This is something that has been bothering me for a long time and want to get your take on it. I was back home on R&R this past NOV. Part of the Honey Do list involved a U-haul which I rented from a Gas Station close to Patrick AFB. FL. All went well till I returned it. I got into a verbal altercation with the owner over the being charged an extra day.
I reserved the U-Haul at 1200 hrs. but did not take it till 1600 hrs. I returned 3 days later at 1600 hrs but was charged for 4 days. I did not know he was the owner and was asking to for the name of his supervisor because he said there was nothing he could do about it. I wanted to take it further because I felt he was being rude and I wasn’t getting any satisfaction. He refused and voices were raised along with name calling on both sides. He told me to leave or he would call the police. I said go ahead, I wasn’t leaving till I got the name of his boss. So………….he calls.
Not more then 3 min. later an un-marked car with a Detective and a Sheriffs Dept. Vehicle with a Uniformed Officer come racing in. I am inside sitting down while the Owner is at the counter. We go out and they take the owner aside because he is the one who made the call. I try to get a word in but I am Ordered to go back in-side and wait. I’m no fool,………..I shut my mouth and go back in.
A minute later the uniformed officer comes in and gives me the run down,….The owner called 911 and said that I was threatening to burn down his place of business….So he asks for my DL and takes down the info and suggest that I never return and take my business else where. As far as the charge for the extra day, it is a civil matter, take it to court. I try to give him my side but he’s really not interested, it’s a case his word against mine. Only now do I find out that this man is the owner. After he is finished with taking down my info there is nothing left to but leave……………so I do, damaged pride, tale between my legs, angry, frustrated and humiliated…the owner wins!
During the whole time that the LEO's where there, they acted with professionalism and with authority. They treated me fairly, with diginity and respect.
My concerns,
I never threaten the owner or his business in any way, shape or form…..since they were not interested in my side, was a report filed against me? Will this come back to bite me in the ass?
I have a CCW, I did not have a handgun or any other weapon with me at the time. Should I have volunteered that I do have a CCW license to the officer even if I did not have anything?
Will I have to surrender the CCW because of this incident?
Later I thought I should have asked for the officers badge number and report number to follow up with a lawer. If I had done so, would this have been taken as being uncooperative?
At this point I don’t care about the extra $20 plus tax, I am more concerned that this man lied to that extent. I would think that those are very serious charges. It took me three days to get over the incident, not anger but frustration.
I hope nothing ever happens to this mans business because I think they would come knocking on my door, even though I’m in the Sand Box.
I don’t understand, it doesn’t seem fair.
Thank You for finally letting me get my side of the story out.
R.