restaurant making un-authorized charges - what do i do?

[Transition]

So i went to an un-named restaurant and got take-out. Bill came out to be $19.16 as signed for on my receipt. Come to see on my statement they've charged me $22.99 ($19.16 + 20% = $22.99). So, looks like someone tried to take 20% for a takeout order..

Anyway, i'm going back to the restaurant to have some words with the manager. What are my legal rights when these guys are making un-authorized charges on my credit card? Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[TC2181]

For 3 bucks, I'd say its not worth my trouble, unless it happened again.

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: TC2181
For 3 bucks, I'd say its not worth my trouble, unless it happened again.

It's not just the $3.00. It's the fact that their trying to play me like a fool and take MY money. It's about principle.

 

[marleymarl]

If you down to the restaraunt, make sure you take the bag off your head.

 

[Orsorum]

I would say unless they had a mandatory gratuity policy (we add 20% or whatever on orders over a certain size or type), you should dispute the charge with your credit card company and call fraud. It would be worth the letter, envelope and twenty minutes to me.

 

[woowoo]

Don't bother with the restraunt.
Dispute the charge with your credit card company
Make the restraunt eat the entire charge

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Don't bother with the restraunt.
Dispute the charge with your credit card company
Make the restraunt eat the entire charge

Agreed.


BUT, just make sure they do not have a automatic gratuity. Heck if you get take out from the waffle house they even charge it now.
:disgust:

 

[Transition]

Disputing is a good idea. I'd like to confront the manager though - i'd like to see the person who made the charge on my card disciplined. It's one thing to overcharge me on the receipt, and i sign for it. But when i walk away with a signed copy that says $19.88 that's what i expect to post on my statement. Probably just some kid who thought they could make an easy ~$3.00 off me.

 

[Transition]

I only signed for $19.88 on the receipt. There's no mention of any gratuity charges.

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: Transition
So i went to an un-named restaurant and got take-out. Bill came out to be $19.16 as signed for on my receipt. Come to see on my statement they've charged me $22.99 ($19.16 + 20% = $22.99). So, looks like someone tried to take 20% for a takeout order..

Anyway, i'm going back to the restaurant to have some words with the manager. What are my legal rights when these guys are making un-authorized charges on my credit card? Anyone else have similar experiences?

As long as the transaction is finalized on a paper statement or online and is not still PENDING, you have every right and should go down there and kick some ass.
Recently I noticed a transaction for dinner just by chance as I was online banking, and it was $4 more than what I signed for and I had left a healthy tip so I was pissed. But it was still pending, I watched it over the weekend and by the next week it had reduced itself to the actual amount. Yeah I cant explain it. I had never noticed that before.

 

[Gand1]

This is why I always put a line or somthing throught the tip area on the reciept. That way if you tip in cash, I do, you can always dispute the "tip" charge if they decide to scam one.

 

[TheKub]

Id just be careful ablut getting a little "surprise" in your next take out order.

 

[lancestorm]

To all those that say forget it and talk to CC company: That's stupid! Let me explain. He is just one customer. How many MORE customers are getting screwed like this? It has to stop and the only way to stop the problem is to go to the source. Maybe it was a simple mistake, but they need to be held accountable. It is not just the money...

 

[SirPsycho82]

You are not getting ripped off.

There is a temporary authorization placed on your credit card at the time of the order. Restaurants temporarily authorize around 10-20% more for an anticipated tip. This is so the restaurant doesn't get screwed. For instance, if the restaurant only authorizes the total bill only and you add a tip which makes the charge more than the credit card limit, the restaurant would not be able to complete the sale and they would lose the entire order.

This authorization drops off in about 1-5 business days depending on how often the restaurant closes their accounts and how fast their merchant bank is.

Before people start complaining - no, I do not suggest and I do not tip for take-out orders. However, the credit card system that the restaurant uses can't distinguish between dine-in and take-out orders (besides, some people do add a tip for take-out orders).

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: SirPsycho82
You are not getting ripped off.

There is a temporary authorization placed on your credit card at the time of the order. Restaurants temporarily authorize around 10-20% more for an anticipated tip. This is so the restaurant doesn't get screwed. For instance, if the restaurant only authorizes the total bill only and you add a tip which makes the charge more than the credit card limit, the restaurant would not be able to complete the sale and they would lose the entire order.

This authorization drops off in about 1-5 business days depending on how often the restaurant closes their accounts and how fast their merchant bank is.

Before people start complaining - no, I do not suggest and I do not tip for take-out orders. However, the credit card system that the restaurant uses can't distinguish between dine-in and take-out orders (besides, some people do add a tip for take-out orders).

Thanks for the explanation. I'll wait until the transaction clears to make any moves.

 

[SirPsycho82]

Oh, I don't work for a restaurant. However, I deal with a similar situation.

The company I work for does not charge customers until their order ships. However, at the time of the order, a temporary authorization is placed on the credit card just to make sure there is no problem (address match, enough funds, etc.). If the order is in stock, the charge then goes through. If there is a backorder, the authorization drops off in 1-2 days. We get customers that watch their bank accounts hourly that email within hours of ordering a backordered item. They are always demanding to know why they were "charged" for a backordered item. Unfortunately, that is the way the credit card system works.

Not only that, but I am used to seeing restaurant charges on my own credit/debit cards. For about 48 hours they are never exactly what I signed for (my tip can range from 10-25%), but after a couple days, they are always what I filled in on the receipt.

 

[911paramedic]

He signed a bill for $19, that's a contract, he didn't sign an estimate of $19.

Stick it to da man!

 

[arcenite]

Some place called Damon's did the same thing to my girlfriend's family, they gave them the runaround till finally they got their money back and a bunch of free coupons.

Bill

 

[SirPsycho82]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
He signed a bill for $19, that's a contract, he didn't sign an estimate of $19.

Stick it to da man!

As I mentioned above, he has not been "charged" for the amount showing on the account. If this was a week or longer after the take-out order, then yes, I would highly recommend talking first to the restaurant and then to your credit card bank.

Just curious, isn't there anyone who watches their accounts and notices the authorizations/charges by restaurants?

As long as this was within the last day or so, there is nothing to worry about. Start worrying after 4 or more days go by and the charge doesn't change.

 

[Jzero]

This is like the 4th time this has come up in as many months.
It's NOT complicated.

 

[aphex]

Nearly every restaurant i go to does the same things, pending charges are usually $2-4 higher than the actualy charge when it comes through.

Was this in a 'printed' end of the month statement?

Or just as a pending charge on the intarweb?

 

[kami333]

You'd think considering how widespread/necessary CC are these days people would know a bit more about how they work

I think we should have credit classes along with sex-ed, it's one of those things you can't do without and can't afford to be misinformed about.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: kami333
You'd think considering how widespread/necessary CC are these days people would know a bit more about how they work

I think we should have credit classes along with sex-ed, it's one of those things you can't do without and can't afford to be misinformed about.

Sex-ed? No such course offering here. We do, however, have parenting classes. That says somthing.

 

[Czesia]

Originally posted by: Transition
I only signed for $19.88 on the receipt. There's no mention of any gratuity charges.

You should have been charged only what you signed for. Sounds weird to me. I'd go down to the restaurant and bring it to their attention that you only signed for $19.88, not an additional 20%. Technically, if you never signed for it, I don't think they can charge it to your account. If you still don't get anywhere, call the CC company and get it sorted out. Even if it's only $3.00, this restaurant is probably doing this to everyone that eats there and 20% gratuity that no one knows about really adds up over time. Still, talk to them first. It'll probably sort itself out in no time.

 

[Kelemvor]

Just call the credit card company and dispute the whole thing. I bet you can do that since they voided the sale by charging you the wrong amount. I woudln't even call the restaurant because they'll giv eyou some BS answer about oops we didn't mean to when they really did. Screw them back by disputing the whole charge and wait til they come to you.

Just tell the CC company "The charge that is on my charge account was not authorized". That's a completely true statement and all you need to prove to have it removed.