Restaurant requesting my card to keep behind the bar.

Roger2834

My wife and myself dine at a particular restaurant at least two or three times a month and always leave a reasonable tip, ALL of the staff know us in there.
This place is a pub that serves Indian food and the food I might add is always good.
On this particular night we entered and ordered drinks at the bar, I was then asked for my debit / credit card.
I said “ you have never asked for this before “
and she then said “ it’s company policy “
Upon saying this she produced an empty glass to put my card into and said we keep it behind the bar.
My card being left behind a bar that is sometimes left unattended is not safe as far as I am concerned.
Why would I or anyone else leave a contactless card behind the bar where it could be compromised / used fraudulently ?
Anyone could walk behind the bar and steal it or it could it get compromised by a member of staff.
I paid cash for the two drinks ordered and swiftly drank them and left never to return and dined elsewhere.

We would spend a minimum of £150 per month in this place, so they have lost two good customers.
Can an establishment like a pub / restaurant legally request this, after all what if the card was used fraudulently by them either at the time or at a later date what recompense would I have ?
Does everyone think I was right to decline their request ?

FatherTireseus

I don't know about the legality of it but FWIW I think you were right to decline and I would have done the same.

I'm guessing they may have suffered from other customers running up a large bill then scarpering without paying.  

I would have thought there were other ways round that though,  like pre-authorisations that hotels and petrol pay at pump systems use.  

It's a shame if they are suffering losses because of the actions of a few dishonest customers,  but they risk alienating the regular honest customers like yourself. 

Roger2834

Thank you for your swift response and like you said surely they could do pre-authorisations like most hotels.
The most annoying thing is that they know us well and doing this left a bad taste in my mouth.
Once again many thanks and I’m glad you agree.

Keep_pedalling

Pubs do this because they have problems with scum bags running up a tab then skipping without paying, which is all too easy in a busy pub. There is nothing forcing you to leave your card behind the bar you just pay as you go instead of running up a tab. 

justwhat

I don't frequent these sort off establishments lol 

greyteam1959

I would never ever leave my card with anybody at all for any reason.
I would have asked to speak to senior management on the night & taken it up with them.

grumbler

Many cards can be easily frozen and unfrozen with a mobile app, but personally, next time I'd have £200 cash on me and put it into their glass to keep behind the bar.

Albermarle

I have seen places where they have a secure place to keep your card. Like a lot of small drawers with a lock on them.

diystarter7

Hi
We rarely out and when we do in bog Mac i the uk and different places when on hols. Our adult kids take the lead when on hols in another country but I've never know a place to eat do that.

Is the place known for people running out after a hefty meal, lol.
Nest time, tell them you are a regular and no need to do that and see what they say and then decide

Good luck

FatherTireseus

A further thought occurs.   I'm currently out and about so internet searches and posting links are tricky to say the least.  But if you voluntarily hand your debit or credit card over to someone for a period, and it's fraudulently used in that time, I would have thought the bank would say you were liable for any losses.  Even more reason not to hand it over!

jon81uk

Roger2834 said:

My wife and myself dine at a particular restaurant at least two or three times a month and always leave a reasonable tip, ALL of the staff know us in there.
This place is a pub that serves Indian food and the food I might add is always good.
On this particular night we entered and ordered drinks at the bar, I was then asked for my debit / credit card.
I said “ you have never asked for this before “
and she then said “ it’s company policy “
Upon saying this she produced an empty glass to put my card into and said we keep it behind the bar.
My card being left behind a bar that is sometimes left unattended is not safe as far as I am concerned.
Why would I or anyone else leave a contactless card behind the bar where it could be compromised / used fraudulently ?
Anyone could walk behind the bar and steal it or it could it get compromised by a member of staff.
I paid cash for the two drinks ordered and swiftly drank them and left never to return and dined elsewhere.

We would spend a minimum of £150 per month in this place, so they have lost two good customers.
Can an establishment like a pub / restaurant legally request this, after all what if the card was used fraudulently by them either at the time or at a later date what recompense would I have ?
Does everyone think I was right to decline their request ?

Never going back again seems like a huge over-reaction!

Just state, I'd rather not open a tab but happy to pay for food and drinks as I order them.

I expect the pub had an issue with others dining and dashing so now don't want to open tabs without some security.
A simple response of telling them you don't want to open a tab would be sufficient.