Horrible experience coupled with Murphy's Law

First time visit at Hi-Q Kya Sands and it turned out to be the most horrible experience ever at an H-Q store.

First they didn't have the run-flat tyre that i needed for my car and instead of informing me that they don't have it on stock, and having the courtesy to ask if i don't mind waiting while they quickly go fetch the tyre from the nearby branch, they didn't! I only learnt this later when i was just waiting and noticed no work being done on my car only then they tell me that someone has quickly went to fetch it from Fourways branch. (the travel time between the stores is about 25 - 30min return drive, depending on the traffic). I'm with my 5 year old son who is hyperactive and in the autism spectrum. it's really difficult to keep him waiting and to stay still. i had to give him the phone to try get him to keep him busy and phone battery runs low and low as he uses it during the wait.

A series of Murphy's Law events followed after the work was done. At first I needed to do a transfer from my app's savings 'pockets' to my current account. Managed to do that and then it turned out i forgot my bank card at home. We then agreed that i will do the EFT and send the POP. next phone battery died. next Network issues, as i was on my mobile data. At that time it's difficult to keep my son still and he's running around and tapping on the rims on display and other stuff. I needed to keep an eye on him so he doesn't break anything or run out of the store. I then ask that i rather go because my son was very distractive and screaming and there was a customer in the store.

In my mind, I'm thinking I'll do this when i get home. I've been there for like forever with the child who is unsettled, i am frustrated and upset. I get in the car ordinarily and drive off. Next as I'm about to join in the road to Witkoppen, their sales person (Desmond) pulls his car next to me, blocking me and asking me why am i leaving without paying. So i tell him i thought you saw my son being distractive, i couldn't do it there and thought i will do it when i get home. He says he thought i was going to go in the car and do the payment there (next thing i drive off). Clearly, i tell him, this is a misunderstanding. We both made assumptions. The fact that he didn't articulate this, i found it upsetting that he immediately assumed that I'm running from paying the bill. i have been an HQ customer for years now and they have my car registration number. Where the hell would i hide after not paying anyway?? So i drove back and parked my car to try do the payment and Murphy's Law continued. I sit in my car, charging the phone (at that time it's about 1% or 2%). For some odd reason, whenever i get the pop-up screen to approve the payment so it van be processed. I'd press to approve, but nothing happened. it did that for several times. i then think the problem could be my connection and go in the store ask for their wi-fi details so i can rather do internet banking and not use the mobile app. Battery dies, i charge and connect to the store's wifi. I make mistake with payment amount, need to redo. i need to be extra careful with the account number. My son is now supper busy at this point and I'm super annoyed and frustrated and close to tears. i grab my son to sit still so i can do this and we go home. (taking this out on the innocent child).

Eventually i made a payment and sent the POP to my email, so i could forward it to their email. I wanted to be sure the POP came through. the POP didn't come through to my inbox. i also check the spam folder and there's nothing. i then went back into the payment i made and send the POP to their email address. i told the Desmond that I've done the payment and immediately left. he was busy with someone in the office and i assumed he heard me. I COULD NOT stay any longer! Anyone reading this and knowing even a bit about ASD and ADHD would understand.

A couple of minutes after i get home, i get a call from Desmond that he is opening a case against me as i left without paying. I'm stunned and try to tell him that i paid and told him that i sent the POP and thought he heard and that i needed to leave the store at that time. I told him by all means, he can go open the case. After few minutes, i call him to tell him that i have made the payment i also didn't get the POP on my email, but i can send him the screenshot of the sms showing the payment went through. at that time he keep talking over me and not listening! eventually i asked for his number and sent him the screen shot. i have had wonderful experiences at other HiQs before, but this was a horrible experience ever. This one is the one closest to my home and thought i'll use it going forward, but that was my fist and the last. Poor customer service!