Seriously?

Lady came into the store not too long ago looking for the manager. Just like “We need to talk” or “I only want to put it in for a second,” this was not going to end well. So I mentally took a fortifying deep breath and identified myself as a manager and inquired how I could render her assistance.

And so she began to outline her issue. She looked vaguely familiar and for good reason; she’d been a rental customer. I put that in the past tense because once you fail to return a movie and flake on two phone calls seeking to find out if we’re going to see it again, well, you’ve pretty much burned your bridges in regards to further rental privileges.

The collections agency had been successful and receipt from them in hand, she was now before my counter seeking a receipt from us.

The fuck you say.

This is a first for me. I have never heard the like. I have no idea where or why someone would even conceive of such a thing. It eludes me as to what purpose it could serve to our ex-renter.

Once an account is handed to collections, it’s a total write-off. Unless they walk in the door and pay us directly, their errant account is no longer in our hands. It’s no longer ours. They paid the agency, thus they have a receipt from the agency. There is absolutely no business between this store and this woman anymore, let alone any that could involve a receipt.

The boss has decided to handle this one. I can live with that. The portents are strong this one is going to be very unpleasant.