restaraunts charging more after you leave.....

[bell]

today we spent most of the day buying michelle a new honda crv, afterwards we went to a good local mexican joint.
my bill came to 19.39, i put the 19.39 on my card with a 0 in the tip line and wrote 19.39 at the total. i left a tip in cash on the table (4$) so it's not like i didn't tip.
checking my bank card tonite online i see they charged me 23.46.....i'm going by there tomorrow with a printout of my bank statement and my reciept.
i know it's only $4 but i'm kinda pissed as i've been there many many times, and always tip well.

anyone else run into this? or do i need to stick with cash from now on?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by bell
today we spent most of the day buying michelle a new honda crv, afterwards we went to a good local mexican joint.
my bill came to 19.39, i put the 19.39 on my card with a 0 in the tip line and wrote 19.39 at the total. i left a tip in cash on the table (4$) so it's not like i didn't tip.
checking my bank card tonite online i see they charged me 23.46.....i'm going by there tomorrow with a printout of my bank statement and my reciept.
i know it's only $4 but i'm kinda pissed as i've been there many many times, and always tip well.

anyone else run into this? or do i need to stick with cash from now on?

I've never seen it at a restraurant, but have heard of it at retail stores and so forth.

You don't need to go to the place again, call the number on the back of the credit card and put the charge in dispute. The restaurant will clear it up pretty quick I'd guess.

[masraum]

I've seen my bill different from time to time, but it's generally no more than a dollar different. In my case I figure it's either a typo on their part when they put it in, or a typo on my part when I did the math. Either way, it's a buck or less, so I don't bother. I probably should, since if one waiter does that 20 or 30 times a night he/she could be pocketing a few extra grand a year.

[osidak]

Restaurants typically add 15 to 20% to the bill as a credit hold only so they are sure the bill plus potential tip will clear the bank.

Check it in a few days and see if the actual amount taken from your account remains $23.46 if so then you have an issue but I am willing to bet you will see it dropped back to the original $19.39

[bell]

good info......i'll keep an eye on that before i embarass myself
they have REALY good burritos

[widgeon13]

I've had it happen and called my credit card company (Citibank) and since it was not a card initiated transaction, they immediately removed the charge from my account. It has happened twice with me, both times at the same restaurant, not going for a third strike. Their toast.

[}{arlequin]

once again we realize there's no topic left untouched in ppot:
restaurant/bar ripping you off?

[chapstic2001]

I dated a chick back in my restaurant days that I later learned marked up checks up to $10 a pop. That is what got her caught after netting a few hundred bucks. My buddy, who was the manager, got a couple of complaints about charges being higher that what was initially left for her. It raises eyebrows and enough reports will get them caught.

My rule of thumb, if you leave cash, write "cash" in the tip line to avoid confusion.

[pwd72s]

I never use a credit card in a restaurant...not security worries as much as liking to have what I bought still around when I pay the credit card bill.

[bell]

today the amount of the charge changed to $19.39........
so no problem
moving on

[pmajka]

If you leave a Cash tip, write the word CASH on the reciept on the TIP line and then rewrite the Total by hand.

[bell]

i always write the total.......just need to start writing "cash"

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by bell
i always write the total.......just need to start writing "cash"

why not just stop at your bank, pick up a few more $ than the cost of the meal and anticipated tip? My usual tip, if service is adequate, is 20%. These people are on their feet for hours, smiling and making nice with customers. They usually work for minimum wage, their tips pay the rent. Sure there are scammers among them. That's to be expected. But that's also why I pay cash, not card, for a meal. Another reason? Uncle Sam can check credit cards by computer. He can't check meals paid for with cash...If Uncle Sam had his way, there would be no cash...everything would have a computer record. Think about it...

[pmajka]

more to the point if you give a cash tip, and dont write cash on a reciept, Some people manning till may think you didnt leave a tip, Or leaves the temptation to those of slightly less moral value.

[swa911]

Oh yes. I had this happen at Hooters of all places. Twice at the same restaurant by different servers. Evidently it was/is a common practice there to round up to the next $5. I had one tab rounded up from 21.00 to 25.00. Luckily I check my bank account every day without fail and caught it the day it happened both times. I filed a complaint with Hooters Inc. and received a $50 gift certificate. The biatches still work there. Cash only from now on at that place.

BTW Hooters of Ft.Worth on Bryant Irvin. Beware!

[Tervuren]

I don't tip by percentage. Generaly, as I don't roder a drink, etc, my bill is a lot lower then most people's. All the time I sit there at a waiter's table, is time they can't get a tip on another group. At a cheaper restraraunt, I'll sometimes leave a larger tip then the food, more expensive, varies. If possible, I try $5. Sometimes I just dont have that much to spend. If I can't tip properly, I try not to eat at a restraunt enless its important. As such - lets just say I don't eat out often.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You guys write a cash tip on the tip line for your card reciept? I never do that, unless I don't have cash on me and want to tip from my card as well. I bet they just got confused. The best Mexican restruaunts I've been to don't have many that speak good english, I find the easier you make it for them the less confusion results.