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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Posts: 8924
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 Posted: 09/28/04 - 11:42 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | This happens all the time. I use my debit card for meals, I write down (theoretically, unless Rex is reading this, in which case it's actually) the amount, then I notice the bank holds my account for something close to it but a few dollars more.
Frankly, I wonder if it isn't somehow connected to the restaurant's way of squaring tips with the IRS. |
I've seen the bank hold it for a few dollars more but then when the charge goes through it has been the same amount.
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kristin31
Member
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 8045
Location: Caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
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Posted: 09/28/04 - 12:17 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | This happens all the time. I use my debit card for meals, I write down (theoretically, unless Rex is reading this, in which case it's actually) the amount, then I notice the bank holds my account for something close to it but a few dollars more.
Frankly, I wonder if it isn't somehow connected to the restaurant's way of squaring tips with the IRS. |
You know, I just asked Larry about this (since he seems to have forgotten more about the restaurant business than most of us will ever know). A resturant or a hotel can "block" a $$ amount on a card, but it's usually only done when someone makes a reservation for a busy night, or for a large party. That way the business gets compensated if there is a no show and they've had to turn people away.
Edited to add that depending on the card (Visa, MC, and Discover) the bank will hold out the card fees, because they don't receive them right away. The fees come in one lump at the end of the month. Amex takes the fees out of the actual amount charged so the business does not receive the full amount of the price of whatever was purchased.
Unfortunately, he's also heard of instances in which a server changed the tip.
That's about all I got from him. Nothing as far as the restaurant holding back to square with the IRS (but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just not that he's seen it done).
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19385
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 09/28/04 - 14:09 Post subject:
Never used a credit card to pay for a meal. It's almost like they expect you to at a lot of places here. So they can pull the "parties of (#) or more will have a 15% gratuity added to their bill" bit. They tack that on, and the the wait-help get p.o.'d when you don't tip them on top of that!
Some places are good though, as far as their card policy. When I took LC to dinner for her birthday, we went to the nice restaurant in Deerfield, and they were. She was totally taken by surprise - she was so excited when the waitress brought out our meal, she rolled the window down too far and the hamburgers nearly fell off the tray. 
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