A San Diego woman has expressed her frustration with her local Starbucks location, claiming that the store has been adding tips to her digital receipts without her permission. In an interview with NBC 7, the woman explained that she only ever tips in cash, so she was surprised to see multiple tips added to her bill.
According to the woman, the first time she noticed a tip added to her receipt was on May 4. However, she brushed it off at the time because she was in a rush. It was only when she heard the total amount at the window that she began to suspect something was amiss.
“I asked her for the receipt and she just had a shocked look that I even asked,” the woman, Robyn Dudley, said.
Upon reviewing her receipt, she realized that a one-dollar tip had been added to her total. Shocked by this discovery, she immediately contacted a friend to share her frustration.
The incident occurred again on July 3 at the drive-thru. Dudley revealed that she has been a regular customer at this particular Starbucks location since last September, often visiting twice a day. She admitted that she usually doesn’t ask for a receipt. However, on the most recent occasion, she received a receipt that included a lemonade, bagel, croissant, muffin, and an additional tip.
“He didn’t even tell me the total or anything,” Dudley explained. “He just said my name and I handed him the card. I looked on the app at my receipt and then I saw that he gave himself a tip. And I was just like, ‘Oh, this is what they’re doing here now.'”
A spokesperson from Starbucks responded to Dudley’s claims, stating that the company takes such allegations seriously and is currently investigating the matter.
Despite the small amount of the tip, Dudley emphasized that it is the principle behind the act that upsets her the most. “It may be a small amount to me, but if they’re doing it so easily, I’m probably not the only one,” she said, expressing her concern that other customers may also be affected.
Dudley reported the incident to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), who confirmed that similar cases of “cramming” have been on the rise during the pandemic. Cramming refers to the practice of adding unauthorized charges, such as tips, to a customer’s bill without their consent.
Alma Galvan, a spokeswoman for the BBB, stated that cramming is actually illegal. She advised customers who notice such incidents to file a report with the BBB, their state attorney general, or the federal trade commission.
Dudley’s advice to others is to always ask for a receipt and to speak up if something seems off. By taking these steps, she believes that customers can protect themselves from dishonest practices.
