Teacher Thought She Was Leaving $5 Tip, but It Was Actually $5K
NEED TO KNOW
- Linda Mathiesen said she accidentally left a $5,000 tip instead of a $5 tip at a California vape shop about a year ago
- She then claims she spent months trying to dispute the transaction before her bank refunded her
- Wells Fargo tells PEOPLE that they “resolved this situation” and “are committed to working with our customers to find solutions when they encounter issues”
A California woman said she felt generous after shopping at a vape store and decided to leave a $5 tip — then realized she accidentally left three extra zeros.
Special education teacher Linda Mathiesen told ABC affiliate KGO that about a year ago, she went to San Bruno Exotic to purchase a couple of items to help with her shoulder pain, including CBD relief gel.
In a giving mood, she decided to leave a $5 tip, but Mathiesen told KGO that she couldn’t fully see what she was doing at the tall checkout stand. “I push what I thought was only two zeros. Ended up being three zeros,” Mathiesen said.
Once she realized those zeros were in front of the decimal point, and not behind it, she tried to rectify her mistake, but the clerk reportedly said he didn’t know how and processed the tip instead.
Mathiesen alleged to KGO that she began the process of disputing the transaction with Wells Fargo that same day, but after dozens of attempts to try and reach them over several months, the matter hadn’t been solved.
However, the outlet claimed that after they reached out to the bank, Wells Fargo did respond to Mathiesen, promising to refund the tip plus interest.
When reached for comment, a bank spokesperson told PEOPLE that after learning about what happened to her, they “resolved this situation.”
“We are committed to working with our customers to find solutions when they encounter issues,” they added.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
According to KGO, the smoke shop, which now goes by Exotic Vapes, and a clerk they spoke with, who otherwise had no comment, claimed new owners took over in January.
When PEOPLE reached for comment on Friday, June 6, the phone number was not in service. Mathiesen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.