So….my car was stolen. (Long story, don’t worry about it.) Luckily, it was found but it is damaged and my insurance company is gonna fix it….eventually. In order to process the claim, they apparently need a copy of my most recent service record. Well, of course, my husband just threw away bags and boxes of paperwork that we deemed ‘unecessary’ as we transform our home office into a nursery for our little one on the way. And, of course, old receipts of oil changes and such for the car were included in the ‘unecessary’ crew. Basically, I was stuck like Chuck…..until I had the craziest idea to call up the service location which last serviced my car. Not so crazy, you say? Well, wait ’til you hear what the folks at at this well-known establishment had to say about my idea.

Very politely, I ask the Meineke man, “Is there any way that I can get a duplicate copy of my receipt from my recent service that I received from there?”

“Hell no!”, he says. (Sike! – but he might as well…it might’ve been better than what he really said) After looking up my name and the approximate date of service, he actually says “You’re not in the system so I can’t give you a receipt.”

Now, I’m thinking (and saying) “What do you mean, I’m not in the system? Are you trying to say that I didn’t come there and get an oil change? Not in the system as in I never existed?” By this time, I’m getting pretty pissed because 1) I’m confused as to how these people are conducting business and 2) they are my only option for getting this insurance guy all the paperwork he needs so he can finish processing my claim so I can get my car back! Ugh!!! Did I mention that I’m pregnant and highly irritable these days?

ANYHOO….So I provided the descriptions of the two guys who were working in the shop when I was there, in an attempt to prove my existence, you see? And, it turns out that I’m not so crazy after all. It just so happens that the guy who managed my transaction was the store manager. YES! Someone who can work some thangs out for me. (not really….keep reading)

So, I’m transferred to the manager. I explained to him the situation. Again, he bangs on the keyboard of his computer (yes, I could hear it) and says, “You’re not in the system. Did you pay with cash?” Which I believe I did…which proved to be the problem.

He proceeds to tell me that since I paid with cash, I was not put into the system. And, not only that, but I was given a discount because this store doesn’t charge full price for customers who pay with cash.  And, the cash doesn’t get deposited into the cash register..Instead, it is put elsewhere and given to the store owner. And, you don’t get a receipt as proof of this discounted purchase. So, I’m taking all this in. My conclusion comes to my own surprise….but I ask the question anyway, “Sir, are you telling me that you are stealing from Meineke?”

This manager of this franchise Meineke store is straight-up telling me that customers who pay with cash do not pay the price for service which is dictated by corporate Meineke and instead, the cash money is given to the franchise owner. I can’t help to think “Is this really happening?” Lost in my confusion, I ignored his answer to my previous question and so I asked, “Sir, is this legal?”  His response in his Trini-Indian accent is, “Yep.” I can’t believe it. But, what can I say? I threatened to call Meineke corporate and his reaction clearly told me that he really didn’t effin care.

Needless to say, I had to digest this. So, I hung up.

Still left without a receipt. Still no car. My socially conscious mind is telling me to call Meineke’s corporate offices and find out if they know about this type of goings-on. It’s the right thing to do, right? But, at the same time, I really don’t want to get involved. I just want my car back so I don’t have to walk all over brooklyn just to get my fix…that is a Ft. Greene Burger from Mullane’s. Can’t I just call Geico and say “I don’t have the danged receipt! Get over it!”

Ugh…..I’ll keep you posted.