Complain about a product or service

Ethical Prescription Services

East Orange, NJ

Theresa of East Orange writes (5/31/01):
My son purchased a small item from this business. He gave the clerk a $20 bill and she returned a $10 bill along with other change. He did not shop at another store that day and remained at home the rest of the day.

The next day we went to the DMV to conduct business. He gave the clerk the same $10 bill, as payment, that he received from Ethical Prescription Services the day before. It was a counterfeit bill! Of course we were quite upset. We returned to Ethical where the cashier feigned ignorance. The owner refused to accept the bill even though he swore that they use counterfeit detection measures.

I then called the local police. They heard our story and said essentially there was nothing that they could do. I went home and phoned the FBI and was forwarded to the Secret Service located in Morristown. The agent there was very helpful but the message from all law enforcement agencies is "Let the buyer beware". I would advise every consumer to carefully inspect all currency BEFORE you leave the point of transfer. If a problem arises call the police immediately. We found nothing ethical about "Ethical" Prescription Services.

The store, typically, did not even consider resolving the matter as it involved a young African American male. My college student lost money he could not afford to lose. In our case, the situation could have easily turned from a complaint against the store in question into the arrest of my young son. He could have inadvertantly tried to use the counterfeit bill in another purchase and been accused of passing counterfeit money!

It's a shame businesses treat their customers so shabbily. The pharmacy could have bought a lot of goodwill for $10.