Just wanted to warn my neighbors here in South San Jose to avoid the self-service laundromat on Santa Teresa Blvd in the strip mall on the corner of Santa Teresa and Bernal. The laundromat is between Nob Hill and An-jan.

Went there this morning to wash 2 large comforters and had just enough quarters to do the job. I loaded one machine, paid, and the washer ate the money.

I asked the attendant who was there servicing the machines to label the machine as OUT OF ORDER, but he just ignored me and went about his business.

When a second machine I tried to use also took the money without working, I told him what had happened again and showed him the other machine.

He immediately began shouting at me in front of all the other customers. He yelled that he knew that I never put any money in the machines. I tried to stick up for myself, but finally gave up when I saw that he was definitely not going to fix the machine or give me back my money. On his part, I can see where a good offense makes the best defense and make a lot of extra money for the owner.

Now I've lost $7 in quarters and ended up leaving without washing the blankets.

Needless to say, I do not recommend that anyone use this place. If a service person feels free to scream at customers in this way, it can only mean that he was either the owner, or that the owner doesn't care about fleecing the public.

One other customer came out as I was loading my car to leave and said that contacting the owners wouldn't do any good, that he's done the same thing to her. She said she didn't mind losing the money, it was humiliation that was the worse (he accused her of not paying too).

Please please--save yourself the money and the humiliation and use another self-service laundry.