we went out to a bar last friday night, and the bill came up to a little more than I was expecting. The total was around $58, and I left a (modest) tip of about $7, bringing my total to $65.

I check today and they charged my card $68. It's only $3 and not really a big deal, but adding money on after the fact is seriously uncool and if they did it intentionally really pisses me off.

What would you do in this situation? I think I'm going to give them a call tomorrow and see what they say.

5/23/2007 12:38:16 AM

call 'em and let 'em know what's up

Sure, it's "just" $3, but that line works both ways. That's some punk stuff to pull for $3 considering you left a tip. Not to mention illegal.

5/23/2007 12:39:24 AM

I wouldn't even call them. I would call the credit card company, and give them a charge back.

Hopefully, you have a receipt.

5/23/2007 12:39:48 AM

thats not a modest tip for a friday night at a bar, but on basic principle you can tip how you please

where did this happen

stool pigeons or sammy's by chance?

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:43 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 12:41:27 AM

Maybe you should have tipped more you cheap fuck.

5/23/2007 12:42:16 AM

no, it was at "The Big Easy" on Fayetville St

I probably have a receipt, but the tip would be hand written on both of 'em, so I may ask if I can come in and see their copy of my receipt



and it wasn't a good tip because the service was pretty shitty, often waiting 30+ minutes between waitress visits

if a bar or a waitress wants me to tip well they better serve me well

I'm not going to shell out 20% just because they're pissed off and in the service industry

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:44 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 12:42:51 AM

^ yeah you tipped pretty shitty I can see that happening at a lot of bars

5/23/2007 12:43:48 AM

The $3 they added is just a "cheap fucker tax" Its happening more and more these days. If $3 is this big a deal to you, then you shouldn't be out dropping $58 on drinks.

Quote :

"and it wasn't a good tip because the service was pretty shitty, often waiting 30+ minutes between waitress visits "

Most likely you have been identified as a bad tipper and you get serviced accordingly. You'd be amazed how much better your service will get if you go in a few times and start leaving big tips. Its shocking how this works.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:47 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 12:45:24 AM

yeah and 20% is just barely cutting it at a bar

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:57 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 12:45:52 AM

$3 isn't a big deal. bars charging more than I agree to pay in writing is a big deal, no matter the amount.

Quote :

"Most likely you have been identified as a bad tipper"

I had only been to this bar one time before, and it was months before last friday. So no, I wasn't "identified as a bad tipper"


god you're such a troll

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:48 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 12:46:08 AM

just tell your credit company about it, they will have the swipe show 58 and your reciept will too. The credit card company takes your word on tips generally even more so when you act bitter and/or place calls into the bar.

5/23/2007 12:48:05 AM

I bet if they undercharged you $3 you wouldn't be making a big fuss over it and asking us how you should go repay the restaurant now would you?

Quote :

"I had only been to this bar one time before, and it was months before last friday. So no, I wasn't "identified as a bad tipper" god you're such a troll"

You'd be amazed at the memory of some servers. By the sound of it, you are a bad tipper and someone probably remembered you. Stop being so cheap and things like this wont happen.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:49 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 12:48:09 AM

no, because undercharging a customer isn't horribly unethical

5/23/2007 12:49:05 AM

But if they undercharge you, then YOU ARE STEALING from the restaurant. And stealing is illegal.

And the worst part is, you left a shitty tip this time, so the next time you go there, you are most likely not going to get taken care of very well either. So just remember that when you are waiting 30min for another drink.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 12:51 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 12:50:08 AM

TheOffice, go troll somewhere else.

there is no screening process or automatic adjusting to an "appropriate" tip. should there be? maybe, that's not the issue.

the issue is they allegedly charged more than he wrote down. what he writes down, is how much they charge. simple. so take your shit out of this thread.

5/23/2007 1:08:11 AM

It's amazing how many companies think 10% is a reasonable bonus.

If your company doen't give you at least a 20% bonus, they don't deserve you doing a good job.

5/23/2007 1:11:30 AM

they always do this. this one strip club / bar i go to the bill is always $100 on my account. days later it reflects the actual amount. don't stress it.

5/23/2007 1:17:41 AM

TheOffice, go troll somewhere else.

5/23/2007 1:30:05 AM

MAANJRI LOUNGE/PI BAR ARE THE FUCKING KINGS OF THIS

5/23/2007 1:42:05 AM

I would call your CC company and then the Big Easy, you tipped poorly but that is not the point. What the person did was either a honest mistake or they are doing something illegal. CC fraud is getting to be a major problem in bars/restaurants. People that pull crap like CC fraud, are messing it up for the rest of us. We just ignore bad tippers or pour weak drinks for them.

5/23/2007 1:53:58 AM

or possibly, after paying a $58 dollar tab, you may have actually been too god damn drunk to remember if it was $58 or $61. $3 is not that big of a deal. Stop being a bitch.

5/23/2007 1:59:58 AM

Stop being a bitch. Yeah, so where do you draw the line? $3.50? $4.00? 5.00?

Please, enlighten me.

It's his fucking money. Three dollars, A hundred dollars, or 50 cents, the principle is they allegedly commited credit card fraud or made an honest mistake. Either way, it shouldn't have happened. This is all based on the foundation that legatic is telling us the truth.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 2:06 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 2:06:26 AM

Quote :

"they always do this. this one strip club / bar i go to the bill is always $100 on my account. days later it reflects the actual amount. don't stress it. "

Despite the bizarreness of the scenario, I think Amsterdam is right on this one.

It's more likely this is the typical temporary surcharge thing the card companies do. It's probably listed as a pending transaction, and when it clears, it'll be for the actual amount.

That, or your 5s look like 8s.

5/23/2007 2:19:35 AM

I am pretty sure waiters do this shit all the time, especially if its as simple as converting a 5 to an 8 or a 0 to an 8........Its wrong plain and simple. I am not the one to call and bitch about it but someone should.

Anyone that would regularly jack people for extra tips is not far from pulling a scam like this one.
http://www.wpbf.com/news/2785103/detail.html

or

http://www.pizzamarketplace.com/article.php?id=6664

5/23/2007 2:24:28 AM

^I bet theoffice approves of that because they were probably all bad tippers who deserved it

5/23/2007 2:27:46 AM

Quote :

"Maybe you should have tipped more you cheap fuck."

no shit.

you should consider yourself lucky. some folks would have turned your $7 tip into a $27 tip.

now quit bitchin about it. if you cant come off with 20% for the sever, stay the hell home and drink your Natty Lite on your own damn porch.

5/23/2007 2:30:16 AM

Yes if you are a bad tipper the server is entitled to selling your CC# to a fraud ring for $30-$50.

If the tip is that shitty get the manager to ban the customer from the restaurant. Good restaurant managers generally don't mind doing this to keep their staff from rebelling. Forging the receipt should not be acceptable ever. . . .

I am pretty sure that I have had people write in a Tip before after being tipped in cash so thats not always the issue, its really more of a question of if the server sees stealing as a problem.

5/23/2007 2:34:07 AM

youre the only one talking about organized crime rings stealing credit card info and selling it online.

everyone else is talking about penciling in a bigger tip than the one originally left.

5/23/2007 2:39:59 AM

Quote :

"t's more likely this is the typical temporary surcharge thing the card companies do. It's probably listed as a pending transaction, and when it clears, it'll be for the actual amount. "

This is correct. I work at a bar. This happens on all the cards we charge. Some places do it and some don't. The reason for this is because we want to make sure you have enough money to cover the tip. I get calls back on this every week and tell the person that it will clear up, usually three business days, so don't stress it.

5/23/2007 2:43:06 AM

Does nobody use cash anymore?

It's my favorite medium of exchange and things usually get cheaper when you pull out Mr. Franklin.

5/23/2007 2:43:10 AM

True that it's probably credit card surcharging but..

The people supporting credit card fraud in this thread are fucking douchebags and I hope you get caught and charged with felonies for trying that stupid shit.

5/23/2007 2:46:32 AM

i dont do it. and if anyone did it to me, i'd be down at their fucking store getting them fired.

but i also dont feel sorry for fuckers who leave 10% tips. or less.

you reap what you sow. both ways.

5/23/2007 3:39:23 AM

to avoid this in the future:

1. tip better
2. pay with cash

a 12% tip on a friday night in a busy bar/restuarant downtown is pathetic.

here's a hint - next time pay for your first round with cash and give the waitress/bartender a NICE tip. Say a round of beers for you and your friends is $14 or $15 - give them a $20 and tell them to keep it. They will remember you. Next time when your glass or beer is empty the bartender/waitress will get to you quicker.

If you're drinking liquor and like your drinks strong or at least a decent pour then tip NICE as well and they'll continue to stay strong (only works with bartenders - waitresses have no control over the drinks at service bar)
If you stiff or tip pathetically don't expect much licquor in that next drink.

you may not like it but you've got to learn how to play the game

5/23/2007 8:10:31 AM

look, if the guy didn't get good service, he shouldn't leave a good tip, plain and simple.

5/23/2007 8:17:12 AM

Quote :

"to avoid this in the future: 1. tip better "

Hey women. To avoid getting raped, dont dress so fucking slutty.

5/23/2007 8:21:32 AM

Some bars/restaraunts automatically put 20% on it up front, and then when it actually gets approved it will show the ammount that you put down.

this freaked me out too the first time that it happened to me b/c we had recieved REALLY crappy service, with absolutely no appearant reason (place was dead and the waitress was leaning on the counter in the kitchen the entire time) so I thought she had screwed me over nad flipped out... 4 days later it all cleared out and the correct amount was on the ledger

5/23/2007 8:28:50 AM

yeah these people talking about tipping more

you are all fucked in the head, if you need more money, get a job that doesnt pay $2.13/hr. this entitlement mentality pisses me off

this is why you write clearly on the receipt and draw a line up to your tip (same as on a cheque) so as not to get screwed

however, you should wait a few days to contest because amsterdam is correct

5/23/2007 8:32:27 AM

Quote :

"look, if the guy didn't get good service, he shouldn't leave a good tip, plain and simple. "

exactly. maybe 12% was good considering the shitty service. average service get the average 15%. worse or better service gets adjusted from there.

5/23/2007 8:44:42 AM

nelsons is the worst about this and if it is intentional, its fucked up.


however

you should also be tipping 20% on a busy night at a bar like that. those people bust their asses. if it was 30 minutes between drinks, that means that waitress was running around crazy, trying to push through the crowd, waiting on the bartenders, etc... all night long....you gave her $7 for her troubles....(which she then splits with the bartenders and bar backs)....would you have done that work for $7?

5/23/2007 8:47:14 AM

Stealing is stealing is stealing.

Stealing a three dollar candy bar from Food Lion will get your ass arrested.

Raise hell and get your money back, I say.

5/23/2007 8:53:03 AM

I dont understand how you people are focusing on the bad tip, as opposed to the stealing of $3.

it's disturbing to hear some of you that work in the food service industry look at this as being a-ok or even acceptable in any circumstance.

5/23/2007 8:58:42 AM

Quote :

"you should also be tipping 20% on a busy night at a bar like that. those people bust their asses. if it was 30 minutes between drinks, that means that waitress was running around crazy, trying to push through the crowd, waiting on the bartenders, etc... all night long....you gave her $7 for her troubles....(which she then splits with the bartenders and bar backs)....would you have done that work for $7?"

that is the most illogical ramble i have ever read.

5/23/2007 8:59:15 AM

I always draw a line over the tip line then write in the total really big so they can't go in and add money.

plus keep the receipt.

5/23/2007 9:08:06 AM

1. most places overcharge to cover for tip, gets refunded.
2. maybe you have awful handwriting.
3. youre a jew
4. possibly has an 18% gratuity rule on the menu you missed.
5. next time stop being a whiny little bitch and call the bar about it, and ask them.

5/23/2007 9:20:50 AM

Quote :

"The $3 they added is just a "cheap fucker tax" Its happening more and more these days. "

Doesn't make it legal.

legatic isn't a cheap bastard. If he says the service was shitty, it was shitty. You all don't have to right to assume everyone who says service is shitty is lying.

If the charge clears with the extra $3, I'd be calling both the CC company AND the bar. The CC company for a chargeback, and the bar to
1) inform of their employee's deceit and let them know a chargeback has been requested
2) let them know how crappy the service was.

They'd have never heard about the crapy service if their employee weren't a baseless snot with entitlement issues.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 9:23 AM. Reason : and even if he were a mean, stingy cheap bastard, his girl doesn't let that go down in her presence]

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 9:24 AM. Reason : laj]

5/23/2007 9:23:01 AM

Quote :

"it's disturbing to hear some of you that work in the food service industry look at this as being a-ok or even acceptable in any circumstance."

entitlement mentality + being pissed off about having to work in the food service industry.

5/23/2007 9:25:54 AM

If they really did end up adding $3 to the tip in the end, first call the Big Easy and tell them the deal, and tell them you need a call back about it by the end of the day. They should have the receipt you signed authorizing them to charge whatever tip you wrote down. If they don't have it, they can't charge your card with anything or any tip.

If they find the tip was clear and still overcharged, the employee on that receipt has committed credit card fraud, and can be charged and arrested for it. I've seen it happen before at my restaurant. The cops came in and arrested a server of ours, in the middle of dinner.

5/23/2007 9:29:54 AM

Quote :

""Maybe you should have tipped more you cheap fuck." no shit. you should consider yourself lucky. some folks would have turned your $7 tip into a $27 tip. now quit bitchin about it. if you cant come off with 20% for the sever, stay the hell home and drink your Natty Lite on your own damn porch."

Fuck this troll bullshit. Just because someone waits on you doesn't grant them an automatic 20% tip. I used to wait tables and if I gave shitty service in a night my tips reflected it.

If you felt that 7 for 58 was a appropriate tip for the service then that's cool.

When I was in the food service, I NEVER did this, it's stealing and it's wrong, plain and simple.

5/23/2007 9:39:40 AM

to clarify, this is NOT the pending charge. My account shows me what is pending and what is posted, and the pending amount was $58, the tab without a tip.

$68 is what cleared and what has been removed from my account.

I'm glad some people see this my way. I'm not going to go to a bar or a restaurant and shell out 20% over and over just to get decent service. I expect them to serve me well when I walk in their establishment, and then I'll leave them a good tip. It sucks that some people will get great service and then still leave a shitty tip, but that isn't my fault.

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 9:45 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 9:42:20 AM

Quote :

"entitlement mentality + being pissed off about having to work in the food service industry."

5/23/2007 10:24:45 AM