Do you think I was wrong in this situation?

:: shrug::

I don’t know how it is where you live, but in the US, no one expects to receive the same bills they paid with back.

If I was that concerned with having a pretty bill, I’d exchange at the bank.

When you paid cash, did you not get a receipt in return? This is fundamental to cash exchanges at a business level. You pay, the recipient of the cash examines it and counts it, then hands you a paper that says, in effect, “Received from so-and-so on [date] the sum of [agreed-upon amount].”

That precludes people being dissatisfied later that they were underpaid, paid with counterfeit money – or ripped bills? is that really a big problem where you come from? – or not on time or some such. The receipt says that the exchange happened on a certain date and for a certain amount of money.

Ripped bills in countries that deal in paper currency – and by now that is pretty much all countries that I know about – can be exchanged at banks for “whole” bills, and the defaced or damaged currency retired from circulation.

You both did wrong here.

Can you still spend it? Does it still have its value? If so, you aren’t out any money. You overreacted.

She didn’t treat you right either, but that is not justification for you to yell at her.

She lost a customer, you learned that you should go find another gym. Put it behind you and move on.

I agree with the above responses. It sounds very weird to me that anyone would care about the condition of their money. Hence, some of us are wondering if this is a cultural thing that is distinct to your country. It’s not normal anywhere I’ve been.

@CWOTUS Canada has plastic bills, not paper. :P

Yes. I think it’s a silly argument and not really worth getting upset over. If you can still spend the ripped money, I don’t see the problem.

I think you would have noticed if it’s torn. Does it matter though? In America if you gave over 50% of a bill it’s still good. Stores don’t accept it, but the bank will. Most people in America don’t even know that. Maybe it’s the same in your country. My husband says in his country even a small tear makes the bill no good. I think he’s wrong, but I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense that a tear on a small part of the bill would matter. Paper money is turned in an destroyed constantly by the government. It wears out.

Don’t pay cash. Can you write a check?

I wouldn’t go back to her. That’s just me, it’s not really advice.

If you gave her a folded bill, how could she not have unfolded the bill after receiving it? I don’t care how busy she was. It seems almost a reflexive action to unfold any folded money before putting it away. Her initial acceptance of the bill completes the transaction. She has no way of proving that the folded bill is the one you paid with. You may have overreacted, but you had a right to be indignant.

^^Great point. Usually, people check the money count is right. Although, I see some people who don’t do it. It’s considered rude by some people I think. Like you are questioning their integrity.

Other Jellies – I think you’re missing the cultural context. I think @micchon may be Pinay. (Just guess from the currency references)
In MANY other cultures there are not personal checks, transactions are still largely done in cash alone, and ATMs aren’t even 24 hours!
This is common in Asia and SE Asia.
When a currency is ripped or otherwise damaged it may indeed be declined as invalid in value – no longer “spend-able”.

In fact, in Bhutan, if you step on the currency (which has the face of their royal family) you can be punished by imprisonment or death!

@micchon, considering you probably checked the condition of the currency as it exited the ATM and it was crisp and in good condition, I think that the trainer is being disreputable and this is her way of pushing you “out” as a client. The fact that you were slightly short (P150) on payment originally may have bothered her more than she admitted at first…or she thought about it later and decided she had too many clients and you were the one she didn’t want to keep.

Here are my thoughts:
She was wrong for being dishonest about the money you gave her. Also, if she wasn’t clear that it was not one on one training, but group training, that’s a bit dishonest, too.

However, your anger, while justified, probably shouldn’t have escalated to yelling.
I think a calm, but firm tone of voice saying your true opinion/emotion: “Just money? Well, it’s my money and I am angry and will not return to your gym.” would have been best.

That said, don’t feel so bad. We can only move on to the future. If yelling in her face was not the best action, maybe next time you can step back, take a deep breath, and collect your thoughts to give a firm answer, but without yelling. Hard to do – but an important life skill.