Murphy Oil probably has their own Loss Prevention manager. I do find it odd WalMart isn't being cooperative since Mr. Price has managed to track down what happened with the card after it left your Dad's possession.
I'm wondering (to myself kind of) how their attendants don't have the capability of zeroing out the card. Years ago I worked for Exxon in their credit card center. Occasionally we'd have a crooked service station attendant who would run off two tickets for the same amount. They then would be able to take the cash for one of the tickets out of the register where the register would balance at the end of the day. It wouldn't be noticed until an alert customer reviewed the charge copies which (then) came with their bill and they'd notice a consecutively numbered (as well as same day) charge.
Anyway. sorry for the long explanation but I'm now curious as to what kind of protection they have to prevent an employee from doing a second charge there in the booth which would zero the card out.
Did Mr. Price say where the card was zeroed out? It could be a second charge done on the same register, especially for that large an amount might trigger an alert of some sort.
I'm just being nosy because my curiousity has been aroused. I'm very glad Murphy Oil is going to send your Dad a check! Before I read Murphy Oil was going to make good, I was getting really ticked on your Dad's behalf. Based on the way WalMart has handled the gift card, I'll definitely be telling friends and family to beware.
I believe he said the attendant zeroed the card. This confused me because I would think (and never working as a cashier I have no direct knowledge how this works) that if the attendant could zero out the card, she could have issued herself a card. Or maybe she doesn't have access to add money but only remove?
I don't know... the whole concept of ripping off customers is confusing to me, but I do know I will NEVER purchase or allow a store to give me a refund or discount with a gift card again!