double tip ? ?

[auntAgonist]

I'm p*ssed! We went out for lunch yesterday. Bill was 36.20 and I left a 5.00 tip (cash) at the table on the 'bill tray' and paid the 36.20 with my Visa check card. I looked on line at my bank statement today and the restaurant ADDED a 15% gratuity to the bill!!!!!!

I called them and they said to call back tomorrow, I also sent email to my bank. I KNOW it's only a little bit of money but it's also the principal!

grrr

What would you do ? I want my money back. The food wasn't that great either!

[Left Is Write]

1. Has the charge actually gone through, or are you just looking at

the authorization online?

Most restaurant charges on checkcards/credit cards get authorized for 20% above the actual charge. However, when the charge actually goes through, it will only be for the amount you signed for.

[auntAgonist]

2. It has actually gone through

My online bank statements show immediate transactions.

[Left Is Write]

3. Mine shows immediately too, but they don't post until

the next business day.

If I charged something on my check card yesterday, it would show immediately in my queue of check card authorizations, but it would not actually post until tomorrow, the first business day after the transaction.

If you are sure the charge has processed and posted, start with a call to your bank, explain that you did not sign for that amount, and ask them how to proceed.

[salin]

4. frankly

it was your mistake. I did that once, now I look to see if it is added or not before I leave a cash tip. I would write it off as a not too terribly expensive lesson, and as a break for the person waiting the table who probably just thought you were a great customer and were you to go there again that person would want to serve you and serve you well (not knowing it was a mistake in the first place...)

[auntAgonist]

5. When i got the bill

I checked it over completely and put an X through the TIP amount section. I've always preferred to leave a cash tip. (silly me) I always TOTAL the bill on the bottom line before I sign.

guess I won't do that again. :shrug:

[salin]

7. WHOAH

So what you signed - was a different amount than what the restuarant charged your account? I misread. Applied my own "lesson" (signed it too quickly... didn't notice til later that on the bill I signed, up with the cost of the dinner was the tip included... didn't catch it first because I glanced .. and frankly never saw an auto tip for a party of two and a bill under $50.)

If they added to your bill after you signed it. Definitely do something about it. And then go make a complaint to the local better business bureau.

[auntAgonist]

10. exactly ..

I signed for the 36.20 and left a cash tip.
They charged 36.20 PLUS 15%
I've emailed my bank customer service and I will call the restaurant tomorrow. (they aren't open today, never have been open on sundays).

[salin]

12. I would think that you can get the 15% charge taken off

our account, if you still have the customer copy of your receipt that you signed.

[auntAgonist]

13. that's what I'm hoping they will do..

I have the customer copy of the receipt.

[petronius]

6. So the slip said $36.20

but the charge on the statement was $41.63 (15% more)? That's odd - whenever I've seen a tip added it was already included when the charge slip was brought to me to sign. I think it is more likely that the number on the statement now is the temporary authorization - the amount that Visa approved when the restaurant ran the card through. It will be adjusted to the correct amount when the charge slip is processed by the bank.

If they changed the number after you signed, then you should be far more than p*ssed!

[auntAgonist]

9. yes I signed for the lesser amount ..

left a cash tip of $5.00

[salin]

11. I misread that the first time

I would be furious. Do you have a copy of the receipt where you signed for the lesser amount? I would think that charging additional AFTER YOU SIGN might be fraudulent. Wouldn't you only be liable (to pay) for the amount for which you signed?

[DS1]

8. Actually, it's the principle

but I agree with you either way

[fleabert]

14. speaking from experience, any reputable restaurant owner will credit

it back to you asap. They will have to pull the credit card slip, so expect them to take your name and number and call you back. It should be simple and takes a few keystrokes in the credit card machine to credit back your money. I wouldn't expect this to be a big deal, probably just a simple mistake. I know I would refund it if you asked as my customer.

on edit: The way tips are added in a some restaurants is by collecting all the slips at the end of the shift/night and entering them in in a big bunch, so it does happen that a tip from another customer gets added by accident to the wrong account. I did that a few times, but always caught it before I downloaded it, so I never actually charged the wrong person. (Preview is a great function to double check your work, on DU and otherwise!) I wouldn't freak out, I doubt they are trying to cheat you.

[auntAgonist]

15. thanks fleabert

It's not the money issue for me, it was the principal. I'm sure it was a mistake on their part. The restaurant and people came highly recommended to us. We traveled out of town to get there and I was just so surprised to see the extra charge! I'm meticulous about keeping my bank balance straight and that's when I noticed the discrepancy.

[auntAgonist]

16. thanks folks for your input!

I'm not quite so p'd now :)

kesha