WalMart redux

[Charlie Self]

I read a story in today's Roanoke paper that says a Tampa, FL WalMart managed to stick its footsies in the fire again. The store staff checked ID--driver's license, business card, a call to the company accountant--for a human resources manager for GAF, but decided to hold on to his $13,600 company check, and the 530+ WM gift cards he'd had pre-printed for his employees, while they called the cops. When the cops got there, one of them grabbed the guy, and told them, "We need to see about that forged check you brought in here."

The HR manager is black. The check is good.

It was spent at Target, according to the story.

I hope the HR manager grabs a large pot of beans off WalMart's legal stove with this one, and sues the living shit out of the deputy and the municipality for which acts as a paid thug.

[Frank Ketchum]

Did they call the cops because they thought a black person couldn't have access to those resources? Does the story say that? Or has it gotten to the point that as long as you are black, everything that happens to you is automatically racially motivated?

[Dhakala]

The story also says the HR manager was stalled for about 2 hours - which is about 1 hour and 55 minutes longer than I would wait for someone to accept my $13,600!

[Han]

"Charlie Self" wrote in news:1133643137.529629.98290 @f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

I agree with your wish of bewns for the HR manager, but I have a thought: With a $10K limit above which monetary transactions have to be reported to thwe Feds somewhere somehow, would it not have been wise to call ahead and see whether a check would be acceptable payment?

By the way, it brings to mind The first chekc I ever presented to Sears, not long after opening our first checking account in Cambridge, MA in

1969. I was asked for my driver's license, and produced it. Guess they had never seen a Dutch license at Sears on Mass Ave (since gone). I didn't yet have a Mass license, and they were a bit taken aback by this sheet of hot pink, measuring about 4 x 11" (wide). We still have some of the pans from that first household purchase in the US.

For a current application for a Dutch license, see . It would help if you understand Dutch.

[Charles Self]

The order was placed earlier...it didn't say how much earlier. Regardless of what the Feds want, Wal-Mart is not an enforcement arm, and GAF is a major company, so you'd think that their check, assurances of the guy's business card and ID and a call to the company accountant would suffice. This was NOT a personal check.

Obviously not.

[John Emmons]

That $10,000 limit you refer to applies only to cash deposited or withdrawn from a bank. It's an interesting way to try and stop obvious money laundering.

Doesn't apply to checks, certainly doesn't apply when someone is making a purchase at a retail store.

John E

[Mark & Juanita]

It's probably a bit pre-mature to assume that race was the motivating factor here. How was the guy dressed? If he was dressed down, is it possible this was a trigger of suspicion? If a similarly dressed-down white person had attempted the same thing would the same paranoia have reigned at Walmart?

A fitting twist

Yep. There had to have been a better way to have handled that situation. I've been caught in cases in the past where the only company ID I had was an insurance card when attempting to get a company discount from a particular retailer (purchase was for items for work). The retailer in this case did right and I learned a valuable lesson -- make sure that you take a company badge with you for these kinds of things.

Several things may have led to the WM manager's suspicions. In most cases, transactions this large are handled via purchase orders, so the fact someone had shown up with a check that large may have pegged the suspicion meter. Anybody can have business cards for anything printed up and I suspect that had the manager accepted the check and it turned out to be fraudulent, it would have been his backside on the line, so he was in a bad situation.

... snip

My understanding is the $10k reporting requirement is for bank transactions, not all financial transactions. The purpose is to catch money laundering.

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

[Morris Dovey]

The author of one of my favorite business books opined that there were two classes of business, based on their top management norms.

He said that first-raters hired only first-raters who, in turn, used similar standards to hire the remainder of the business' management.

In the other class of businesses, there were second-raters at the top who hired third raters, who then used similar standards to hire the remainder of the business' management.

The really bad news is that it's nearly impossible to upgrade an "other" class business to a "first" class business - and all too easy for a wormy board of directors and/or heir to spoil a top-notch company.

Wal-Mart's problems are unlikely to be limited to the Tampa operation.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[arw01]

Technically $10,000 in _any_ transaction can be reported. However, it mainly refers to cash or combination of cash and checks. If you take cash for $5000 a week early, then take another $6000 in a few more days, you have to report it. If you get $5000 in cash and a Cashiers check for the balance, it's not required. If you get $9900 and then a check you are supposed to report that. This the feds feel is an attempt to circumvent the rules.

This reminds me I need to file a form at work first thing on MONDAY!

Alan

[John]

In the modern media, if he had been white, it probably would not have made the news.

[A.M. Wood]

"In most cases, transactions this large are handled via purchase orders, so the fact someone had shown up with a check that large may have pegged the suspicion meter."

Payment is still made by check.

[LRod]

It's been that way for a long time. I firmly believe from personal experience that a large majority of "racial" difficulties allegedly experienced by blacks are exactly the same sort of experiences all of us have. But if you've been raised to be black, that is, to be offended and oppressed, you can apply no other interpretation to the act.

I'd like to know how the transaction escalated to the level of police involvement. I wonder if there was a little "attitude" expressed somewhere in it.

[Lew Hodgett]

Some things to remember:

Tampa is headquarters for GAF, or was, last time we did business.

If this event happened during business hours, a simple telephone call by the appropriate WalMart employee to GAF accounting, would have verified the validity of the check.

Of course the person placing the telephone call needs to be able to communicate and understand conversation that has advanced a level or two beyond Neanderthal.

Lew

[O D]

According to the St Pete times the gaf employee waited for over two hrs for wal-mart to give him the gift cards but would not. He even asked for the company check back wal-mart refused. cops called that there was a forged check. A felon. So cops grabbed the felon. Cops went on info that the check was forged and man was trying to pass it. Wal-mart mgr would not even say he was sorry. Bentonvill(?) had to call his company and say we sorry. Oh and the employee even called his company to tell them the problem but the wal-mart mgr knew better. To the average reader I think you have to assume, this wal-mart mgr did not trust the black guy. Hey wally mart lost $13,500 sale , lost a future company sale from Gaf, and should loose a local store mgr. Anyone interested in applying for his $22,000 / yr. position. It is also 10 hr a day 6 days a week .

[Mark & Juanita]

While that is true, it is also true that the checks issued through purchase orders are issued by the appropriate financial departments of the company issuing the purchase order and generally sent via mail to the financial receiving department of the company with whom the purchase order was placed. In my experience, it would be very unusual for a person to deliver a check in person.

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

[O D]

Yes the st pete times reported that the call was made two weeks prior so wally mart could print up the gift cards. All 520 of them.

[O D]

You are of course assuming the dumb ass mgr would know what a purchase order LOOKED like. Ever consider that the local store can only accept cash check or credit card. ? It might be easier to log on to the St, petersburg times and read the story as the paper reported it. Someone mentioned attitude in the debate here. Now tell me what your attitude would be if you company comptroller gave you a company check for $13,500 told you to go to such and such wal-mart and pick up the 520 gift cards, You had Id and this dumb ass mgr hold up the transaction for two hrs and you even try to get the check back and you even call your company and tell them what is going on. Now what would you do. You honest has been challenged. Your integrity too.

[TeamCasa]

Wrong, A form 8300 has to be filed on ALL transactions over $10,000. Cash, check or combinations of each. If fact, a retailer or banker can not (under huge penalty) even advise or even hint that a 8300 for will be filed on the transaction.

Dave

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[Larry Jaques]

On 3 Dec 2005 12:52:17 -0800, with neither quill nor qualm, "Charlie Self" quickly quoth:

A definite injustice was done, but hoping that a city and a corporation get sued for something that an employee of each did to the poor guy is simply NOT the way to fix it, Charlie. The person who called the cops/got the guy arrested and, if warranted, the cop, should be held responsible, not the companies they work for. That's just downright idiotic.

You shouldn't be able to sue a gun manufacturer for something some asshole might have done with a gun in Boston or 'Bama, either.

Shame on you for that type of thinking. Lawsuits hurt EVERYONE! Well, except for the insurance companies and lawyers who all charge their highest rates for the privilege.

Go wash your mind out with soap.

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[Larry Jaques]

On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 21:59:02 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Frank Ketchum" quickly quoth:

Perhaps fewer than half the folks who walk into Wally World to cash a check do so for checks with sums smaller than $13.6k.

Questions: Was the employee/exec, or the cop, or the writer black? The story is far from complete enough as it stands here.

-- Instant Gratification Takes Too Long!

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