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News

Taco Bell overcharging errors fixed

by ADAM BARERRA
The Daily Cougar 

A pricing error that left people paying extra for combos at Taco Bell in the University Center Satellite was fixed Friday.

"It was just an oversight, and I don't know how to apologize enough," Keith Kowalka, director of the UC and associated facilities, said.

His team moved to correct prices as soon as they were alerted.

"We made the decision to forego the formal process of voting and a food service management team meeting," Kowalka said. "But since we're the people that really make those recommendations to the management team -- and again, it's a no-brainer -- we just decided to move forward and change the prices for tomorrow."

Before the change, diners were charged 21 to 52 cents extra when ordering an even-numbered combo instead of ordering the same menu items individually. Odd-numbered combos were not affected.

Chemical engineering sophomore Benjamin Dixon noticed the price discrepancies while waiting in line in February. He posted signs that warned people of pricing that he felt was unfair.

"I decided that people who weren't as bored as I was shouldn't be tricked into paying extra money," Dixon said.

Biology senior Matt Jones didn't realize that he had lost 52 cents by ordering a No. 6.

"We're in college," Jones said. "We should at least be cut some sort of deal."

Business freshman Shomari Pugh lost 21 cents when he ordered a No. 2.

"They trick college students," Pugh said. "And they're getting every penny."

The new combo prices are 38 to 60 cents cheaper than the old prices. Each combo costs less than ordering the menu items individually.

Kowalka said he hopes his team's response restores trust.

"We like to be close to perfect, but we're not perfect," Kowalka said. "So if there's ever an issue that people catch that we haven't caught, the intention is to provide trust to the people that we serve."
 

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