Woman 'embarrassed' after calling 911 three times to report McDonald's out of chicken nuggets

[Mugu]

Jennifer Emily, crimeblog.dallasnews.com

A woman tells a Florida TV station that she's "embarrassed" by the attention she's received since calling 911 to report that McDonald's had run out of chicken nuggets.

She says that she called because the cashier wouldn't return her money. But authorities said that 911 calls are for emergencies and her situation was not an emergency.

According to the police report, Goodman called 911 three times Saturday to report that a McDonald's employee wasn't giving her a refund for the chicken nuggets she wanted.
"The manager just took my money and won't give me my money back, trying to make me get something off the menu that I don't want," Goodman said in one of the 911 calls. "I ordered chicken nuggets. They don't have chicken nuggets, and so I told her, 'Just give me my money back,' and she tells me I have to pick something else off the menu. She is not going to give me my money back, and she don't have the right to take my money."

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/woman-embarrassed-after-callin.html">Complete article

[ACTION BASTARD]

1. Florida - - - that is all.

[polichick]

9. Hey, that's my beloved home state! Get it right - it's FLORIDUH. :)

[EFerrari]

2. That doesn't qualify as a stick up?

[slackmaster]

8. No

It was just incompetence.

[Ian David]

3. As stupid as this is, I would rather she call 911 than try to take the law into her own hands. n/t

[baldguy]

4. She was being robbed. What is she supposed to do?

They took her money for something they weren't able to provide, then refused to refund her money.

[slackmaster]

5. She should have talked to the manager first

That's what normal people do.

The article says a cashier wouldn't give her the money back. I assume that person was not the manager.

[KayLaw]

13. She did!

According to the article.

[slackmaster]

66. It also says "She says that she called because the cashier wouldn't return her money."

And "...According to the police report, Goodman called 911 three times Saturday to report that a McDonald's employee wasn't giving her a refund for the chicken nuggets she wanted...."

It's not at all clear that she made any effort to deal with anyone other than the cashier. Maybe that person was the manager, maybe not. It's not clear.

[KansDem]

15. It looks like it was the manager who didn't want give her her money back...

"The manager just took my money and won't give me my money back, trying to make me get something off the menu that I don't want,"

Perhaps she should have called the corporate office? Seems like much ado for just an order of chicken nuggets...

edited for spelling...

[Occam Bandage]

18. "The manager just took my money and won't give me my money back."

Sounds like the manager was the one who was attempting to rob her.

[slackmaster]

64. I'm not willing to accept her word for it

The article cited in the OP describes the individual who refused to refund her money as "cashier".

Remember, this is someone who called 911 repeatedly when there clearly was no justification for doing so.

[virgogal]

6. Duh ! She could have called the non-emergency number.

[Lyric]

23. What's your local non-emergency number?

Would you know it off the top of your head?

[JerseygirlCT]

45. That's what "information" is for.

It was stupid of the restaurant. But it was really, really thoughtless and stupid of her to waste emergency services over a container of chicken nuggets. I mean, really.

[MadBadger]

57. A lot of people dont see 911 as emergency, but the means to call the police

I dont think she should be faulted for this.

[JerseygirlCT]

62. I'm not sure why she shouldn't.

Why should she not be expected to understand 911?

[slackmaster]

65. Most eight year old children understand what constitutes a 911-worthy emergency

The only excuse she might have is mental illness.

[MadBadger]

83. But no 8 year old child knows what to do to contact the police in a non-emergency

[Hekate]

58. My local non-emergency cop number is listed but you can't get through except M-F /8-5...

It's really obnoxious. Some things are not apparent emergencies, but you would like them looked into just in case. Is it an emergency when a couple is having a yelling fight in a dark parking lot, and the man's vocal agitation is escalating? Not...yet. Many other, lesser, instances also come to mind.

Aside from that, McNuggets Gal should never have called 911, it's true, but she was still in a pickle, hold the lettuce. I know what I'd do in her situation, but not everyone has a phone book and experience calling corporate and government agencies.

Hekate

[BuyingThyme]

60. And what if your stupid neighbor is blasting Manilow at 3AM?

[Hekate]

61. Exactly my point. It's not an emergency, but a cop sure would be helpful. nt

[EFerrari]

7. I guess she could have called a non-emergency number and asked

for a dispatch. In a lot places, you can't really do that any more. Everything goes through the dispatcher.

[baldguy]

38. In a lot of places - like my own - there is no "non-emergency" number.

Everything goes through 911 and they make the determination whether its an emergency or not.

[Dukkha]

43. get a life?

:shrug:

[SmileyRose]

59. or a job that pays enough to afford throwing money away.............

:shrug:

[EmilyAnne]

71. Why? That's bullshit.

[Terran]

67. Call the police, not 911. Is that not obvious? n/t

[Sultana]

10. This is what it think

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: .....


:eyes:

[sufrommich]

11. I feel sorry for her, she did a dumb thing that became a

national news story.I'm sure that is humiliating.

[RandomThoughts]

12. I have a different take on this.

First off, if any cashier took your money, and wouldn't give it back, in that situation, you would not be happy either.

Cashier took money, then could not supply goods, then refused to give money back.

That is pretty close to theft. Sure its a small amount, and should have been settled by a manager or something.

But when the girl who was treated wrong, instead of yelling, instead of giving up, called the police, she gets in trouble. Although she could have called as a non-emergency call.

She did the right thing, she had a problem and called police, she trusted our government to help her when she was wronged, this is an opportunity to show the government does defend people even in that situation.

What do the people that laughed at her think she should have done.

Walked away and let the cashier keep the money?
Start yelling until they call the police?
File a law suit?

What would you have done? Would it have been better then trusting on the ability for government to keep things fair and just in society?

[KayLaw]

19. Strange.

What you're saying is how I feel about Social Security. We were forced into an insurance program and, I, as a Baby Boomer, have been forced to pay all this money whether I wanted to or not. I always hated paying it and then Reagan and Greenspan I needed to pay even higher premiums to keep the program solvent.

Then, in the past few years, I'm hearing things like, Well, you really didn't expect a free lunch, did you? And, the SS mess is all the Boomers fault.

Balls.

[roseBudd]

20. Her dispute does not even rise to the level of a nonemergency police call, she should have written a

letter to corporate to report what happened at a franchise.

[RandomThoughts]

50. So corporate theft should be ruled on by corporate entities?

Sure it is a small amount, in that it is not a big issue, but I think she was right in principle.

Sorta the same system that Bush used that got us into this mess.

[EmilyAnne]

72. But what if she didn't have any more cash? Sure, she could have eaten something else, so its not

like she would have been forced to go without a meal, but that's not right to force her to buy something she doesn't want to buy.

She would have had to wait months for a resolution through corporate.

Calling 911 was silly to you and me, but I can understand that she wanted the police involved because she had been wronged.

[qanda]

80. I think it's funny what we've been made to accept in our society

If she hadn't paid then McDonald's could have called the cops on her and we wouldn't have batted an eye. But they are allowed to steal from her and she becomes incompetent, idiotic and foolish. It's just amazing!

[rainbow4321]

42. If the store manager would not cooperate, ask for the field manager's name/number

Or start with the store owner and work her way up to field manager. If still not getting her $$ back, ask for the field manager's boss' name/number...and so on.
Take the name and title of all the employees refusing to give the money back, including anyone who she talked with over the phone.
It's amazing how attitudes can change once you whip out a pen/paper as you look at name badges.

[JerseygirlCT]

46. Yup. This is a customer service issue. Not and emergency. nt

[Occam Bandage]

49. So the only appropriate response to theft is to ask people to please not steal from you.

I disagree. That is one appropriate response. Calling the police is another. Yours might be more effective and less troublesome for all parties involved, but I don't think that means that calling the police is not acceptable.

[RandomThoughts]

51. In reality

I agree, she could have taken this approach, by asking for the names, the people realize they will be held accountable.

I might take that approach also, simply because I would want to give them the opportunity to make it right before going to legal options, but why would they feel they need to give names and phone numbers if they think that she can not call the police if they refuse?

Her calls, may have been before exhausting all options, but it still should have been seen as an option, not a crime.

[BuyingThyme]

14. Boy, somebody really overplayed the McNuggets angle.

This wasn't about being out of McNuggets at all. It might not even have been an inappropriate 911 call.

[petronius]

27. I think it was an appropriate call - it was calling back after she'd been

told an officer was on the way that got her in trouble. (Of course, the non-emergency line would have been better, but I doubt the McDonald's was going to lend her a phone book.) I think she's being unfairly mocked here - it wasn't a lot of money, but she was being ripped off. I'd have been pissed, too...

[Dorian Gray]

29. I think I might agree

I mean, sure it's stupid. But I would have been PISSED off if they refused to refund me my money when I paid for something they couldn't provide. They were in the wrong here. 911 might be a little melodramatic, but if that were me, the store might have had to call 911 on ME if they refused to give me back my money. They'd want to remove me from their property in about fifteen minutes!

[BuyingThyme]

32. And they certainly would have.

I think you should act as counsel for this woman. You just made her case.

[Hippo_Tron]

54. 911 is only appropriate if you think your life or health is in serious jeopardy

Calling the police is certainly appropriate but not the emergency number.

[BuyingThyme]

56. Or property.

[Marr]

76. Big time. I've heard this story referenced several times now, and

the impression I've always come away with was of a woman ordering Nuggets, finding they had none, and dialing 911 to report that McDonald's had no Nuggets.

As it turns out, it's not all that crazy. The cashier wouldn't give her money back, and wouldn't give her the thing she purchased. If they'd done the same thing over a jacket or a TV set, no one would blink an eye at the person calling the police.

[Occam Bandage]

16. She shouldn't have called the emergency line, but that wasn't really her fault.

There's not a whole lot of awareness of what the non-emergency police lines are. She was being robbed, after all, so I don't blame her to call the police. She wasn't calling because they were out of nuggets, she was calling because they took her money fraudulently and refused to return it. It's not really that different from if she had dropped her wallet on the counter and the cashier had grabbed it and dumped its contents into the register. It doesn't matter that they were willing to give her a non-McNugget menu item; she did not agree to enter into a transaction in which she would give McDonalds money for a hamburger or a chicken sandwich.

[polichick]

17. True - she just wanted to reach police.

[roseBudd]

21. She was not being robbed, if I dispute a payment or any dealings I have with a merchant...

that is not a criminal complaint.

[Lyric]

22. A lot of people don't understand the nuances of law.

I think that the employees here are more despicable than the woman. All *she* knew was that she had been deprived of her money in a way that was not right. Sure, her action wasn't the right one, but very few people know how to contact the police without using 911. Hell, even *I* don't know the number for the police department.

Besides, it's not up to people to make the determination about whether or not something is a criminal matter. That is the job of the police and the judges involved. We have no idea what the entire circumstances were--perhaps there WAS a crime involved. If they did it deliberately or maliciously, well, fraud is certainly a crime.

[Occam Bandage]

24. I don't see this as a matter of a disputed contract,

such as when a tailor performs his job badly, or a store does not allow me to return a returnable item. There, we agree on the contract, but one of us believes the other has failed to honor it, and if we cannot reconcile we go to civil court.

The way I see it, there was no contract here. She made the offer, by which she would exchange cash for McNuggets. The store then took her money, which she surrendered on belief that such a contract existed, and informed her that they possessed no McNuggets, and would not accept her offer. Rather, they then offered a different contract, by which they would exchange something else in return for her cash. She refused to accept such an offer. However, the McDonalds did not return her cash. It was their opinion that this was a civil matter, and in fact they had something like a contract for five dollars worth of food, preferably McNuggets. The woman believed, and I am sympathetic to her, that no contract ever existed between them at all. Rather, they have simply taken her money. If you accept her perspective, that is criminal. I think when a person has reason to suspect criminal behavior, a call to the police is indeed warranted.

[Generic Other]

25. If they take her money for exchange of goods and fail to follow through

They have robbed her. Corporate evidently thinks so as i heard they planned to send her a gift certificate and an apology.

Just because the workers view the corporate rules as law, there is still such a thing as real laws in this country, and they were violated in this case. I would have pitched a hissy fit, and the police would have come anyway probably called by the manager. I bet I would have gotten my money back too. Also possibly arrested but that's the price ya pay for standing up for your rights.

I came from a poor family. Many a time, my mother made me go back to the store to dispute the change I received for an item. For the sake of 2 cents. I cringed in embarrassment when I had to ask for the correct change. But my mother was right. They had no business expecting us to accept less than we were due.

[tanngrisnir3]

41. No, it's most definitely a criminal matter.

It's a misdemeanor and it's called Petty Theft.

[SurfinBetty]

47. Yeah she called because they took her money for the nuggets

And then didn't deliver! She should have just made a report, not called like it was an actual emergency. She should be ashamed because someone could have potentially died while she tied up the 911 lines.

[BuyingThyme]

28. 911 calls are appropriate when one's person or property is in immediate danger.

I could certainly understand how somebody could see things that way during the commission of fraud.

[Occam Bandage]

33. I certainly can see how one would see things that way, too. I don't blame her at all.

[Richard Steele]

48. Exactly so. nm

[Orsino]

82. She could have gone to the station to file a report...

...but perhaps felt entitled to more immediate service. Or didn't know that 911 is only for emergencies.

[flvegan]

26. This is why all McD's patrons should be armed.

To the teeth, no less.

[KittyWampus]

68. this is why I prefer the Olive Garden

[Rebubula]

70. MY GOD

Why do you hate your stomach that much???

Just kidding...I love the breadsticks.

[KittyWampus]

75. (just kidding)

I actually never eat at fast food restaurants of any sort :)

There was an epic flame war in the Lounge over Olive Garden once upon a time

[ConcernedCanuk]

30. reminds me of - - "Woman Calls Cops on Burger King "

.
.
.

audio clip at link

It's really funny

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/70408/Woman-Calls-Cops-on-Burger-King

here's a link to a text version

http://www.snopes.com/crime/cops/burger.asp

enjoy

[Marr]

79. Oh man... Orange County... I believe that.

OC is Ground Zero for arrogant, idiot soccer moms.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. I wonder...

if the woman had taken an item from the restaurant and left without paying, would the restaurant be within their right to call 9-11?

Well then, I have no issue with the woman calling 9-11.

Continuing to call after she's been told police have been dispatched is something else.

[Occam Bandage]

34. I think that in both cases,

the caller should have instead called the non-emergency number, but that calling the emergency number is certainly understandable, especially in the emotional state that crime victims are often in.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

36. Calling 9-1-1 is a pretty standard practice for shoplifting, IIRC.

[BuyingThyme]

37. Bingo.

But I kinda wonder why she was compelled to call back. I suspect there might be something in there which just might explain why somebody tried to frame this story as having something to do with being out of McNuggets.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. I wonder how long it took them to respond.

"I suspect there be something in there which just might explain why somebody tried to frame this story as having something to do with being out of McNuggets."

Oh that's just yellow journalism. "Man bites dog" and all that.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

35. Inappropriate, but a crime in progress was in fact being committed against her

She didn't call 9/11 to report that MacDonalds was out of chicken nuggets.

She called 9/11 to report that MacDonalds was stealing money from here, which they were.

[and-justice-for-all]

39. I hope she got a heavty fine for this nonsense....

I think 911 operators have bigger concerns than McDonald's

[BuyingThyme]

44. I doubt anybody missed this, but just in case:

McNugget brother calls 911 over traffic, says 'f--k you' to operator
David Edwards and Stephen C. Webster
Published: Thursday October 23, 2008


Early this week, Sen. John McNugget's brother Joe, while in Alexandria, VA, called 911 because he was irritated with traffic. When the operator asked him if he was really calling the emergency line to complain about highway conditions, Joe McNugget responded, "F--k you" and hung up.

According to WJLA 7 in Alexandria, the operator dialed the caller back. Shockingly enough, Joe McNugget's voicemail answered.

Audio of the call plays out as such:

Operator: "911, state your emergency."

Caller: "It's not an emergency but, do you know why on one side at the damn drawbridge of 95 traffic is stopped for 15 minutes and yet traffic's coming the other way?"

Operator: "Sir, are you calling 911 to complain about traffic?"

Caller: "F--k you."

...

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_brother_calls_911_to_complain_1023.html

[omega minimo]

55. what he said

[JI7]

52. i feel bad for her, she was justified in seeking help in getting her money back

a lot of people don't know or think about a non emergency number when calling cops for help. and at least she didn't cause any trouble herself as many might .

mcdonalds was wrong not to give her the money back.

[EmilyAnne]

73. Me too!

[BuyingThyme]

53. What if they were to have those McNuggets, and she were to pay for them with a $100 bill...

Would it be okay for her to call 911 if they, instead of giving her her cash, were to insist on making change in the form of extra McNuggets?

[seabeyond]

63. nothing to do with mcnuggets. i lyin headline. all to do with theft

she gave money for a product they couldnt reduce. her right to take money back.

i am curious if she ever got her money

[Bill McBlueState]

69. I would actually like it

if fast-food operations got used to the idea that the police might show up every time they try to rip someone off.

[WI_DEM]

74. I'm confused, McDonald's was trying to make her take something she didn't want rather than refund

her?

[BuyingThyme]

77. Yes.

[seabeyond]

78. sounds like. and then headline reads like over nuggets, but over theft

tired of this bullshit.

was she suppose to just walk away and let them keep her money????

[CTyankee]

81. I would have come into the restaurant and stood at the counter and firmly demanded

to see the manager. I would state my case to said manager and keep inquiring why my money was not being refunded, if no sale was made.

It's called the "broken record" type of negotiation. Hopefully, the manager would get tired of having someone standing there demanding over and over and over again to have her money returned and saying it loudly enough so that all the other customers could hear it. She could even have turned to the customers and said "Well, did you see what just happened here? The manager of this McDonald's restaurant took my money and gave me nothing in return and now will not return my money. What do you think about that? What if it happened to you?"

Of course, I can probably get away with this because I am a senior with plenty of gray in my hair and I can become a pretty crusty old lady when I need to. They know if they called the police on me I would probably have my age as an advantage.