Camilla Jessen
Buying a cup of coffee from a coffee chain is something many people everyday. However, this couple realized they might have overpaid for their drinks.
A coffee run turned into a financial nightmare for one couple after a simple order racked up an unusually high charge that nearly derailed their family vacation plans.
A Morning Coffee Order Gone Wrong
Jesse and Deedee O’Dell had been loyal Starbucks customers for over 16 years.
But one routine trip to the coffee chain in 2023 turned into an ordeal neither of them saw coming.
$4,456.27
Expecting to pay around $10 for their usual iced Americano and cappuccino, the couple were instead shocked to find a charge of $4,456.27 on their bill.
A gratuity of $4,444.44 mysteriously added to the bill, despite Jesse specifically selecting the ‘no tip’ option on the card machine.
Card Declined
They didn’t immediately notice the mistake.
It wasn’t until Deedee’s credit card was declined during a shopping trip with their four children that they realized something was off.
After checking their account, the O’Dells discovered the outrageous charge and quickly traced it back to Starbucks.
Starbucks Blames System Error
When they contacted the Starbucks district manager, they were told the issue likely stemmed from a network error in the payment system.
Refund Checks Bounce
The company promised to send two refund checks to cover the erroneous charge. But when the checks arrived, they bounced.
Desperate to resolve the issue, the couple reached out to Starbucks customer service “30 or 40 times” in a single day.
Finally, a representative promised that corrected checks were on the way.
Trip to Thailand Canceled Over Tip Error
Accroding to Newsner, the accidental charge put O’Dells long-planned trip to Thailand on hold.
What should have been a joyful trip turned into stress and uncertainty, all because of a tipping error at the register.
Starbucks Responds, Issue Resolved
A Starbucks spokesperson later confirmed the problem had been resolved.
“This was an unfortunate situation that has since been resolved. The tip was entered by the customer in error. While the original refund checks had a typo and therefore did not go through, we issued new ones on January 31, which were received and cashed by the customer on Monday, February 6,” the company said in a statement.
