'Should you let them take your credit card at a bar?' blog discussion 20 March 2007 at 1:32PM in Martin's blogs & appearances & MoneySavingExpert in the news 28 replies 12.5K views

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's "Should you let them take your credit card at a bar?" blog. Please read the blog first, as the discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Should you let them take your credit card at a bar?" Blog

davidscot

Seen something like this on the BBC programme 'The Real Hustle' and it was so easy for anyone to get hold of your card details.
I would never hand over my card like this.

full-time-mum

davidscot wrote: »

Seen something like this on the BBC programme 'The Real Hustle' and it was so easy for anyone to get hold of your card details.
I would never hand over my card like this.

If I remember correctly, On 'The Real Hustle' they didn't even take the card away, it was somehow swiped in front of your eyes inside an apron pocket. :eek:

Scary!

bob32

"So I simply suggested that I pay up front for our lunch"

Presumably with cash, as otherwise when they took the card away...they could take down the details just like at any other time !

asea

it isn't always practical to not leave your card behind a bar. i live in london and when i go out you cannot always charge your cards if the amount of the drinks is below a certain level, meaning you have to either order drinks that you don't want to bring up the chargeable amount or run a tab

ericthelobster

Do you to extend this policy to never, ever letting a waiter (or anyone else) take your card out of your sight, even for a few seconds? That's pretty well impossible unless you're going to be really anal about it, following the waiter across the restaurant, leaving behind that date you're trying to impress (not!). Although I agree that with cordless card readers(*) becoming more prevalent, this is becoming less of a problem.

(*)But surely you don't trust those, given that snoopers with a wifi laptop can grab your all card details out of the ether?!

But anyway, at the end of the day all good MoneySavers check their credit card statements rigorously don't they - and any fraudulent transactions should be refunded by the card issuer.

Smiley_Mum

Full time mum,

I remember seeing The Real Hustle and saw that the card was cloned by a skimmer under her apron, she dropped the card and skimmed the card as she stood up.

See here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sexUus0igWs&eurl=

Most of the other scams are on videos on this link too, worth checking out.

MSE_Martin

In terms of never letting the card out of your site - i find its much easier these days with chip and pin

onredbull

Smiley_Mum wrote: »

Full time mum,

I remember seeing The Real Hustle and saw that the card was cloned by a skimmer under her apron, she dropped the card and skimmed the card as she stood up.
See here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sexUus0igWs&eurl=

Most of the other scams are on videos on this link too, worth checking out.

I agree - I have only been watching this since around christmas time but it has made me a bit more concious and aware of situations.

I have also noticed more scams that i have seen on the "Real Hustle" in the news or local media.

seven-day-weekend

asea wrote: »

it isn't always practical to not leave your card behind a bar. i live in london and when i go out you cannot always charge your cards if the amount of the drinks is below a certain level, meaning you have to either order drinks that you don't want to bring up the chargeable amount or run a tab

I'm probably totally behind the times having never lived in London and for the last few years having lived in rural Spain where they faint at the sight of a plastic card - but what's wrong with just paying cash??

pattayalob

davidscot wrote: »

Seen something like this on the BBC programme 'The Real Hustle' and it was so easy for anyone to get hold of your card details.
I would never hand over my card like this.

After watching the "Real Hustle" tv programme (isn't the girl just lovely ?) I am paranoid about my credit card and never let it out of my sight now.