Texas man says he was overcharged nearly $1.3K for biscuit, energy drink

WACO, Texas — This was an expensive breakfast.

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A Texas man claims a convenience store clerk overcharged his debit card by nearly $1,300 on his debit card for two items, adding that he is having difficulty getting a refund.

Chuck Chavers, of Waco, said his debit card was overcharged $1,299.36, KXXV reported.

“I was kind of hungry before I went out on my route, and stopped by to buy a Monster energy drink and a chicken biscuit, and got charged $1,299.36,” Chavers told the television station. “I don’t understand why it took them less than 10 seconds to take it out of my account, and we’re at day eight and I can’t get it back in my account yet.”

Chavers said he made the purchase at a CEFCO gas and convenience store in Woodway.

Officials from the company have not responded to a request for comment, KXXV reported.

Chavers said the CEFCO store manager claimed there was a system glitch that caused the overcharge, adding that the problem did not allow the store to reverse the charge, KXXV reported.

Chavers said the manager put him in touch with officials at CEFCO’s corporate office, who advised him to dispute the charge at his bank, First Central Credit Union, the television station reported.

Representatives with First Central Credit Union have not commented, according to KXXV.

It is convenient to use a debit card for purchases, but difficult when attempting to get a refund, Jason Meza, of the Better Business Bureau, told the television station.

“There’s convenience built in to using debit cards, which is great, but you sacrifice comfort in the event something like this happens. “You do have to go through more hoops to jump,” Meza said.

Meza says it’s easier to dispute a claim with a bank if the charge was credit and not a debit.

Attorney Cody Cleveland said Chavers could sue, adding that the responsibility to rectify the mistake fell to CEFCO.

“The store needs to give the money back. There’s no question that the money wasn’t earned,” Cleveland told KXXV. So if it’s unlawfully appropriated, in Texas that’s the legal definition of theft. They entered into a contract where he agreed to pay a certain amount of money for a drink and a snack and the other party overcharged him. There’s no question he’s on the winning side.”

Chavers says he is definitely considering legal action.

“It took 10 seconds to come out of my account, it’s taken eight days so far and I was the one that was going to have to go fix the issue by going to my bank,” Chavers told KXXV. “That’s what I’m upset about. I shouldn’t have had to leave that store without my money.”

Cox Media Group