Outsmarting Blockbuster

by Maniac_Dan

I used to work at Blockbuster, so I am very familiar with their policies and practices involving late fees.

I'm not going to discuss how stupid the policies are, and I'm sure that there are people who would argue with me no matter what I say, but if there comes a time when your car breaks down and the guy behind the counter just won't believe you and you get charged $25 for 15 minutes, then you can use this method to have your fee removed.

They try to make you pay your fees whenever they can, and the stores get a daily report of all fees outstanding on any and all accounts worldwide.  Pretty much what that means is if you return a movie late to any Blockbuster and don't pay your fees, your account can be suspended in every Blockbuster around the world.

The outstanding fees can be paid at any Blockbuster though (for your convenience in giving (((Viacom))) more money) but herein lies the weakness in the system: If your account is disabled due to a fee at another store, then the store you are trying to rent at has to call the store where you have a fee.

The store with the fee on record must delete the fee and verify that a fee has been added to the account at the store you are trying to rent at.  All customer accounts are stored locally, and the only information that is passed between stores is outstanding late fees.

You have fees at one store (Store #1 from now on) and you need to call that store and pretend to be from another store (Store #2) and make the employees at Store #1 remove the fees from your account, thinking you're paying at Store #2.

Now to do this you need a store number from Store #2 and your own account number, which can be found on your receipts or membership card.

Store #2 must be far enough from Store #1 so that the employees don't know each other.  There are a number of ways to get this store number.  One of the easiest ways is to go to the store you want and buy something - the store number is on the receipt.  Another way is to call them and say to whoever picks up, "I'm filling out a job application.  What's your store number?"  Also, if you have a friend with an account at that store, the store number is digits 2-7 on his customer number on the back of his card.

For instance, if your customer number is 26732116547 then the number is broken down like this:

• 2:  Designates that the number refers to a customer account.
• 67321:  Store Number
• 16547:  Customer Number

Customer numbers are assigned chronologically.  This system allows the stores to function independently of each other without two stores assigning different people the same number.  Anyway, now that you have a store number, you need to decide on a fake name (or call the store and use the name of whoever picks up - employees are required to identify themselves when they answer the phone, though most rarely do).

Now that you have a valid store number and a fake employee to play, it's time to call and get your fees taken care of.

Call up Store #1, and your conversation should go something like this:

Viacom Slave:  "Thank you for calling the Blockbuster in [your town].  My name is Viacom Slave, what can I do for you."

You:  "Yes, this is [fake name] from store number [Store #2's number] in [Store #2's town].  I have a customer here who says he has fees at your store he would like to pay before it becomes a problem."  (Alternately, you could say "I have a hold on an account from your store," but only do this if your fee is more than a month or two old to make sure you account has actually been frozen or else they will become suspicious.)

Viacom Slave:  "O.K., can I get the account number?"

You:  "[Your account number from the back of your card.]"

Viacom Slave:  "The account is for [your name] and the fee is [fee amount]."

You:  "[Repeat the fee to your wall, ask if the wall would like to pay it at 'this store']"  [pause]  "O.K., he'll pay it over here."

Viacom Slave:  "What's your store number again?"

You:  *sigh* "[Store #2's number]"

Viacom Slave:  "O.K. thanks, bye."

And there you have it: Fees are removed.

If the Viacom Slave at Store #1 asks you to do anything else, tell him that you're new and that you'll have the manager call them back when she gets out of the bathroom.