Legal Question in Consumer Law in California
At a telephone company store, I had to put my name on a waiting list. 1/2 hr. later, the employee who put my name on the list went to the back. Another one came in her place. She asked if anyone had questions. A new customer who came in went to talk to her. She didn't put her name on the list. I went to... who I thought was a store employee to ask why she is being helped, when others whose names were on the list wasn't being helped first. That's when he went on a tirade. I was threatened by the security guard. He got in my face, yelled at me, slammed his hand several times on the counter, and told me "If you don't like it here, then leave!" He intimidated me. Belittled me. No customer should go through this malicious behavior. He needs to see anger management. The whole store witnessed this verbal abuse and no store employee tried to stop this. I was embarrassed in front of other customers. I felt humiliated. Rather than leave, I asked for his name. He hand wrote it on my statement that I brought to the store to discuss my current service plan. At which point, I ask for the store manager to complain about what just happened. A few minutes later, she came out. I explained what had just happened. She sympathized, but told me the security guard was necessary because phones were being stolen at the store and that he was hired by corporate office. So I ask, "why is the security guard trying to help customers earlier, which made me believe he was an att employee, when his job is security only? She apologized and offered 1000 extra rollover minutes, which I have 2000+ already. This is no consolation for being treated so badly. I want justice. I want security guard to know what he did was wrong. And the reason i've gone out of my way to report this, is so that no other customer have to go through what I went through by this man. Can I sue the telephone company for verbal abuse?
3 Answers from Attorneys
If you want justice, complain about the store to the Better Business Bureau or find an appropriate online forum to tell your story. People are the victims of rude behavior and bad service all too often, but that doesn't mean that have a valid claim for money damages.
Get a life. And please stop asking and re-asking your question.
Presuming the facts you offer are 100% accurate and you really want to deter this company from treating other consumers in this manner, make a written complaint to the corporate office. I recommend copying the store manager of the retail location you visited. You can further �report� the behavior to the Better Business Bureau or whatever state or federal regulatory agency that licenses this company. Put all your complaints in writing as well as keep a log of your conversations regarding the matter. From the facts given you don�t have the basis to sue the company regarding this issue, but you can relay your experience to corporate so they can do better next time.
There are various ways to caution other consumers about your ordeal with this company- RipOffReport.com, Yelp.com, AngiesList.com will all give you an opportunity to publicly review the company�s product/services.
If you have truly been affected by this experience and can�t bring yourself to support such a company then you should stop doing business with them making sure to tell them why. However it appears you are seeking some kind of compensation for your inconvenience or embarrassment. I seriously doubt you will get anything from your phone company beyond what they have already offered you.
Dawn R. VanHorn
Attorney & Counselor at Law
VanHorn Legal
(714) 396-4152
www.VanHornLegal.com
The foregoing has been written by Dawn R. VanHorn, Attorney & Counselor at Law. If the designated recipient(s) of this communication have not fully executed a retainer agreement engaging Dawn R. VanHorn and/or VanHorn Legal relating to the subject(s) of this electronic message nothing herein constitutes nor is intended to be legal advice and as a result should not be relied upon as such.
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