So I ate at this fast food Chinese restuarant yesterday

[Cadence]

and paid with a debit card. The total was $9.70. It was fastfood takeout- so I put a line through the "Tip" column and wrote the total in $9.70.

Today I just happen to be looking at my bank account online and the charge shows up $11.64. They gave themselves a 20% tip without my permission. So I call them up and some guy lazily says "Oh, well you can come in for store credit if you want."

WTF!! This exact thing happened two months ago at a Coffee shop. I signed a receipt for $1.60 and the charge came in $2.80 for a single iced tea.

Maybe I'll go back to writing checks or start carrying cash.

[fit4life]

1. Thieves

As far as I'm concerned they're common thieves. I pay cash whenever I go out to eat, and that's part of the reason.

[Cadence]

7. Have you ever had that happen to you?

I wonder how much this actually happens and people don't pay attention. Especially if using a credit card, not just a debit. I bet people are much less likely to scrutinize or even remember the charges for eating out on a credit card statement.

[fit4life]

16. Not without me knowing it was going to happen.

If you look around, you'll probably find a tiny sign somewhere that says they'll take a gratuity out automatically. It won't be obvious like is should be, but it will be there somewhere.

I don't have credit cards and I don't have a bank account. I keep my money on me where I know it's safe and accessible only to me.

[JimmyJazz]

2. Can't you either write in the total amount or put zero in the tip

line or both? Or did you?

[Cadence]

3. I did!

I put a line through the tip amount and wrote the total in.

[candy]

4. Cash rules for small purchases like that---I would be furious

if I were you!You actually LINED out the tip and they still put one on? Call the AG,just to issue a complaint.

[Cadence]

9. What's the AG?

I am furious BTW. I'm going over there to demand a refund. I think I'll file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau too.

[TOhioLiberal]

13. Attorney General?

:shrug: I'd call the Better Business Bureau, that is a sleezy practice!

[NewJeffCT]

15. Assuming he means your state Attorney General?

In my state, the Dept of Consumer Protection is pretty good & fairly responsive... though not as good after a decade of Rowland. Years back, I was having problems with a PC and getting it repaired properly over a period of over 9 months. I finally was told to contact the DCP and had a brand new PC within 48 hours - same price as I had paid before, only a 9 month newer model and a better brand name.

[candy]

28. Your state's Attorney General-May not get you anyplace but I'll be

damned if I'd let that guy get away with this. Calling the BBB is a good idea also,as others have suggested,and also your local TV's consumer reporter.

Can you imagine all the ones that never picked up on this or just let it go because the money isn't large. This may even be credit card fraud since you drew a line through the tip section and they added a tip.

Didn't you sign for a receipt,or were you rushing? If they have your signature there probably isn't much you can do.

Good luck.

[crispini]

5. If it were on my credit card

I'd just take it up directly with the credit card company. They're usually pretty good about giving you credit for that stuff. I don't know how to handle it with debit cards though.

[tcoursen]

6. fraud

Sounds like credit card fraud to me.

If you have copies of the signed receipts with the amounts that you signed for and then a record of what they mischarged, can't your credit card company go after them for credit card fraud?

[Skittles]

21. this does not sound right to me either

it sounds like fraud

[redqueen]

8. I'd call my bank

and ask why they paid something other than what you signed for.

:grr:

[Cadence]

11. Maybe I will go over to my bank and ask

them about it.

[politicaholic]

10. The only answer is a late night rock through the window.

With a note attached that says, "Don't ever add a tip onto my credit card ever again."

Make sure you don't leave finger prints.

[Cadence]

12. LOL! n/t

[JVS]

25. I second this proposal

[yvr girl]

14. I don't understand how this can work with a debit card

Don't you have to do the transaction yourself? Put in your pin number, specify account, approve amount. I've never signed anything for a debit transaction.

[Cadence]

17. It's one of those debit/credit cards.

So they didn't have a machine where I could slide it through myself. They charged it as if it was a credit card and I had to sign. But the money comes out directly just like debit. Does that make sense?

[demosincebirth]

23. It doesn't make a difference cc or debit card, its still a Credit Card.

One you pay once a month, the debit card comes directly out of your checking account. Most(debit cards) are Visa, or MasterCard issued by banks.

[theorist]

18. I remember a post awhile back.

Some credit card companies that do the debit card transactions will automatically take out an additional 20% before you sign. This is to make sure that you have enough money available to give a tip.

If you give less/more than the amount they take out, they'll adjust the transaction withing something like 48 hours. Have you checked back on that coffee shop transaction? Was it adjusted?

[Cadence]

26. I just looked and you're right.

The coffee shop transaction was adjusted back down a week later. I'll give it a few days on this one and see what happens as well. Thank you for posting this. I would never have known. I can't find any information on my bank's website that they do this. They should really disclose this. If this is in fact the case.

[theorist]

27. You're welcome.

It's in the fine print somewhere, but I haven't looked. I just vaguely remember someone mentioning that they do this. I also remember that not all credit card companies do this with their debit cards. I'm pretty sure Visa (the company I use) does it. I'd call and ask about it if it angers you that much.

They really will do anything to make money. Before they make any adjustments, I'm sure they make some money off of the interest that those few dollars they "borrow" from you.

[kick-ass-bob]

19. How about a $6 meal with a 1.50 tip (or something like that)

where the waiter added a 1 to the front of the tip?

He got arrested when he did that to us -- he'd been doing it to others too - who just hadn't payed attention.

[demosincebirth]

20. That is not legal! It is just like someone altering the amount on your

personnel check. I'd call the cc or bank to clear those charges off your bill and let them deal with the merchant.

[Padraig18]

22. The joys of cash.

If it doesn't have to do with the business, or if I can't deduct it on my taxes, I pay cash.

[demosincebirth]

24. I used to feel like that years ago

Now, I get many benifits from using certain credidt cards for all purchases and bill paying. I only use cash, now, only when I go to the local hotdog stand.

The key, of course, is paying the bill off completly every month.