T.J. Maxx — Local services in Billings

While shopping with my mother this afternoon, we were upset to hear a young child (boy) who was clearly in distress crying out phrases such as “let go of me, I don’t know you” and “I just want to go home” “please let me go” “please help me” and “that is not my name” and the like. The entire time the adult wouldn’t let go of the child’s hand. It was a good 15-20 minutes of the child repeating these phrases over and over. The adult was nonchalantly shopping with another young teen/tween (girl) for clothing and was ignoring the pleading from the child. Everyone shopping was exchanging glances and yet no one did anything.

I went and found an employee and told them that there was a situation that needed to be taken care of by management. The manager and supervisor were quick to approach the adult and two children. The manager spoke with the adult and then came over to let me know that they were “almost positive that the child is with their parent/father” and let them quickly exit the building.

As a mother of young children I am appalled at the lack of protocol for the situation today which could have very well been human trafficking. Another shopper called 911 while my mother followed to get their license plate number, and BPD was quick to arrive on the scene (thank you Billings Police Department!).

In this day and age it is necessary to have a protocol in place for management to follow when there is a potential child abduction/trafficking in process. Deciding that a child is with his/her parent based upon assumptions is not ok. Corporate needs to step up and be proactive/train...

Today i went to TJ Maxx and waited a very long while in line due to short staffing. This is fine, I understand. I get to the counter where someone who I assume is a manager, an older gentleman with tiger stripes tattoo on his arm. My transaction took atleast 2 times as long. Not just because he left the register to go do something else real quick (again. Its fine) but after i refuse a credit card for the first time, I don't want a 15 min pitch and to be asked 3 more times if I want a credit card, especially when there are more than 10 people behind me waiting. No means No dude. Im sure you are a credit expert as you claimed but my transaction was 3x more annoying and atleast twice as long as it...

I unfortunately had an 8 month old baby that needed a change so I went to the women's bathroom where I discovered they don't have a changing table. So the only option is to change baby on disgusting floor...that's not happening. I ran into the manager and asked why there wasn't a changing table. His response was that "wasn't a thing" to have changing tables in bathrooms anymore. He suggested I walk to Target. I am appalled at the manager's lack of understanding and his suggestion of just going to another store is completely unacceptable. Sorry excuse of a...