In a bizarre mix-up, Linda Mathiesen, a special education teacher from San Bruno, California, found herself in a financial pickle after accidentally leaving a $5,000 tip instead of a modest $5.
… On a mission to buy CBD relief gel for her shoulder pain at a local vape shop, Mathiesen encountered a hiccup at the checkout. With her total bill at $129.28, she decided to add a tip. When prompted to enter the tip amount, she misjudged the number of zeros due to her height disadvantage at the register. There was no decimal but she thought she typed in 5 and two zeros — for a $5.00 tip. She ended up typing three zeros and tipping $5,000.
… Despite her immediate reaction to reverse the transaction, the clerk at San Bruno Exotic & CBD initially claimed he couldn’t help, stating he hadn’t received the money. This was contrary to what Mathiesen’s bank statements revealed, leaving her in a state of panic.
… Desperate to resolve the issue, Mathiesen reached out to her bank, Wells Fargo, an astonishing 22 times. Each call consumed about two hours, and despite her prompt report of the error, the bank took nearly a year to address her dispute. They eventually attempted to close the case, claiming it was too late to process, as disputes must typically be filed within 60 days.
… Finally, after months of distress, Wells Fargo stepped in to resolve the matter, promising to refund the $5,000 tip plus interest. The incident highlights the importance of attention to detail in transactions, and serves as a reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise from simple mistakes.