In a surprising turn of events, while Starbucks delighted customers with the announcement of a 50% discount on drinks every Thursday for the rest of 2023, a couple from Oklahoma experienced an unexpected incident.
Jesse and Deedee O'Dell, who have been fans of Starbucks for the past 16 years, always ordered the same two drinks—an iced americano and a cappuccino.
However, earlier this year, their usual order took a perplexing and unfortunate turn.
The couple discovered that their typical order, which typically amounted to around $10, had up to an eye-watering $4,456.27 in February.
Without any knowledge, a whopping gratuity fee of $4,444.44 had been charged on top of their regular coffee purchase.
Adding to the confusion, Jesse distinctly recalled choosing the 'No Tip' option on the card machine.
However, it took several days for Deedee to realize the mix-up when her card was declined while she was shopping at the mall with their four children.
At that moment, they became aware of the discrepancy and the excessive charges incurred.
Upon discovering the exorbitant charges on their Starbucks bill, Jesse immediately reached out to the Starbucks district manager to handle their issue.
CBS reports revealed that the couple was informed that a potential network error with the card machine could be responsible for the vast gratuity fee they were charged.
To rectify the situation, they were assured that two checks would be sent to return the full amount.
However, when the eagerly anticipated checks finally arrived, they were met with yet another setback - the checks bounced.
This unexpected turn of events only added to the frustration and confusion experienced by Jesse and Deedee.
The couple claimed that they tirelessly contacted the Starbucks customer service helpline, making an estimated 30 to 40 calls in a single day to find help, until one Starbucks representative ensured that they would soon receive the new checks.
However, at the time of the interview, the replacement checks had still not appeared, leaving the couple extremely anxious.
The financial strain forced them to cancel their non-refundable trip to Thailand, where Deedee had planned to reunite with her long-lost sister.
Afterward, Jesse and Deedee have been actively collaborating with the Tulsa Police Department to address the ongoing issue.
The couple also took the opportunity to share a valuable piece of advice, strongly encouraging all Starbucks customers to meticulously check their receipts with every coffee order.
"This is something that has caused huge duress in our own family, and hopefully other people don't have to go through something like this," said Jesse.
Starbucks then confirmed to UNILAD that they had resolved the issue of Deedee and Jesse.
Details regarding the resolution were not disclosed, but the spokesperson assured that appropriate actions were taken to address the problem and ensure a satisfactory outcome for the couple.
"This was an unfortunate situation that has since been resolved," they stated.
"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," Starckbucks concluded.
