Leaving Credit Card Details at Bars/Restaurants safe?

LondonLife

Hi i would like your thoughts on this.

I need to book a social event at a bar in London. They have asked for credit card details but i feel they have asked for too much information and i am not comfortable with what they require. They have emailed me this booking form to fill out.

They need:
cc details
Full address
Full DOB

I am happy to leave just my CC details but Full address and Dob just sounds like too much info to book a night for drinks and a bit of banter in a local bar. I am not taking out a loan.

I am already funny with how my Credit/Debit Cards are handled in general.

Am i wrong thinking this way?

grumbler

IMO asking for the DOB is unusual.

Andy_Williams2

Shouldn't need DOB, not normal to ask for this!

[Deleted User]

As it's a bar, I suspect they may be asking so that you confirm you're over 18.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Deleted_User wrote: »

As it's a bar, I suspect they may be asking so that you confirm you're over 18.

Correct me if I'm wrong (happens frequently) but I don't think you can get a credit card if you're under 18.

[Deleted User]

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong (happens frequently) but I don't think you can get a credit card if you're under 18.

Indeed. But (not having seen the form) perhaps valid card details belonging to someone else (eg a parent) can be used. Or not, who knows....

yangptangkipperbang

There are regular stories in the media about people who have left card/details behind the bar and most banks actually warn against this - I would be VERY careful if you are considering doing this.

Herbalus

Deleted_User wrote: »

As it's a bar, I suspect they may be asking so that you confirm you're over 18.

You can also lie on a form.

I would ask them what they are going to do with that information, and if they won't tell you or don't have a good reason, but still insist, then I'd be tempted to refuse or accidentally 'miswrite' your details i.e. give them false data.

If you want to put them on the spot, you could always ask what steps they are going to take to ensure that your details are held as required by the Data Protection Act.

Gromitt

Deleted_User wrote: »

Indeed. But (not having seen the form) perhaps valid card details belonging to someone else (eg a parent) can be used. Or not, who knows....

Some will accept a debit card as long as they can authorise an amount before and claim for it afterwards, so the DOB may be realistic.

Whenever I've asked for it though I've always just given my rough year of birth (as in, a year or 2 out), they don't seem to care about month or day, but the ones that do get random data for those fields.

I have dedicated emails for companies which ask for them as well, which is different to my main email. It's amusing how many "Happy birthday, here's a voucher to spend at our company/bar today/tonight" I get throughout the year!

[Deleted User]

Herbalus wrote: »

You can also lie on a form.

I believe that is true. But they probably feel at least they've had a go and that it may give them some defence should they end up with a drunk load of 15 year olds.

Herbalus wrote: »

If you want to put them on the spot, you could always ask what steps they are going to take to ensure that your details are held as required by the Data Protection Act.

I think that's the bigger issue. The whole form is undoubtedly homemade and will probably be pinned up on a board somewhere, for all to see.