What would you do? update post #18

[daughtersrus]

A friend and I were at a local riverboat casino over the weekend. My friend wrote a check at the casino cage for cash. She does this all the time because her bank is out of the way and it's free to write a check compared to paying the ATM fees. Anyway, it was pretty crazy busy so my friend keep one bill out and put the rest in a special pouch in her purse. She was lucky and won some money so she never had to go back to the pouch and get more money out. When she got home, she took the money out of the pouch to redeposit in the bank. She realized that the cashier had to of given her more money than she wrote the check for. She double checked her carbon copy of the check to be sure.

I'm assuming that they will go through the video tape when the drawer is off and see that she was given too much money. Should she go back now and give them back the extra? It's a lot of money ($300) so I'm sure that someone will sit with the tapes until it's found. I asked my friend how she didn't catch it at the window and she said that she asked for the bills to be in 20's but somehow she got 3 $100 bills.

My friend is a frequent customer there so she's afraid that if she goes back that they will accuse her of doing something illegal. I believe her that she didn't know but I also understand how it may look to the casino.

 

[happygirl]

A friend and I were at a local riverboat casino over the weekend. My friend wrote a check at the casino cage for cash. She does this all the time because her bank is out of the way and it's free to write a check compared to paying the ATM fees. Anyway, it was pretty crazy busy so my friend keep one bill out and put the rest in a special pouch in her purse. She was lucky and won some money so she never had to go back to the pouch and get more money out. When she got home, she took the money out of the pouch to redeposit in the bank. She realized that the cashier had to of given her more money than she wrote the check for. She double checked her carbon copy of the check to be sure.

I'm assuming that they will go through the video tape when the drawer is off and see that she was given too much money. Should she go back now and give them back the extra? It's a lot of money ($300) so I'm sure that someone will sit with the tapes until it's found. I asked my friend how she didn't catch it at the window and she said that she asked for the bills to be in 20's but somehow she got 3 $100 bills.

My friend is a frequent customer there so she's afraid that if she goes back that they will accuse her of doing something illegal. I believe her that she didn't know but I also understand how it may look to the casino.

I would go back. Or atleast call them and let them know what has happened.

 

[Scurvy]

I would call them and ask how they would like me to handle it. I assume they'll probably want her to come return the extra money.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I also believe she should contact the casino and explain the situation.

 

[Sparx]

I definitely think your friend needs to call the casino. The cashier could be in a whole lot of trouble for theft when they found the drawer short at the end of the night. I know I would be really upset with myself if I let someone get fired (or worse) for a mistake like that, when I could have called and prevented it.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

Living in Oklahoma aka lil las vegas due to the # of tribal casino's...I have several friends employed as cashiers and I can tell you that from their perspective it's a huge "write up" situation whenever their drawer is short OR over. Trust me they will get to the bottom of it , i'd call asap!

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks for the replies. If she hasn't already called, I suggest that.

I know it's not the same but I had an experience at a grocery store recently where the cashier gave me back too much money. I went to the service desk and explained. The manager came over to talk to me about it. He basically thanked me for being honest and said that the cashier would no longer be working there because of the mistake.

It seems like a no win situation.

Trust me they will get to the bottom of it , i'd call asap!

I assume that they go through the video tapes and then contact the customer. I hope that the customer doesn't get in trouble but I'm not sure. A cashier once told me that they can arrest you for theft if you play on a machine or cash out credit that someone else left in there by mistake.

 

[Feralpeg]

A cashier once told me that they can arrest you for theft if you play on a machine or cash out credit that someone else left in there by mistake.

That's not true. I was at a casino in Kansas City and went to play on a machine. I noticed that someone had walked away and left coins in the tray (this was before they all went to using tickets). I called over an attendant to see what I should do. They told me that if the person walked away and left it, it was their loss and the finder's gain. I picked the coins up and put them in a cup just in case the person came back. They didn't so I ended up using them.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

That's not true. I was at a casino in Kansas City and went to play on a machine. I noticed that someone had walked away and left coins in the tray (this was before they all went to using tickets). I called over an attendant to see what I should do. They told me that if the person walked away and left it, it was their loss and the finder's gain. I picked the coins up and put them in a cup just in case the person came back. They didn't so I ended up using them.

What the Slot Attendant said was likely incorrect (or it would be at any well run casino!) What the attendant probably should have done (again, if the casino was well run. . .I've seen some that. . .ah, yeah.) was radioed Security and taken the money to the cage and done a lost/found form. The attendant didn't want to be bothered. YOU did nothing wrong, however, so don't sweat it. But yeah. Think of it this way: Would you take someone's purse if they'd left it sitting there? Their wallet? Would you have taken a roll of cash? Would you take someone's car because it wasn't locked and was in a public parking lot?

OTOH: If someone came up the slot attendant and said you'd stolen their money. Well, posession is 9/10th of the law. . .If the person pressed it and they rolled the surveillance tape (at any well run casino, mind) the patron would likely still be out their funds for abandonment, you'd keep the money, and the attendant would be out a job. So you're in the clear - you tried to return the funds!

As for the Cashier from the OP's story, he/she has already almost certainly lost his/her job. If he/she hasn't yet and does when the friend makes the phone call - GOOD!

The way it works for Cage Cashiers is that they count out at the end of shift. If they are over or under by a certain dollar amount they go on suspension until the issue is resolved. If they are over or under by a lesser amount, they just take the outage and it goes on their record. For large amounts, if the amount "washes", that is, shows up somewhere else in the cage or in their relief's count, the off amount is recorded and tracked - enough times incorrect or a certain amount incorrect and the Cashier is fired. Smaller amounts are also tracked, usually in a FIFO method - go over enough times and you're fired.

Some Cashiers can add up what's in their window (the bank of money they are responsible for) and can sometimes figure out how to hide their outages until the next Casheir comes on, and then the next Cashier takes their outage - I've only seen this once and wasn't able to prove what the Cashier did manipulate her end of shift count, but I'm pretty dang sure she did!

How do I know this? I spent about 8 years in the Casino industry in different departments, but mostly in IT, and did some fraud and compliance work. I've got a working knowledge of everything from cage cashiers to slots to tables to hospitality to Casino accounting to systems to. . .oh you name it.

 

[happygirl]

As for the Cashier from the OP's story, he/she has already almost certainly lost his/her job. If he/she hasn't yet and does when the friend makes the phone call - GOOD!



That very harsh, Everyone makes mistakes. I would never want anyone to lose there job over an innocent mistake

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Whoops! Double Post!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

As for the Cashier from the OP's story, he/she has already almost certainly lost his/her job. If he/she hasn't yet and does when the friend makes the phone call - GOOD!



That very harsh, Everyone makes mistakes. I would never want anyone to lose there job over an innocent mistake

Read the rest of the comment. My point was that if the Cashier's outage was unknown when the friend called, the Cashier was guilty of some serious fraud that probably caused ANOTHER Cashier to lose his/her job. That's not an innocent error, that's just plain out mean and nasty.

 

[daughtersrus]

What the Slot Attendant said was likely incorrect (or it would be at any well run casino!) What the attendant probably should have done (again, if the casino was well run. . .I've seen some that. . .ah, yeah.) was radioed Security and taken the money to the cage and done a lost/found form. The attendant didn't want to be bothered. YOU did nothing wrong, however, so don't sweat it. But yeah. Think of it this way: Would you take someone's purse if they'd left it sitting there? Their wallet? Would you have taken a roll of cash? Would you take someone's car because it wasn't locked and was in a public parking lot?

OTOH: If someone came up the slot attendant and said you'd stolen their money. Well, posession is 9/10th of the law. . .If the person pressed it and they rolled the surveillance tape (at any well run casino, mind) the patron would likely still be out their funds for abandonment, you'd keep the money, and the attendant would be out a job. So you're in the clear - you tried to return the funds!

As for the Cashier from the OP's story, he/she has already almost certainly lost his/her job. If he/she hasn't yet and does when the friend makes the phone call - GOOD!

The way it works for Cage Cashiers is that they count out at the end of shift. If they are over or under by a certain dollar amount they go on suspension until the issue is resolved. If they are over or under by a lesser amount, they just take the outage and it goes on their record. For large amounts, if the amount "washes", that is, shows up somewhere else in the cage or in their relief's count, the off amount is recorded and tracked - enough times incorrect or a certain amount incorrect and the Cashier is fired. Smaller amounts are also tracked, usually in a FIFO method - go over enough times and you're fired.

Some Cashiers can add up what's in their window (the bank of money they are responsible for) and can sometimes figure out how to hide their outages until the next Casheir comes on, and then the next Cashier takes their outage - I've only seen this once and wasn't able to prove what the Cashier did manipulate her end of shift count, but I'm pretty dang sure she did!

How do I know this? I spent about 8 years in the Casino industry in different departments, but mostly in IT, and did some fraud and compliance work. I've got a working knowledge of everything from cage cashiers to slots to tables to hospitality to Casino accounting to systems to. . .oh you name it.

Thanks for the info. You sound very knowledgeable about the casino business. Do you mind if I pick your brain a little?

I spoke to my friend a few minutes ago. She is going to call later today. She's still afraid that somehow she is the one that is going to get in trouble for not catching the cashier's error. The check isn't due to clear her bank until tonight or tomorrow so she's unsure if they changed the amount of the check. I doubt that would be legal but I really have no idea.

I'm thinking that they will go through the video footage and be able to zoom in on the check amount and the amount that was paid out. Do you think that they will hold the check and call her or put it through to be cashed? I guess she's just afraid to return the money until the check clears for fear that the casino will somehow get the extra $300 from her check as well as the $300 that she returns.

Why did I get myself involved in this?

 

[tazdev3225]

I would call or go back. My DD's work at a casino here as cash advance tellers. Their contract holds them responsible for all shortages. My one DD had an issue last year where her drawer was short $1000. They know she didn't take it, cameras are all over that area, and they knew she didn't give it out. There was a glitch in the money drawer but she was held accountable. The tellers may not lose their job but they will have to make up the shortfall, even a very small amount of money.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Thanks for the info. You sound very knowledgeable about the casino business. Do you mind if I pick your brain a little?

I spoke to my friend a few minutes ago. She is going to call later today. She's still afraid that somehow she is the one that is going to get in trouble for not catching the cashier's error. The check isn't due to clear her bank until tonight or tomorrow so she's unsure if they changed the amount of the check. I doubt that would be legal but I really have no idea.

I'm thinking that they will go through the video footage and be able to zoom in on the check amount and the amount that was paid out. Do you think that they will hold the check and call her or put it through to be cashed? I guess she's just afraid to return the money until the check clears for fear that the casino will somehow get the extra $300 from her check as well as the $300 that she returns.

Why did I get myself involved in this?

There's no way she'll get in trouble, especially if she turns up WITH the money and explains. It's quite obviously an honest mistake on her part - no way could it be otherwise. The casino will be SHOCKED she is being so honest, however. . .

ETA: If the casino or someone in the casino were to change the amount on her check, she should call the police ASAP. That's HIGHLY illegal.

 

[karibritt01]

I assume that they go through the video tapes and then contact the customer. I hope that the customer doesn't get in trouble but I'm not sure. A cashier once told me that they can arrest you for theft if you play on a machine or cash out credit that someone else left in there by mistake.

There's no way she'll get in trouble, especially if she turns up WITH the money and explains. It's quite obviously an honest mistake on her part - no way could it be otherwise. The casino will be SHOCKED she is being so honest, however. . .

I think that if she waits for the casino to track her down and contact her, then she could very possibly be charged with theft. Although she didn't steal the money purposefully, if she fails to return it then she IS stealing it. There was a case on the news awhile back of a guy that found a huge bank error in his favor. He withdrew the money and spent it. He was arrested and charged with theft.

I think snarlingcayote is correct... if she contacts the casino and returns the money, they will be grateful.

 

[taximomfor4]

Thanks for the replies. If she hasn't already called, I suggest that.

I know it's not the same but I had an experience at a grocery store recently where the cashier gave me back too much money. I went to the service desk and explained. The manager came over to talk to me about it. He basically thanked me for being honest and said that the cashier would no longer be working there because of the mistake.

It seems like a no win situation.

Not always. When I was cashier at a grocery store, I accidentally gave too much change back (a $50 instead of a $5!!!!!!!) I found out when the manager called me over to the desk, to tell me a customer had returned extra money from my drawer. They counted out my drawer, it was that short, so the returned money made it correct. I didn't get a write-up BECAUSE the customer returned the money!!

 

[daughtersrus]

For those that even care, my friend went back to the casino yesterday. She waited in the line at the cage. When she got up to the front, the teller excused herself for a moment and came back with the manager. Before my friend could even say anything, the manager asked her to step aside to a vacant window. The manager proceeded to tell my friend that there was a problem with a transaction that had happened that needed to be taken care of. My friend pulled out the money and told her that was why she was back. The manager continued about how the mistake was captured on surveillance tapes and that they had proof. The manager was friendly but my friend said that she still had the feeling that they thought that she was trying to get away with something. She even made a comment about it. The manager kind of laughed and said "of course we don't think that" but my friend said that she still felt uneasy. She stayed a played a little but said that she felt like everyone was watching her or knew that she was the lady that "tried to steal the money." On a better note, the cashier that made the error was working so at least she felt better that she hadn't been suspended or fired. The cashier did thank her for coming back.

 

[Scurvy]

I'm sorry they made her feel uncomfortable. That's one reason I would have called first, so they'd know I had come up with the idea of returning the money on my own. But take it really personally when I think people think the worst of me, so I always try to avoid situations like that if I can. She did the right thing, though, and she should feel good about that. I'm glad the teller didn't lose her job this time, and hopefully she'll be much more careful in the future so no other customers get put into an awkward situation like this again.

 

[Took]

I think your friend acted admirably. I'm sorry she felt uncomfortable but she had NO reason to feel that way. What if she hadn't looked in that pouch for several days or weeks? By the time she found the money, she might not have known where it came from. Would the casino have "come after" her in the meantime?? It was their mistake. They were responsible for rectifying it.