Just deserts for hastily returned desserts? A monthslong runaround

Learn from my mistakes: Lesson 492.

A mistake that originated from my impatience has taken nearly four months, four calls and one letter to correct.

Waiting two minutes would have prevented the subsequent lost time and inevitable annoyance.

But no, I was in a hurry and ended up wasting more time than I saved.

Last June 30, I had stopped in a small business to buy a dessert for a friend's luncheon. After buying the goodies, and being a person of high goodie standards, I changed my mind, decided I didn't want them and said never mind.

The employee, a nice lad, said he would credit my American Express charge card. He looked trustworthy, the kind of fellow who would do what he promised, and I was running late.

In search of The Perfect Goodies, I hurried off without waiting for a credit slip for the rejected goodies worth $29.73.

Then my July charge bill arrived, and I didn't see any credit for the returned goodies.

I called the business. They promised they would take care of this promptly.

My August bill arrived, and no credit was there. I called the business a second time. It would be remedied, I was assured.

I'm not going to name the small business, in the faint hope this was some slip-up that wasn't deliberate. Did they think I would go away or forget? They didn't realize they were dealing with a woman of persistence who already had a file started.

I called American Express representatives, providing all the details. They sent me an Aug. 8 letter confirming they were investigating. Then on Aug. 13, another letter arrived, telling me to write them "a detailed letter describing the events surrounding your claim, including the exact amount of credit you are requesting." Although this duplicated my call, I realized they needed a paper trail and wrote the letter.

My September bill arrived. No credit.

By this time, I had put in more time than the $29.73 was worth, but it had become a matter of pride.

I called American Express again and was told that the business "says it credited your account." Except the credit card employee looked and quickly saw there was no such credit.

Once again, American Express contacted the business but received no reply.

Giving the business the benefit of the doubt, maybe it credited another account. Or maybe they were just lying. I have no way of knowing.

My October bill arrived, and my account is credited at last. American Express credited me though the dispute remained unresolved. The business itself kept the undeserved $29.73.

Recently, I told a banker friend about this, and surprise, surprise, she knew of someone who went to the same place, ordered two goodies but was charged for four.

Another mistake? Or is something amiss?

These are small amounts, but fraud investigators warn that scammers start with small acts of fraud as test cases and hope to find someone who doesn't save receipts and check bills.

Another friend who compares her receipts with her bill found two different restaurants in one month added $20 tips to her bills on top of 20 percent tips she had left. Armed with receipts, she marched to the restaurants and got her refunds, although one restaurant manager made her wait and was unpleasant.

How many people just toss their receipts and pay the bill?

That's exactly why these kinds of small scams can and do work. And every time they work, it encourages scammers to do it again.

I don't know whether mine was a scam, but I will never return to that business.

To my embarrassment, I know it was my fault for being impatient, one of my many imperfections. Fortunately, one of my virtues is persistence.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at 702-383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison