)
On Wed, 04 May 2005 02:14:15 +0000, Leo Lichtman wrote:
"maxo" wrote: (clip) There is a difference, and if you can't see it, I> don't care to explain.> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^> That's fine, 'cuz I don't care to hear how you rationalize dishonesty.
You must live in a very insular little world to not understand reality.
Drive your Volvo, go to Saturday prayer, and take the moral highground, I'll be here on earth, make sure to wave to me from the clouds.
I've seen people beaten up and dumped in my alley for a $30 rock of crack. Now that's something I can get angry about.
"Mark Hickey" <mark@habcycles.com> wrote in message news:ifmh711dud1p2kems275te9esnab91kslo@4ax.com...> "1oki" <nolooke@hotmail.com> wrote:>
Then a month later they send me another identical cheque. Obviously this>>Big Corp has big issues in their billing department.>>
Should I cash it?>
Let me flip this around - say they had accidentally billed your credit> card twice, and they discovered it months later (well after you would> be likely to do so). Should they keep it?
I think it my responsibility to verify. If I don't - as in the original discrepancy - then I think caveat emptor should apply. If I suspect the error is part of a pattern of intentional misbilling or simply due to poor management I would have a lower opinion of said corporation.
-- 'In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.' -tacitus
"Preston Crawford" <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message news:slrnd7hqec.ckp.me@serpentor.cobrala...> I have to admit, this thread is pretty weird to me.
Weird: that's my middle name.
-- 'Because he was human Because he had goodness Because he was moral They called him insane' -rush
"maxo" <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message newsan.2005.05.04.15.18.14.822115@NOSPAMhome.se...> On Tue, 03 May 2005 19:19:08 -0700, Bob wrote:>
No explanation is needed because both are stealing. That you've>> rationalized stealing from people you never see face-to-face doesn't>> change that.>>
Regards,>> Bob Hunt>
Cashing a mistaken $30 dollar check from a large faceless corporation
The amount in question is ~$120.
~$95 original bill ~$120 refund [original bill plus goodwill/interst]
Plus a second ~$120 refund.
-- 'Nothing's what it seems, I mean It's not all dirty, but it's not all clean' -jewell
1oki wrote:> "Mark Hickey" <mark@habcycles.com> wrote in message>>
Let me flip this around - say they had accidentally billed
your>> credit card twice, and they discovered it months later (well after>> you would be likely to do so). Should they keep it?>
I think it my responsibility to verify. If I don't - as in
original discrepancy - then I think caveat emptor should
apply. If I> suspect the error is part of a pattern of intentional misbilling or> simply due to poor management I would have a lower opinion of said> corporation.
Yes, it is your responsibility to verify, but it is their responsibility to own up to their mistakes.
Ethical companies will do this. I once had over $500 re-credited to my account because, months later, somebody noticed that they'd missed crediting me with a deposit. I'd even closed the account by then, so they had to go to extra trouble.
1oki Wrote: > Often times events occur that test one's moral compass:>
I had a billing dispute with a large corporation. The corp agreed that> they had double billed me in error. It took some time and aggravation> to> correct it.>
The billing was a pre-authorized credit card charge and although they> assured me when I set up the payment system I would get the bill and be> able> to dispute it before my card was charged that turned out not to be the> case.> The customer service rep said it was too late to correct that month's> bill> even though my cc had not yet been debited.They agreed to reverse on> the> next month's bill. My next month's bill did not have the reversal. I> call> back to ask why I was quite the irked customer at this point. My> ability to> be polite had been exhausted.>
Due to my ire they not only agreed to send me a paper cheques as> rectifying> the error electronically seemed inexplicably complex but a small> goodwill> amount for my trouble and potential cc interest charges their error> might> have caused me.>
I might clarify at this point the amount in question: The original bill> was> ~ C$95 plus~C$20 for goodwill. Not a major amount but something worth> disputing. I did indeed receive a cheque and although I was not exactly> thrilled with the huge corp, at least it was settled.>
Then a month later they send me another identical cheque. Obviously> this> Big Corp has big issues in their billing department.>
Should I cash it?>
--> 'When my coffin is sealed and I'm safely 6 feet under> Perhaps my friends will see fit then to judge me> When they pause to consider all my blunders> I hope they won't be too quick to begrudge me.' -crash test dummies
Keep the cheque but don't cash it. See how many they send before they figure out the error. My guess is you will end up with a shoebox full of uncashed cheques before they figure out that they have a problem.
