Grrrr! Check your Thanksgiving Dinner Receipts! (credit card, hotels, tax)

[wCat]

We had a lovely dinner downtown at one of the major hotels. It was very expensive but nice for a change. The advertised price did not include the 20% gratuity and tax....but it was made clear that when we paid that the final price included those charges. Just checking our account, it appears that we were charged and additional 20% ON TOP of the final ticket AFTER we paid!

Of course they are checking into it and we now have an annoying detail to sort out! And of course the accounting office is closed on the weekend, so we will have to wait to get this figured out. Just an FYI......check your TG bill if you dined out this year. This very high end must have thought we were EXTRA thankful to pay such outrageous prices that they deserved a double TIP! UGH!

[sinsativ]

they normally do that for parties of six or more at some restaurants. Maybe also on holidays.

[IonRedline08]

Is that maybe just the "authorization"?

[SsnTktHldr]

My guess is you used your check card. My second guess is that the charge is still pending. All bars and restaurants credit card systems pre-authorize check card/debit cards a percentage (which varies) above the check amount to account for a probable tip. If my guesses are correct, when the charge clears the amount will be correct as well.

[svg210]

Originally Posted by SsnTktHldr

My guess is you used your check card. My second guess is that the charge is still pending. All bars and restaurants credit card systems pre-authorize check card/debit cards a percentage (which varies) above the check amount to account for a probable tip. If my guesses are correct, when the charge clears the amount will be correct as well.

I never understood the credit card tab. I always try to pay cash whenver I can. I hate spending time listening to the CC companies voice automated systems, its a headache.

[wCat]

Thanks all. None of the above apply. The charge is not pending. We talked to the manager in the restaurants and clarified what the charges should have been....and that is what we signed for. It was one price per person and the tax and gratuity were included very clearly on the bill. There should not have been a penny added after the fact, and the manager verified that. Just waiting to see what they say when "accounting" opens.

We dine out a lot, so I do understand how the charge "pending" can change with the added tip. That was not the case here.

Sin....we've had the "over six" charge before, but repeating (sorry)....the gratuity was 20% and added no matter how many were in the party.

Hopefully they will clear it up quickly and I can come back and report good news. This is a very respectable hotel downtown, and I'm sure they don't want any "errors". I'm not here to trash them at all....but SO did get their attention.
But this isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened....and it won't be the last.

[luckygreeniii]

Wcat-sorry that you had such a negative experience attached to what should have been a wonderful dining experience. I would bet that they want your business again so they will clear up this "oversight" for you asap. This is a reminder for us out here to check those account balances!

Moderator cut: orphaned comment.

[wCat]

We're GOOD! It only took two phone calls and the "problem" was taken care of ASAP! It did turn out to be a "mistake" that a tip was added again. No comment! I'm just happy they fixed it without any issue!

[lovinSA]

glad to hear it was corrected

one way we avoid, 'mistakes', is to write out the tip amount like you would if writing a check

X dollars and .xx/100 cents with the squiggly line ending up with a > at the written in amount, a bit harder to adjust all that

[wCat]

Originally Posted by lovinSA

glad to hear it was corrected

one way we avoid, 'mistakes', is to write out the tip amount like you would if writing a check

X dollars and .xx/100 cents with the squiggly line ending up with a > at the written in amount, a bit harder to adjust all that

Thanks....that's a good idea. I generally write something on that line....like "tip on table"...or "tip included" so nothing can be added. I didn't sign it, so I don't know what was put there. But yes...glad they were upfront and extremely apologetic!