Is it normal for restaurants to do this?

[Dangerer]

For Vday, I took my girlfriend out to a Mediterranean restaurant nearby. Dinner and drinks came out to exactly $100 total since it was a preset menu. With tax it came out to $107.75. I left a $20 tip bringing the bill to $127.75 which I signed for. Went home and checked my bank statement the following day to find they charged $140 to my account. I very rarely eat out at upper-lower class restaurants unless it's a special occasion and was wondering if it's normal for restaurants to charge an a mount outside of what you sign for?

 

[Sukhoi]

Nope that's illegal, dispute immediately with credit card company.

Actually call the restaurant and speak with the manager first. He may well chew out/fire the employee that did it (and is probably doing it to other people) and redo the charge immediately. If he doesn't then dispute in a day or two.

 

[pyonir]

Is it still just pending? Or is that the final charge?

 

[jme5343]

I don't think that's legal. Do you still have the signed receipt?

 

[mrrman]

I would fight that...they cant do that..call your CC company and dispute it

 

[bigrash]

I've had a restaurant charge me twice for dinner. Called my bank and they refunded the money in 2 days.

 

[chuckywang]

Maybe it's just the pending charge. Sometimes they overcharge you when it's pending, but it shows up as the right amount for the final charge.

 

[akshatp]

Restaurants always run the credit card for more than the total, to cover the tip that people add on AFTER the card is already run. It all works out within a few days when the restaruant submits the ACTUAL total to the cc company. The $140 is just a "hold" on funds, not the actual charge.

 

[Kelemvor]

Yes it's legal. It's very standard. THey take your bill, add on a set percentage and do a hold debit to the card to make sure you have enough credit to cover the bill to plus a big tip. Then once you pay them, they enter the actual amount into the system. Wait until tomorrow or the next day and check again and it will show the actual amount.

 

[TallBill]

Even without a reciept, if he knows the exact amount, he'll be fine. Handle it with the restaurant first, and if they dont fix it call the CC company.

Hopefully the restaurant will fix the problem.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Watch your charges for another two days.

The correct one should hit and the "temp" will disappear.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Watch your charges for another two days.

The correct one should hit and the "temp" will disappear.

My thought as well. It's just a temp charge to check the card w/tip first and the final will show up within two days.

 

[zerocool84]

You are never supposed to spend more than $40 on a date, Strike 1

 

[JRich]

There needs to be a sticky about this. I've seen enough of these threads

 

[mugs]

This question is the very reason why I created the at-wiki site. It comes up at least once a month. The correct amount will show up after a few days.

http://www.at-wiki.com/wiki/index.php/A_restaurant_overcharged_my_credit_card%21

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
You are never supposed to spend more than $40 on a date, Strike 1

Not all of us are starving students. I've spent more than $40 taking a friend out to lunch.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
You are never supposed to spend more than $40 on a date, Strike 1

thats idiotic. there is nothing wrong with spending more if you can afford it.

 

[zerocool84]

^^^
:laugh:
You guys have no idea.......

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Restaurants always run the credit card for more than the total, to cover the tip that people add on AFTER the card is already run. It all works out within a few days when the restaruant submits the ACTUAL total to the cc company. The $140 is just a "hold" on funds, not the actual charge.

That is absolutely correct. Wait until the charge is FINAL and then it is removed later.

You said you checked your bank statement so I assume you used a debit card. Bad deal man, you lose those funs for up to about 10 days sometime. Screwed me over when I went to the Masters. I ALWAYS pay with a CC and then just transfer the money over to cover it.

 

[drinkmorejava]

A movie and non-fast food dinner/lunch costs $35 ($8 a ticket for students most times) where I live. Not to say you can't do cheaper things, but it's very easy to get past $40--luckily it doesn't happen often though. And she wonders why I like just staying at her house and watching a movie. w/e though, I don't exactly spend money on much else and she's worth it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Restaurants always run the credit card for more than the total, to cover the tip that people add on AFTER the card is already run. It all works out within a few days when the restaruant submits the ACTUAL total to the cc company. The $140 is just a "hold" on funds, not the actual charge.

exactly.

 

[Compton]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
^^^
:laugh:
You guys have no idea.......

Some people just don't get it. :laugh:

 

[MrDingleDangle]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
You are never supposed to spend more than $40 on a date, Strike 1

ok Tom Leykis...

 

[Slew Foot]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
You are never supposed to spend more than $40 on a date, Strike 1

I remember one of my attendings back when I was in residency talking about the $800 dinner he took his wife on on their first year anniversary.

 

[olds]

Is it normal for this question to be asked once a week?