I went to rent a movie from the local movie rental place the other day, when I got a bit of a surprise. They said I couldn't rent a movie because I owed fines - $372.00 in fines to be exact. I knew that it was impossible because in the few months I've had the account, I was very careful to return all movies and to return them on time. The girl was polite and said that she couldn't do anything about it, but would leave a note for the manager. She added that no doubt it was just a mistake and it should be taken care of the next day.

I went back the next day, but the manager wasn't there. Another woman was there, but she had heard about the situation. She said that I hadn't returned two movies, but I said that I had returned all movies. She went back to the counter to look for a note the manager had left, which listed the two movies. Glancing down, I noticed the note written by the girl the day before, but the names of two movies had also been written on it now. I assumed this was the manager's doing, as I noticed other things written on the note. Beside where the girl had written that my account wasn't that old, the words - "Old enough to have a big bill" appeared beside it. Also, where the girl had written, "She said she has never turned in a movie late," I saw, "She doesn't return them late, she just keeps them!" Needless to say, this upset me.

I showed it to the woman and asked if the two movies at the top was the ones I supposedly kept. She said it was, so I walked to the shelves, found both movies, and placed them on the counter. The woman just looked at them for a moment, then she pulled up my account on the computer. Next, she said it was all late fees for one movie. I told her it had been returned on time, but she said she could only go by what was on the computer. However, my receipt said I had rented it on June 23. For me to have a charge of $372 at $3/day, I would have to be 124 days late. From June 23 until September 20th is only 109 days, plus she had the movie was currently on the shelf. In fact, according to the computer, I was being charged late fees during the time that other people had rented and returned the movie.

A guy was also behind the counter and he saw what was going on. He said, "Hey, that's the movie that glitches in the system all the time!" The woman then went to the back to call the manager. I heard pieces of the conversation which basically went, "The movies are the shelf. They're on the shelf." When she hung up, she came back to the counter. She said that she couldn't deal with my account right then, but I could rent a movie if I wanted. I declined.

I called the next day to make sure the charges were off the account. I spoke to the manager and I asked if it was taken care of. She briskly said, "I'm sure it's okay." I asked her to check because I want to make sure. She responded, "I'm sure it's fine. The woman you talked to yesterday was the owner." Then she hung up.

There's actually a lot more to this as well. The manager didn't want to even let me have an account to begin with because she said she didn't trust college students. Now, I'm stuck. I just want a copy of my account saying I owe them nothing and for my account to be closed, but the only people who can do that is the manager and the owner. The manager won't speak to me, and the owner acted as if she can't be bothered with my problems. I want this account closed - so what would be the best thing to do?