Irate Customers!!! - California

[magnusneptune]

California


How do I deal with Irate Customers?

In general, what legal avenues do I have against customers that,

1. Use profanity against me or my employees?
2. Threaten my employees and or me?
3. Use the race card?

 

[HappyWanderer]

Get a book. Your questions implicate basic freedoms related to the first amendment. While the protections and rights are not absolute, distinguishing them can be subtle and require knowledge of the specific facts and circumstances and not broad generalizations.

 

[Antigone*]

Get a book. Your questions implicate basic freedoms related to the first amendment. While the protections and rights are not absolute, distinguishing them can be subtle and require knowledge of the specific facts and circumstances and not broad generalizations.

Hey Happy, Check posting history... I just did.

 

[swalsh411]

If they threaten you that can be assault depending on the circumstances. You can file a police report.

Your remedy for profanity and/or insults would be to tell them to stay off your property and then you can get them for trespassing if they return. So sorry your feelings were hurt but that alone is not actionable.

 

[HappyWanderer]

The classic case on "assault" is where a person said something of the effect of:
If you were here later, I'd chop you up with my sword. That was found to not be assault. The issue has to be immediate.

While assault may be appropriate, it has to be now. Is this now?

 

[magnusneptune]

These aren't specific events, but rather general events that have happened in the past. This is a theoretical thread.

Just wondering what the legal recourse would be if someone harassed me or used racial slurs against me while I am a representative of a company and they are customers.

Feelings?

Get a book. Your questions implicate basic freedoms related to the first amendment. While the protections and rights are not absolute, distinguishing them can be subtle and require knowledge of the specific facts and circumstances and not broad generalizations.

I got a book. The Koran isn't that useful.

 

[The Occultist]

Every business retains the right to refuse service to anybody for any reason or no reason at all (certain exceptions, obviously). You may inform a customer that he no longer has the right to patronize your establishment or call the business, and inform them that you will press charges if they do not comply. If they continue to be a problem, call the police.

 

[HappyWanderer]

A book on the Constitution. While I know little of the Koran, my understanding is it isn't that supportive of the freedoms implicated by the First Amendment.

If the OP is an employee, she may not have the right to refuse service. Usually a representative of the business (Like, a manager or one who the manager gives the power to.) is the only one who can deny a person the ability to be in a place of public accommodation. Also, while true in theory, in reality, the business better not refuse service for an impermissible reason. (Worse still if the OP works for a public carrier.)