Waiters altering tip line on credit card receipts

[sweeps]

As if there aren't enough things to worry about...

Came across this thread at another site where several people report having their credit card receipt altered by a waiter to increase the amount of tip. In some cases, the person left a cash tip but then discovered someone at the restaurant added an additional tip to the CC receipt. The gall of some people... I'm going to have to examine my CC statements even closer now.

(Note: For you geeky types out there, one poster tips in such a way the total bill includes a checksum. Funny stuff.)

Has anyone else had this happen?

[Broken Arrow]

I've had a few minor discrepancies, but they looked more like human error, and no more than a dollar in difference.

I've also had a couple of occasions where the waiter altered it to LOWER my tips. Long story, but in a couple of places, they are family friends, and refused to take more than a certain percentage.

But not once altering it deliberately too high though. On all receipts, I never leave the receipt blank. Even if it's just to pick up Chinese take out, I'll at least cross out the tip part and duplicate the total amount at the bottom.

[jodi]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

On all receipts, I never leave the receipt blank. Even if it's just to pick up Chinese take out, I'll at least cross out the tip part and duplicate the total amount at the bottom.

I do the same. I've never noticed a problem, although I guess a waiter doing in consistently with a small amount probably would go unnoticed by most. If my total was off by just a small amount, it wouldn't be worth the time to complain.

[sweeps]

Would you consider it worth your time to complain if someone reached into your pocket and walked away with a few bucks?

[jodi]

Oh, I embarass my DH regularly by compaining at the grocery store if I am overcharged $.10 (it's the principle!). I catch those mistakes because I review my recipt when I check out. But at a restaurant, it would be a few days before the amount accurately shows up deducted from my account. Even if I recalled the exact amount with tip and noticed that it was off by $.20, at that time, no it would not be worth my time to call the restaurant to complain.

[PrincessPerky]

We almost always round to tip to the nearest dollar or 50 cent..which means if you changed it from a nice even 20$ we would definitely notice. (we do make sure the rounded is more than the percent minimum we planned to give)

[Ingtar17]

I've never noticed anything like that. I'll have to keep a better eye in the future.

[mom-from-missouri]

Since we only eat out 2-3 times a year, other than the once in a while McDonalds and pizza hut once a month-which is free with the girls
Book it reading program.....

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yep it's happened and I've refused the charges. I keep the reciept and match it with the CC. It happened a few years ago and ever since I've been careful.

Now not to be biased or judgemental, but I noticed it's happened more in "ethnic" restaurants. To me at least.

[Ima saver]

Never happened to me but I rarely charge a meal unless I am paying for someone else.

[gackle]

I had heard of this before but it has never happened to me before. I have been putting dollar signs right before any dollar amounts I write on the receipt.

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Would you consider it worth your time to complain if someone reached into your pocket and walked away with a few bucks?

It's the principle. If they stole repeatedly over time the amount will add up. Guess how the CC company is going to recoup their losses?

Plus all it takes is a phone call to your CC company.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by InDebtInDC

It's the principle. If they stole repeatedly over time the amount will add up. Guess how the CC company is going to recoup their losses?

Plus all it takes is a phone call to your CC company.

I think you misinterpreted my comment. I was responding to the previous post: "If my total was off by just a small amount, it wouldn't be worth the time to complain."

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by sweeps

I think you misinterpreted my comment. I was responding to the previous post: "If my total was off by just a small amount, it wouldn't be worth the time to complain."

I was just piggybacking on your comment. I wasn't responding to you directly. Sorry.

[sweeps]

Ok, makes sense.

[finsub]

makes a lot of sense - thank you

[loanstar]

if the restuarant uses a chip and pin system, this shouldn't happen, a transaction cannot be altered after its been made.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by loanstar

if the restuarant uses a chip and pin system, this shouldn't happen, a transaction cannot be altered after its been made.

I don't know what a chip and pin system is, but it definitely can happen. The waiter scans the card once with the original bill and then goes back a 2nd time to add the tip. It's that 2nd time when you've already left where the fraud can occur.

[Kimber1y]

Hi Everyone,

I am new here but decided to throw my 2 cents in on this topic!

My husband own's a sports bar and we have dealt with this a couple of times in the past. It is disappointing when an employee takes advantage of a customer...especially these days when customers are hard enough to get anyways.

The two times that it happened, and were notified by our customer, we credited them the entire amount of the check and sent them a coupon for a buy 1 get 1 for the next time they come in.

And of course, we fired the offender!

You should always check your credit receipts, because restaurant owners do not have the ability to check every credit slip for fraud. But a smart restaurant owner will deal with it quickly if they want to salvage that customer!

Cheers!
Kim

[DebbieL]

It hasn't ever happened to me, and you bet I would complain if it did. I used to work as a waitress and I wouldn't have dreamed of ripping anyone off. Some people need a good boot up the backside.