CFH time!
I have nothing against folks that use public assistance such as food stamps or WIC vouchers. But for gawds sake know the rules!
So many times I’ve had women come through my line and then say “Oh, this is all WiC.” when the simple fact is you need to tell us BEFORE we ring things up. It’s in all your directions from WIC, it’s in all my directions from WIC, it’s drilled into everyone who has to deal with WIC. And please, don’t get an attitude with me when I get frustrated because I have to void the whole thing. We cashiers are “graded” on how many voids we have and your ommission might have just cost one of us our full raise.
And don’t get mad at me when the computer denies your favorite brand of cereal/cheese/juice. If we sell you a product that is not WiC approved, it comes out of the stores pockets. I have no way to control what WiC approves or doesn’t approve. I just go by the guidelines they send us and try to explain to you what is or isn’t allowable. If you want to yell at someone because Kraft slices aren’t approved, call your local political representative or go to the WiC offices. Besides, does it really matter if it’s apple juice or pineapple bannana when it’s free? Heck, when something is given to me I don’t complain about specifics.
Which brings me to the next topic on public assistance that boggles me. Food stamps are no more, now there are EBT cards. Basically a debit card provided by public assistance with a max amount you can spend on food.
Now I know there are quite a few disallowed items, but it just makes me blink to see the stuff that is allowed. Soda, candy, ice cream, and other “luxury” foods that when I’m budgeting go right off my shopping list. If it were up to me the public assistance cards would cover fresh produce, meats, canned vegetables, breads and baking items and staples only. I think it needs a serious revamp.
I was also somewhat dismayed when one of my customers was talking about how folks sell their cards. They take the cards and sell them to friends/relatives for half the value in cash. Then the card buyer just uses it easy as pie. It’s just a debit card that no one is told to police/monitor in any way. I guess they figure if they put a pin code with it that’s all they need to do. We don’t check signatures/id or anything when it’s an EBT card. Anyone can concievably use it and they do pass em around like party favors. And we cashiers aren’t paid enough to try to police it for the government. For $7 an hour you think I’m gonna check every card that comes through my line and deal with the harassment from those customers? No freaking way.
Like I said, I have nothing against folks who use public assistance or Wic or other programs. If you really need it and you use it the way it’s intended I have no beef with you and will gladly help you get checked out in any way. But for those who abuse the system, bend the rules and otherwise defraud the government I have one thing to say to you…. “What goes around comes around.”
Karma baby!