Someone's a cheatin' thief.
May 17, 2010 7:04 PM Subscribe
Do we ask for our money, even though it may cause marital strife or do we wear the $70 that was stolen from us?
We run a small guest accommodation business. At Easter we had one couple in our cottage and another family group in our renovated shed. Just before 7pm on the Sunday night a guest went down to our off-limits workshop and used the phone to buy 1900 telephone dating line credits - 2 hours worth billed to our phone account. We've now got the bill.
The 1900 complaints people have given me information about the number - it was dating not an out-and-out sex line and the credits were bought by a male judging from their amount. He can use those credits whenever he likes from any phone. I've since put a stop on 1900 calls from our line.
The couple in the cottage were smoochy folk who ran a fairy shop. The family group was two sisters and their husbands. The sisters' brother and family came to stay for one night for which we generously did not charge (value>$100). It was that night the phone credit costs were incurred.
My gut tells me it was the brother. I can write to one of the sisters and explain our situation but I am aware that it could cause a dilemma amongst the marriages. Innocent people could be damaged. However this is not a small amount of money to us and the sense of being stolen from hurts, especially as we had been generous. Finally the idea that someone who has already stolen from us knows our set-up and layout makes me nervous.
What are our options? If I do write to the sister what should I say seeing I don't have any absolute proof. If I don't write how do we calm our sense of being transgressed?
We run a small guest accommodation business. At Easter we had one couple in our cottage and another family group in our renovated shed. Just before 7pm on the Sunday night a guest went down to our off-limits workshop and used the phone to buy 1900 telephone dating line credits - 2 hours worth billed to our phone account. We've now got the bill.
The 1900 complaints people have given me information about the number - it was dating not an out-and-out sex line and the credits were bought by a male judging from their amount. He can use those credits whenever he likes from any phone. I've since put a stop on 1900 calls from our line.
The couple in the cottage were smoochy folk who ran a fairy shop. The family group was two sisters and their husbands. The sisters' brother and family came to stay for one night for which we generously did not charge (value>$100). It was that night the phone credit costs were incurred.
My gut tells me it was the brother. I can write to one of the sisters and explain our situation but I am aware that it could cause a dilemma amongst the marriages. Innocent people could be damaged. However this is not a small amount of money to us and the sense of being stolen from hurts, especially as we had been generous. Finally the idea that someone who has already stolen from us knows our set-up and layout makes me nervous.
What are our options? If I do write to the sister what should I say seeing I don't have any absolute proof. If I don't write how do we calm our sense of being transgressed?
Write to both groups, saying that there was a charge, and asking whether it belongs to anyone in their party. But be prepared not to hear back from either one. Just chalk it up to the cost of doing business. And try not to get yourselves all worked up about it.
posted by ottereroticist at 7:10 PM on May 17, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by ottereroticist at 7:10 PM on May 17, 2010 [7 favorites]
I'd take it as a lesson. Trying to convince her would only mean trouble. Bad word of mouth reputation is definitely not worth $70.
posted by ddaavviidd at 7:11 PM on May 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ddaavviidd at 7:11 PM on May 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's unfair, but in my opinion $70 isn't worth the problems accusing someone may cause - especially because there were two families and you're unsure which family made the charges.
Agreed. Unfortunately, you have to eat it. Time to install some new locks.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2010
Agreed. Unfortunately, you have to eat it. Time to install some new locks.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2010
Hmmm... You have the name of the guy who made the calls which you got from the 1900 service? If so, you can say, "hey did you have anyone here in your group by the name of X?" If they say, yes, tell them that some funny long distance charges to that name showed up on your phone bill and you will have to charge them the $70.
If you don't have the guy's name then I think you ought to drop it. From their perspective, anyone could have made those calls and it's not nice to accuse people of something like this. I understand you're peeved because it sounds like you were a bit put out by these guests anyway. But that's a side issue and doesn't have much bearing here.
Truthfully, I'd let it go. It's not that much money and you should consider it a gift to the karma gods that future tenants will treat you better.
posted by amanda at 7:13 PM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you don't have the guy's name then I think you ought to drop it. From their perspective, anyone could have made those calls and it's not nice to accuse people of something like this. I understand you're peeved because it sounds like you were a bit put out by these guests anyway. But that's a side issue and doesn't have much bearing here.
Truthfully, I'd let it go. It's not that much money and you should consider it a gift to the karma gods that future tenants will treat you better.
posted by amanda at 7:13 PM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
I would try pushing a little harder on the 1-900 line. Tell them the call was unauthorized, threaten to lodge a complaint with your state's attorney general, threaten to sue even. You can push them as hard as you like without running into an awkward situation or threatening your business.
posted by mr_roboto at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by mr_roboto at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2010 [9 favorites]
No definitive proof, potential to damage future/new business due to a false accusation, a workshop that should have been locked, a phone line that should have had a 1-900 block on it = lesson learned, unfortunately. It's lovely that you are so welcoming, generous and trusting - but a lot of people will take advantage of this, and in the end, you are running a business.
posted by meerkatty at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by meerkatty at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
If so, you can say, "hey did you have anyone here in your group by the name of X?" If they say, yes, tell them that some funny long distance charges to that name showed up on your phone bill and you will have to charge them the $70.
If you don't have the guy's name then I think you ought to drop it.
I recommend this. I also recommend attempting to pull this person aside and talk to him directly BEFORE you say anything to anyone about long-distance calls, so he can save face, which will help you in the long run.
But be prepared to write this off and blacklist these folks.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:25 PM on May 17, 2010
If you don't have the guy's name then I think you ought to drop it.
I recommend this. I also recommend attempting to pull this person aside and talk to him directly BEFORE you say anything to anyone about long-distance calls, so he can save face, which will help you in the long run.
But be prepared to write this off and blacklist these folks.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:25 PM on May 17, 2010
true or not - as you have no proof - bringing this up in a way that gets back to his wife might have you on the hook for defamation. you're already out $70 for a lesson (which you will never get back, even if you write to them), don't find yourself thousands of dollars lighter when he wants to prove to his wife that you guys are out to get him.
posted by nadawi at 7:39 PM on May 17, 2010
posted by nadawi at 7:39 PM on May 17, 2010
Not to be overly woohoo, but broadly speaking I would consider $70 a very fair price for the universe to charge me to teach me some fundamental lessons about my business.
Secure your office, yes, but in the larger sense, secure your business. Guests are not known quantities; I think that if you make it hard for them to disappoint you, you'll be in a better place to continue being generous.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:42 PM on May 17, 2010 [5 favorites]
Secure your office, yes, but in the larger sense, secure your business. Guests are not known quantities; I think that if you make it hard for them to disappoint you, you'll be in a better place to continue being generous.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:42 PM on May 17, 2010 [5 favorites]
Call the 1-900 people back and demand a list of the phone numbers used to redeem the credits. It's worth a shot. If they can't provide this to you, call your phone company and see if they can reverse the charges. I wouldn't automatically assume it was a male that did this, either.
Also, check your bill to see if any other calls were placed from your line that night around the same time.
posted by Yorrick at 8:00 PM on May 17, 2010
Also, check your bill to see if any other calls were placed from your line that night around the same time.
posted by Yorrick at 8:00 PM on May 17, 2010
Frankly, I'm a little surprised at the people blaming the victim here. This is theft.
This person must have a unique account to be able to use the minutes from anywhere. I'd contact the police and report the incident. Then I'd contact the company and explain the situation, advise them to cancel the balance on that account and that you are not paying the bill, but share with them a list of the people staying with you during that time; let the 900 company track this guy down if they want, but it is not your responsibility to pay for the actions of a thief.
posted by Menthol at 10:00 PM on May 17, 2010 [17 favorites]
This person must have a unique account to be able to use the minutes from anywhere. I'd contact the police and report the incident. Then I'd contact the company and explain the situation, advise them to cancel the balance on that account and that you are not paying the bill, but share with them a list of the people staying with you during that time; let the 900 company track this guy down if they want, but it is not your responsibility to pay for the actions of a thief.
posted by Menthol at 10:00 PM on May 17, 2010 [17 favorites]
I'd do it Menthol's way.
posted by flabdablet at 11:50 PM on May 17, 2010
posted by flabdablet at 11:50 PM on May 17, 2010
As a hotelier, I would want to figure out the possibility of repeat business from these guests. Working in my big city hotels, we get contested 900 charges all the time. Typically we discretely contact the likely culprit and simply bill them. Following it up with the 900 company sounds like a good idea, but if you don't know who did it, I'd hesitate to bring it up to the guests. I have no idea what kinds of rates you charge, but $70 is pocket change compared to the loss of repeat business. Next time they come, lock the door.
posted by unique_id at 1:36 AM on May 18, 2010
posted by unique_id at 1:36 AM on May 18, 2010
I'd go Menthol's route as well.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:28 AM on May 18, 2010
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:28 AM on May 18, 2010
If you can't prove who did it, don't accuse people. You will do more than $70 of damage to your business by doing that.
If you can prove who did it, send them a bill.
posted by twblalock at 4:32 AM on May 18, 2010
If you can prove who did it, send them a bill.
posted by twblalock at 4:32 AM on May 18, 2010
A scam that used to happen (not sure if it still does): someone sneaks onto your property at night, connects a phone handset to your outside phonebox, and calls up a dating or sex line and buys credits. They then sell those credits at a discount.
One result: someone inside the house at the time gets blamed for something they didn't do.
In other words, your suspect may be innocent.
posted by blisterpack at 5:06 AM on May 18, 2010
One result: someone inside the house at the time gets blamed for something they didn't do.
In other words, your suspect may be innocent.
posted by blisterpack at 5:06 AM on May 18, 2010
Write to both groups, saying that there was a charge, and asking whether it belongs to anyone in their party. But be prepared not to hear back from either one.
Doing this could help the family get to the truth about whoever is doing this kind of incredibly stupid stuff sooner. The person who did it likely won't confess right now, but if another incident like this happens, maybe it will lead to an earlier resolution. Without this information provided by you, they'd have to go through two more incidents to see a pattern.
They'll probably not believe this could have been them (except for the guilty party), but you never know. Even if you don't get your money back, sharing information helps make the world go round.
posted by amtho at 6:58 AM on May 18, 2010
Doing this could help the family get to the truth about whoever is doing this kind of incredibly stupid stuff sooner. The person who did it likely won't confess right now, but if another incident like this happens, maybe it will lead to an earlier resolution. Without this information provided by you, they'd have to go through two more incidents to see a pattern.
They'll probably not believe this could have been them (except for the guilty party), but you never know. Even if you don't get your money back, sharing information helps make the world go round.
posted by amtho at 6:58 AM on May 18, 2010
What happened was theft. I'd report it to the police. Then, when they investigate, if they call guests, someone may pay up out of fear. I'd also complain loudly to the phone company; they don't do nearly enough to stop this crap, and probably enable it because of the huge profits. Also complain to the state attorney general, the phone/utility regulators, the FCC. Make enough fuss, and the bill may get dropped, as it should.
posted by theora55 at 7:15 AM on May 18, 2010
posted by theora55 at 7:15 AM on May 18, 2010
Response by poster: I'm glad I wrote things out here, and not in an email to the sister. Mr K and I worked out that it may not have been the brother as we don't think he had arrived by the time the calls were made. So it was one of the other husbands possibly even Fairy Shop man. We know it was a man because women get the service for free.
I'm chasing up Menthol's suggestions. Once I track down the local number that can be used to make the calls (via the service provider) I will know which area they are being made from, which in itself will tell me which one of the men it was as they all come from different areas. I'll then contact the suspect and tell him to pay up or I will be making a formal police complaint with his name attached.
Yes, it has taught us a business lesson, a couple in fact. We'll have to work out how to balance our positive trusting natures (which we value highly) with economic carefulness.
We are not so worried about someone trying to harm our reputation as our guests come from a 500km radius. If we don't find out who did it, all four couples involved will be on our do-not-host list as we would not feel comfortable hosting them again (the really grubby messy ones go on there too).
Thanks all for your advice. It has helped me keep a cool head and go about this the right way.
posted by Kerasia at 8:08 PM on May 18, 2010
I'm chasing up Menthol's suggestions. Once I track down the local number that can be used to make the calls (via the service provider) I will know which area they are being made from, which in itself will tell me which one of the men it was as they all come from different areas. I'll then contact the suspect and tell him to pay up or I will be making a formal police complaint with his name attached.
Yes, it has taught us a business lesson, a couple in fact. We'll have to work out how to balance our positive trusting natures (which we value highly) with economic carefulness.
We are not so worried about someone trying to harm our reputation as our guests come from a 500km radius. If we don't find out who did it, all four couples involved will be on our do-not-host list as we would not feel comfortable hosting them again (the really grubby messy ones go on there too).
Thanks all for your advice. It has helped me keep a cool head and go about this the right way.
posted by Kerasia at 8:08 PM on May 18, 2010
Response by poster: Eh, and in case anyone was wondering... I didn't even bother asking my partner, Mr K, if it were him. He hates the phone and loathes spending money on non-edible non-essentials. Besides I frequently make him the best grilled cheese sandwiches he's ever had and I don't let him go hungry for more.
However he did, bless his heart, wonder out loud if I had made the calls. I laughed and said "yeah, that's why I pointed them out on the phone bill" and then realised I was hurt by his suggestion. He apologised but this 1900 line shite can suck goodness from a relationship.
posted by Kerasia at 8:54 PM on May 18, 2010
However he did, bless his heart, wonder out loud if I had made the calls. I laughed and said "yeah, that's why I pointed them out on the phone bill" and then realised I was hurt by his suggestion. He apologised but this 1900 line shite can suck goodness from a relationship.
posted by Kerasia at 8:54 PM on May 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
You should probably put a lock on your workshop door.
posted by kpht at 7:10 PM on May 17, 2010 [4 favorites]