I have shopped weekly at the same Walmart store for the past 17 years. Two weeks ago, I visited my regular store, Walmart Supercenter #768 on Fry Road in Katy - as I had house guests coming and need to prepare. It's important to note that I had lost my customary debit card, and so I confimred with a cashier upon entering the store that Walmart still accepts checks and was assured they do. Imagine my surprise when, after two hours of shopping and $400 later - my check was refused. Did I have a bad check out? No. Did I have some other a bad payment/banking/criminal report? No. Why was my check declined? Because I hadn't written one in a while, and I was told that there was no amount of identification or verification that could have or would have allowed me to complete my purchase.
A manager was summoned and without one word to me - she took my cart and escorted me to the customer service desk - a humiliating walk of shame and then stood watch over me while I attempted to talk to the check verification company, who informed me that Walmart doesn't want the business of sneaky check writers like me and that is why they use thier check acceptance recommendations to determine "worthy" customers. During my phone conversation, one of the employees tried to move my cart and another replied, "that's hers - she is fighting a bad check" - which only added to my humiliation.
I left the store livid, in tears and I took my $400 elsewhere. So, as Walmart has told me, via Telecheck, that they do not want customers like me, who only occassionly have to use a check - I have vowed to take my $300 a week average shopping dollars elsewhere, as well as many of my friends and family who have agreed with me that this type of situation could have easily happened to them. We will all be holiday shopping anywhere but Walmart.
Thank you.
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