Rite Aid

On 10/16/09 I walked into the Cedar Knolls, NJ Rite Aid Pharmacy. I dropped off a prescription for my husband and was told there would be a 20 minute wait. So I walked around the store and shopped a bit. I finally returned to the pharmacy and asked the tech about the prescription. The pharmacist Alan Baker proceeded to throw the prescription at the tech to return to me and while walking away from me, stated that he could not fill the prescription because I had altered the script and it was too soon for insurance to cover. He was back behind a high wall and I could only see the top of his head. I told him that I had done no such thing and that he had no right to accuse me of that. I started to ask how much it would cost with the insurance. Without coming back to the counter to address me, he stated (from behind the wall) that he wouldn't fill it anyway because I altered it and that my husband should have enough of this medication and that no one is in that much pain. I informed him that he has no idea what kind of pain my husband is in, what his medical condition is or that it was in his power to make a subjective decision on someone he had no background on. I was livid. I called my husband and left the pharmacy without the medication. When I got home, I called the pharmacist back to ask for a number to complain about his service. He stated that he is the supervisor and that there is no one over him and that there is no number to call to go above him. He hangs up. So my husband calls and speaks with the Assistant Store Manager. He is absolutely useless and has no information about where to call for complaints. The Assistant manager hangs up on my husband. My husband has had 3 surgical procedures in the past three weeks in very sensitive areas. He has been to the ER in the past week and had a surgical procedure done with the GP in that past two days. He is also in end stage renal failure with chronic infections, fevers, and cramping. So not only did the pharmacist insult me by accusing me of altering a prescription, but he made a snap judgement on my husband's condition and without a medical degree, decided that my husband had enough pain meds. Also, I waited for a prescription that was not going to be filled. If they can page each other over the intercom to do a return up front, they can't page me to tell me that I didn't have to wait because they weren't going to fill it. I understand the regulations surrounding controlled narcotic medications. I was not offended that he could not fill the prescription. I was offended that this pharmacist wouldn't talk to me face to face. Instead of just explaining the situation, he chose to accuse me and walk away. And then he wouldn't give me a customer service number. The best part is that the prescription could have been filled in two days, which I did not know, and instead of telling me that, pharmacist Alan Baker opted to make an ignorant decision and talk down to me, accusing me of a crime and then not having the decency to explain/talk to me like two mature adults. I will never return to this pharmacy. I will tell everyone else I know not to go to this pharmacy. The level of arrogance of the pharmacist and his need to dictate, not communicate, with his customers is alarming and disgusting.