I always think, "Who has time to review a fast food place?", now I get it.
I had an experience that I am now having to take the time out of my day to let the world know to avoid this place.
I've come to this Del Taco about a dozen times over the last year and usually had your average fast-food experience. I worked retail through high school and college so I know what these workers deal with working with the general public. I give fast food places a lot of slack when I am their patron but last night was bad. It was about 9 pm on 08/02/2020.
I used the drive-thru and paid for my purchase only to realize I forgot to have them scan the QR code on my DelTaco phone app for a coupon.
When the drive-thru attendant came back with my food I asked if he could please use the coupon. He said no because the transaction was completed.
I would normally accept this and move on, but I suggested maybe he could refund my whole order and ring it back up, but with the coupon this time?
I know it can be annoying to handle a request like mine, and I normally don't ask for favors, but I really wanted to use this coupon, it was the only reason why I chose to go to Del Taco that night.
He looked a little upset I even gave him a rebuttal. He asked what looked like an older guy (Manager?) something then returned to me and asked for my credit card and my phone.
I happily obliged, handed over my phone and credit card then double-checked my order while they were "helping" me.
I noticed one of my burritos was missing so when the drive-thru attendant walked back to me I let him know nicely that I appreciate the help and also I was missing the burrito.
He again looked disgruntled, didn't say anything, and turned around. I watched him go to the prep area and retrieve a burrito.
He returned to hand me the burrito and to let me know, and I quote, "Please remember to have your coupon next time, you are holding up the line".
I looked in my rearview mirror and there was one car behind me. One. I looked back at the drive-thru attendant and said I apologize, but I have had to sit in thousands of lines and wait for other people to finish their transactions.
He just stared back at me. The whole time the older worker (Manager?) is fiddling with the register. This has taken all of 3 minutes so far.
The attendant walks to the register and then returns to the window and barks that my phone has turned off and hands it back. No problem, I unlock it, hand it back.
Another minute goes by and the attendant returns to show me a receipt with the original refund amount of my order at -$9.82 and advises it will take a few days to show up on my credit card statement. He then hands me a folded receipt saying that is the transaction with the $3 off coupon applied.
I thank him again because he did get my coupon applied and then I drive off. I was not really happy that I had to tell him how he should apply the coupon since he said he couldn't (He lied or had never dealt with a refund before?). Also not happy that they forgot one of my burritos and then told me I was holding up their line.
*News Flash* I don't pull away from drive-thru windows without checking that all of my items are there anyway. I would have been waiting for you to make my missing burrito anyway.
Well, it gets better. I get home and look at the folded receipt to confirm a charge for $3 less than the $9.82 original charge. NOPE.
I see my original order, the $3 off coupon, AND 2 medium drinks @ $2.49 each as well as a Chocolate shake for $3.99. I never ordered any drinks, let alone 3. I am only one man. See picture.
Total charged with tax - $16.25.
Well, they did get my coupon right at least.
I am not saying this is intentional, but I almost feel like it was at this point given the rude interactions with the drive-thru attendant and what appeared to be a struggling manager dealing with my request.
So all and all, as it stands, I was OVER charged $9.66.
Next time I am in the area I will be stopping by to get my $9.66 back.
In this time when a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet, bs like this is unacceptable.
It's down to the principle now, I don't want a place like that getting my hard-earned money.
I will also mention the drive-thru attendant was wearing a mask and gloves. BUT, the same gloves he handled my burrito/food with, were the same gloves he handled my credit card and phone with. Gross.
I've used other drive-thrus during the pandemic and have seen better ways to deal with taking payments and handling the food.
I ended up just throwing it all away when I got home due to this.
Hope the franchise owner or Corporate reads this so they can help train their staff better. I won't be coming back to this location except to get my money back. I'll be surprised if the refund for $9.82 even shows up, if it doesn't, that means $26.07 for what should have been a $6.58 transaction for food I didn't end up eating due to gross standards. read more