I had an experience happen to me the other day that left me not only
with a major headache but wondering what was wrong with me. A lady
whom I have know for a couple of years called me to her house. She
had three man made opals that she wanted set in silver. Okay that
was no problem. I registered her request in my log book exactly what
she had given me, what she wanted done and the approximate cost. I
had her initial the page and I took the “opals” and left.
The other day she came to my place to pick up the opals. Well I had
finished the pendant and the earrings using all three opals. Now she
says she gave me 5 opals and that they were her mothers and that she
wanted two pendants, earrings and a ring. Not only that they were to
be in gold.
First of all I told her that she only gave me 3 stones and that they
were to be done in silver. Then she became very loud and brutal
calling me a liar, a thief etc. I was lucky I was in my own home as
she was very loudly telling me that she was going to call the police
etc. I took out my book (which has many entries after hers) and
showed her the date she gave me the stones what I was to do with them
and that she herself had initialed it. Now she says that that is not
her initials that I have rewritten the book to be in my favour. By
this time I am really mad and told her to take her opals and leave my
house. Unfortunately when I get that mad I cry. I made sure that she
had safely gotten into her car (she is known to have “accidental
falls” on personal property. I sat there and tears ran down my face.
Then a little later on I have the police on my doorstep.
I went through everything with them. I showed them my log book. I
told them I would swear on a stack of bibles that that was all she
had given me. She had told them that they were extremely expensive
opals and that I had stolen the two largest ones. I asked the police
if she had mentioned that I had given her the three opals that I did
for her for no cost. No she left out that little detail. By this time
my headache was so bad I thought I was going to stroke out. (I have
just had brain surgery a couple of months ago and this did not help
at all). After the police left I sat on the floor and wondered why
was I in this business at all. She was too agressive of a person
(sorry I cannot call her a lady) for me to deal with. Do I just say
no I cannot do
anything for you (if the person is agressive?) Now she has laid
charges on me - which in a small town gets around fast. What do I do
to prove my innocence. I know what I will do in the future (pictures
etc.) but for now I am lost. I have no one to give me any
suggestions on how to handle this matter and I am afraid that my
regular customers will listen to her. I have never had a complaint
before this. Any kind words or suggestions will really help right
now.
Leslie