Gift me a break

10/01/12 - JWEW
I work on the customer service desk at a supermarket, and had just returned to the desk after helping out a customer elsewhere in the store. There was a short queue, and the man at the front was tapping his fingers on the desk impatiently. I apologised for the wait and asked if I could help.

Customer: 'Right, I came in last week and was given a gift card, but it's got nothing on it'
He then threw a gift card reciept on the desk.
'Theres the reciept'
Me: 'Ok, do you have the gift card on you?'
Customer: 'No, why would I bring an empty gift card?'

I had never encountered this before, as I had only been working on the desk a few weeks, so I rang for a checkout supervisor's help. While on the phone to them, I explained the situation and double checked with the customer that it was last week and he had not brought the card with him. To which he replied with: 'Yes, yes, I've already told you this! For god sake!' I started to get a little aggrivated, and said: 'I'm simply double checking, alright?' Which kept him quiet for now. I finished the phone call and explained the situation...

Me: 'I've checked with my supervisor and you'll need the card, as this reciept simply shows money went onto a card, but doesn't show which one, and therefore we can't just give you the money without checking it hasen't been spent.'
Customer: 'For goodness sake! It's in the bin somewhere now, why would I keep a bloody empty gift card!?'
Me: 'But you've kept the reciept, so why did you throw the card away?'
Customer: 'Why does that matter? Look, just give me my £10, I'm fed up with this, thank god you don't have an important job or we'd all be in trouble'

I stumble for a second at the insult, but carry on.
Me: 'We can't do anything unless you bring in the card, we need to find out why the money hasen't gone on, or if it's been spent'
Customer: 'This is pathetic, I shop here every week, I've already contacted your manager and i'll do it again! No wonder you work here, none of you can perform a simple task, you're just idiots'

At this point I start to loose it...
Me: 'Go away'
Customer: 'You can't tell me to go away'
Me: 'Uh, I think I just did. Go away, NEXT!'
I'm trying to side-step him so I can see the next person in the queue, but he keeps stepping in front of me and throwing more abuse.
Me: 'You have no right to talk to me like that, I'm a human being! Get out now or I'm calling security and they'll throw you out'

Customer doesn't move, but still throws abuse. I inform him loudly I'm calling them, and go over to the phone. Upon putting it to my ear, I realise I don't know security's extension, and stand there running my finger down the list. I turn and see he's left, so hang up the phone. The next customer says I did very well staying calm as long as I did, and my day continues. I've never seen the fool since.

Under the weather