The Mary Sue
‘Cashier did me so dirty’: Chicago Chipotle customer tries to pay with $25 gift…
A woman took a $25 gift card to Chipotle, only to be told that she couldn't use it. Why didn't the store accept her card?
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Chipotle Customer Claims Cashier Error Led to Unnecessary Payment
Chicago, IL – A recent incident at a Chipotle location in Chicago's Old Town has sparked discussion among consumers regarding gift card policies and cashier training. On October 7, 2025, customer Karsyn Lyons visited the restaurant, intending to use a $25 gift card she had found. According to Lyons, the cashier attempted to scan the card, and after it reportedly failed, manually entered the number, only to inform her that there was no balance on it. This led to a frustrating situation where Lyons was compelled to pay $21 for her meal, which included a burrito bowl, chips, and queso, despite believing she had sufficient funds on her gift card for a free lunch.Feeling dissatisfied and unconvinced by the cashier's assessment, Lyons returned home and immediately verified the gift card's balance on the official Chipotle website. To her surprise and further irritation, the website confirmed a full $25 balance on the card, directly contradicting the information she received in-store. "I was told there was nothing on it, and I had to pay $21 for my food that I should have gotten for free," Lyons stated in a video detailing her experience. "I'm just irritated. I feel like I should get some sort of compensation for this because now I'm pissed."This situation raises critical questions about the training of restaurant staff in handling gift card transactions and the reliability of in-store balance checks. The discrepancy between the in-store information and the online balance suggests a potential flaw in the system or a lack of proper employee instruction. While Lyons still possesses the $25 gift card, she expressed a strong desire for some form of compensation due to the inconvenience, wasted time, and the erroneous information that led to an unnecessary out-of-pocket expense. Chipotle has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident, but consumer advocates often highlight such occurrences as reminders for businesses to ensure consistent and accurate service.
