Jesse O’Dell and his wife Deedee, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S., popped into the iconic chain for a drink in January 2023.
They ordered an iced Americano and a cappuccino, which is what they’d ordered for the last 16 years.
What should have been a cheap expense led to a massive financial headache that significantly impacted their personal lives.
An order that should have only cost the couple $11.83 ended up costing them $4,444.44.
At the time, the couple didn’t realize that they had paid so much.
It was only a few days later that Deedee noticed the mix-up – as her card got declined while she was at the mall with her four kids.
Jesse said he contacted Starbucks about the incident immediately and was told that there was a system error.
Recalling finding out, Jesse said: “I felt disbelief.
“I don’t have that kind of money sitting around to just play with.”
The situation impacted their personal life, as they had to cancel a family vacation.
Jesse explained: “We had planned to take a trip, but had to cancel, and the tickets are non-refundable.”
They are now urging everyone to check their receipts when purchasing something.
“This is something that has caused duress in our family, and hopefully, others don’t have to go through something like this,” Jesse commented.
The final bill was charged at $4,456.27 because of an added gratuity cost.
However, Jesse claims he remembers selecting ‘no tip’ when paying for the drinks.
Speaking to the Kansas City Star, Jesse said: “I know how to press buttons. I didn’t press that button.
“If it wasn’t the barista, then it’s definitely your network, which is a really big issue.”
New cheques have since been sent to the couple and successfully cashed.
A Starbucks spokesperson told LADbible Group: “This was an unfortunate situation that took place nearly two years ago and has long been resolved.
“There was an error made regarding a customer tip at a Starbucks drive thru, and we worked to address the situation as quickly as possible.
“Checks were issued and cashed by the customer on Monday, February 6, 2023.”
