Reader Julie ran into some trouble at the CVS when a cash register rebooted while processing her transaction and the employee, rather than voiding the messed up transaction, simply charged her twice. Julie writes:

Yes, I know it sounds improbable, but CVS stole $11.78 from me and refuses to give it back.

I went to CVS today, the one on Pleasant Ridge in Arlington, Texas. I purchased two items, decongestant spray for my nose and a pseudophedrine cold product. The pharmacy tech rang me up, then I ran my debit card like usual. The debit card went through, the card reader said $0 due, and then all of a sudden the computer decided to reboot before the receipt printed.

I told him that I clearly saw that my card went through before his computer crashed, and I didn’t want to be charged twice. I saw that my card went through, even though no receipt printed. He called the manager, Adam. The manager told him on the phone that since no receipt printed out, my card hadn’t gone through, and I wouldn’t be charged twice. I asked him how he knew that for sure, and he said that no receipt means no charge.

I didn’t really have a choice but to run my card again, since he wasn’t going to give me my items unless I did. So I ran it again, and everything went through. I asked him what to do when I got home and found two charges went through, and he said he didn’t know. I pressed the issue, and the real pharmacist chimed in and said it wouldn’t be a problem, just come back and talk to the manager.

So, sure enough, I got home and checked online and saw I was charged twice. I went back up to the store and talked to the manager, Adam, in person, and he said there was nothing he could do. He suggested maybe calling 800-SHOP-CVS. I said that it was pretty obvious that someone in some call center somewhere isn’t going to be able to refund my money, and he said there was nothing he could do. No apology, nothing, just wouldn’t help me.

I called 800-SHOP-CVS, and, of course, there are no operators available. It just so happens that this is the worst timing ever — I can’t call during business hours tomorrow, because I will be on flights all day. Unfortunately there was a death in my family, so I will be dealing with that, funeral arrangements, being out of town, family, wills, insurance, etc., and I really won’t have any time or energy to call this number and deal with this in the upcoming week.

So what do I do? It isn’t right that I’m out $11.78. Yeah, it isn’t a whole lot of money, but it is MY money, and I want it back!

Don’t worry, Julie. You don’t have to wait for CVS to “give” your money back. You can take it back by calling your bank and explaining that you were charged twice. They should be able to handle this situation for you quickly and easily. If they can’t, you might want to consider switching banks.

Don’t wait to call your bank, however. Report the fraudulent charge as soon as you can.

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