Okay… I know I said yesterday that I maybe, kind of, possibly might actually like people.
Days like today reinforce why I mostly don’t.
Today is the day that about 80% of my clients get automatically billed via PayPal. It’s a day I look forward to for obvious reasons.
It’s also a day I somewhat resent, though. Because it’s when I have to deal with people who are flakier than me… and sometimes outright dishonest to boot.
Like the guy who filed a fraudulent charge claim against me to his credit card company. That’s serious business in my line of work. My business lives and dies with my merchant account. And the online world is already on edge with all the scammy biz ops and bogus get-rich-quick schemes people promote.
So I get ticked when people feel like they need to tell some elaborate lie to cover either 1) their buyer’s remorse, or 2) the fact that they can’t pay this month.
All they need to do is cancel their billing agreement with me. That’s it. And it’s all automated and online. They don’t even have to ask me to do it for them or get my permission or even notify me.
And even afterwards all they have to do is ask and get a refund. Every time.
But that’s not good enough in today’s world.
Because then, who would they blame?
So they decide it’s better to waste the time of a half dozen other people who are now required to jump through hoops to show there was no fraud, no unauthorized transaction, and no conscience on behalf the consumer.
And all I want to do is just give him his money back and move on. I don’t want him as a customer any more than he wants to keep paying me. But because he took the coward’s road I can’t do that.
I first have to defend myself. And respond. And do busywork. And prove my innocence. Because credit card fraud is a very serious offense.
And I just don’t get the point. What does he get out of this? I have the records that he actually used my product. There’s nowhere for him to go with this. Doesn’t he know that?
I can’t hardly even speak, I get so frustrated with people like this.
And do you want to know the best and juiciest part? He’ll probably go years in his life wondering when it will be his turn to be successful. Wondering when people will stop ripping him off and taking advantage of him… probably so he can turn around and do it back to them.
And it’s sad that people see the world like that.
And it's maddening that somehow it’s my fault. And if you’re an honest, hard-working person it’s probably your fault, too.
We live in a society of professional, lifelong, outrageously committed victims.
It’s too bad… I was actually beginning to enjoy maybe, kind of, possibly actually liking people.
So, George, here’s to you… I present my Official Snake of the Day Award. You’ve earned it. Now go bother someone else.
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