Trouble paying for a movie ticket
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52208)
Staten Island, New York
October 30, 2023 12:36pm CST
I was finally able to go see The Eras Tour film in a theater. I had a $25 Visa gift card I could use, which was great. The problem was the ticket was $25.89.
I asked the guy working at the self-checkout ticket machines if I can pay with the gift card and then pay the remaining balance with another card. He told me I could do that.
I chose my seat, swiped the gift card, and it went through. Then I pressed to pay the remaining balance and swiped my credit card. It didn't work. Tried again and same result.
I called the guy over and explained what happened. He had me try paying with the credit card again. Same result. Then I decided to try my debit card. That didn't work either. He then told me to cancel my transaction and that he will try to start a new one at his register. I told him I can't do that because the gift card already went through, which means it no longer has the $25 on it.
He ended up calling the manager. I had to keep pressing on the screen to say I need more time so I won't get kicked out. When she finally came, I told her what happened. I tried to use my credit card again and it didn't work. And neither did the debit card. She then told me she will try to get me a ticket at the register. I told her my gift card already had the money taken off it so the card won't work anymore.
She told me not worry. If the gift card won't work on her end she will just let me go through. I cancelled my transaction and gave her my gift card. Of course, it didn't work when she swiped it. She let me go to the movie without having me pay the remaining balance and hand wrote on a piece of paper the date, time, and auditorium in case someone asks for my ticket. She also signed it. She didn't write what movie I was seeing though. But I guess it didn't matter as the auditorium number was on it.
All that hassle to go see a movie. It stressed me out. I wonder why neither of my cards worked. Though when I logged into my debit card account today I saw four pending transactions for 89 cents. Two were debits and two were credits.
7 people like this
7 responses
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
30 Oct 23
Ugh sorry that happened but good she made a logical decision to let you go through for the lack of 89 cents.if I were one of those staff, I would have paid the 89 cents not to deal with the machines and all.
Was it good the movie?
Was it good the movie?@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
I had a $1. I could've given cash. But those ticket machines are card only so it won't print out a ticket unless you pay in full. I spend a long time getting the damn ticket and I don't even have a real ticket stub (to save). My mood was not a happy one.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
30 Oct 23
@lovebuglena Yes ..those dang machines.
Was it good anyway the movie?
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm It was not a standard movie. It was Dolby something. Much better sound and experience. It was really good and worth spending more money on a ticket for as this was Taylor Swift's concert. And wasn't many people there so no rowdiness or loud yelling or singing.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
3 Nov 23
@lovebuglena Yes, that cancelled out the charges. Good!!
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Nov 23
@kareng Now that the charges are not pending they don't even show up at all. It's like they never even existed.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
I have pending charges: two 89 cent debits and then two 89 cent credits. I am assuming that means I didn't lose any money as they cancel each other out. I logged in to my credit card account and see no pending charges from the movie theater, which is good.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121071)
• United States
30 Oct 23
What a pain! I don’t think I would go to a movie without a gift card either if a movie cost $25 plus. A ticket for a night showing of a movie here is fourteen dollars. To me, they should have let you go in without paying the 89 cents just due to all the trouble they put you to. Did you like the movie?
I had a similar experience with a Walmart gift card. It stressed me out to no end, and it took about 30 minutes to sort out, which I’m pretty sure raised my blood pressure.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
Movie tickets have gone up here. And if you want to see the Dolby or Imax, or 3D movies, it's even more. I really enjoyed the concert film and glad I went to see it. I'd have attempted to get a ticket to her actual concert but she didn't come to NYC. 
This was the next best thing. And much cheaper than a concert ticket.
This was the next best thing. And much cheaper than a concert ticket.@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
30 minutes to sort out a gift card is just crazy. I remember I had to wait at least that long to get the difference in price I was overcharged for mozzarella at my local Russian grocery store as I had paid with a card.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174657)
• United States
30 Oct 23
Sometimes we have that kind of problem, too, when Pretty uses pre-paid cards to pay for a tank of gas for the car. She can't do it at the pump and has to go inside every time... Once, a nice older couple saw her having trouble and came over and swiped their card and gave us a tank of gas... We offered them the debit cards but they wouldn't take them... So we thank them and got the gas.
It doesn't make any sense... the machines are supposedly set up to accept pre-paid cards so why won't they accept them?
@DaddyEvil (174657)
• United States
30 Oct 23
@lovebuglena Yes, it was.. we were surprised because that's never happened before.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
My issue was not with the pre-paid card though. That one worked. It was paying the remaining balance with a credit card and a debit card that didn't work. You'd think if anything it would be the other way around.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
It was very nice of them to pay for your gas and not even take money from you. It's probably hard to find such nice people these days.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Oct 23
Well, I am at lest glad to know that the manager let you into the movie anyway, What was this film and did you enjoy it?
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Oct 23
@lovebuglena than at least all the was worth it, I am not a fan and have not even heard her sing,
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
It was Taylor Swift's The Era's Tour concert film at SOFI stadium. I didn't get up and dance or sing along but I really enjoyed it. It was three hours long I think. Good thing I didn't have to go to the bathroom.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
@RasmaSandra Up until a certain point I bought all her albums. Then I stopped buying albums altogether so haven't bought any of hers either. But I love her music. And I'd go see her live if only she came to NYC.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
31 Oct 23
What a giant pain! I'm glad you finally got to see the movie. That's the Taylor Swift movie right? Why so expensive??? Have a good day.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
31 Oct 23
Yes. It's her concert. It's that expensive because it was a Dolby showing. Better sound and maybe even a bigger screen.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84863)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Oct 23
I'd keep an eye on that debit card. I know some machines tend to do a test transaction, in which they take out a small amount and then put it back before charging the final amount. But, I've had that happen with t==mobile once. So.....
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Oct 23
I will check again in a day or two to see what's going on. Hopefully, those transactions won't deduct money from the account.
