Check Your Credit Card Statements on a Frequent Basis !! (Miami: limo, school)

[elchevere]

For the 3rd time this year, I have been mis-billed by a Miami area restaurant.

The first time happened at LPM in which a crooked waitress tried adding an extra $180 to her $18 tip I signed for on the credit card statement.

The second time Hutong stupidly billed my credit card twice instead of splitting the bill with 1/2 on my card and the remaining 1/2 on my friend's card.

I just checked my online statement and noticed Call Me Gaby charged me the same exact amount twice for dinner the other week that I split by credit card with another friend.

I strongly advise you check your credit card statement on a weekly basis for charges made here in Miami--the only city I have ever lived in where billing errors seem to be a common occurrence....either the employees are crooks or they need to complete their GED degree with an emphasis on basic arithmetic. WTF.

[silverct9a]

My guess, a combination of both. These days I typically tip with cash for this very reason.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by elchevere

I strongly advise you check your credit card statement on a weekly basis for charges made here in Miami--the only city I have ever lived in where billing errors seem to be a common occurrence....either the employees are crooks or they need to complete their GED degree with an emphasis on basic arithmetic. WTF.

I always get a receipt for all of my cc charges and then when the monthly statement arrives, I go through it line by line and check off every receipt. Very old school. But I'm not sure what purpose would be served by following your suggestion to do it on a weekly basis.

[elchevere]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

I always get a receipt for all of my cc charges and then when the monthly statement arrives, I go through it line by line and check off every receipt. Very old school. But I'm not sure what purpose would be served by following your suggestion to do it on a weekly basis.

I usually don’t keep all my receipts, let alone for a month, and suggest the earlier you catch an error the better to bring it up with the restaurant and/or credit card company. I check my charges online, weekly, and do not receive paper statements. In the case of LPM I did get them to reverse their overcharge without the benefit of a receipt.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by elchevere

I usually don’t keep all my receipts, let alone for a month, and suggest the earlier you catch an error the better to bring it up with the restaurant and/or credit card company. I check my charges online, weekly, and do not receive paper statements. In the case of LPM I did get them to reverse their overcharge without the benefit of a receipt.

As I said, I'm very old school when it comes to receipts.

But to be perfectly honest, your warning rings hollow when you yourself don't bother to keep your receipts. You should at least do so until you've had a chance to review the charge online even if the restaurants have given you the benefit of the doubt in the past. (Of course, there isn't much doubt when a server tries to turn an $18 tip into $180, lol.)

But I know you're not alone. Some retail people are actually taken aback when I request my copy of the receipt I just signed. There have been more than a few occasions over the years where I have been double-billed by an establishment, or a server or taxi or limo driver thought that they deserved a higher tip than I wrote on the receipt. As a result, I'll continue to ask for my receipt and continue to cross-check them with the monthly statement.

[elchevere]

Point taken…I do eat out every single meal (have not cooked since 1987), so I might need a bigger trash can for all those receipts.

[jr8999]

You may want to try to set an alert for your card. Most major credit cards now have this function that is easily setup from your account online. I have most of my cards set to send me a text immediately after each charge is recorded on my card. I find that it works great, especially if the restaurant uses electronic at table payment. The payment with tip shows up within 5 seconds of running the card. For restaurants that do not have at table payments you will get the base bill total without tip immediately. This may not help when they mess up the tip but at least you'll know if they charge you twice or another incorrect amount for the bill not including tip. It also works for any other charge to your card so you'll know right away if someone is using your card number.

[elchevere]

Good suggestion....just set up my card to send me a text alert on all transactions greater than $50. Thanks.

Originally Posted by jr8999

You may want to try to set an alert for your card. Most major credit cards now have this function that is easily setup from your account online. I have most of my cards set to send me a text immediately after each charge is recorded on my card. I find that it works great, especially if the restaurant uses electronic at table payment. The payment with tip shows up within 5 seconds of running the card. For restaurants that do not have at table payments you will get the base bill total without tip immediately. This may not help when they mess up the tip but at least you'll know if they charge you twice or another incorrect amount for the bill not including tip. It also works for any other charge to your card so you'll know right away if someone is using your card number.

[Corrie22]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Good suggestion....just set up my card to send me a text alert on all transactions greater than $50. Thanks.

I would bump it down to $9.....since most people do $10....the scammers learned they could do multiple $9.99 and not get caught

[MiamiLIFE]

One thing that I hear more and more from servers is that "the 20% included is for everyone to share and anything extra goes to me." Trying to guilt you into over tipping.