Restaurant requesting my card to keep behind the bar.

[Deleted User]

IanManc said:

Marchitiello said:

MalMonroe said:

I've been asked for my card before but I said I didn't want to do that, thanks. It wasn't a problem. Nor should it be. I don't like the idea of my card being 'behind the bar'. There have been quite a few instances where my restaurant and pub bills have been incorrect (usually to my detriment) and I like to keep tabs (pun intended) on where my money's going. 

Just because they ask doesn't mean you have to comply. If that means that they don't want my business, I'm more than happy to take it elsewhere.

It's your choice, not theirs.

Opening a tab and leaving one card behind the counter has been the norm for at least 20 years ......

It may be "the norm" where you go, but I go out to pubs and restaurants a lot and have ever encountered it. It may be your experience, but it has certainly not been "the norm for at least 20 years" for everyone everywhere.

You've missed out the fact he/she mentions London.

I went out for a meal when there last and the chef missed out key ingredients in a dish. I took a few bites, noticed it and sent it back. They tried to charge me for it plus the % service charge. 

WillPS

There is an official way for pubs to open a tab by pre-authorising a card, and then closing a tab by either charging the card or settling the bill a separate way. This is what Greene King and M&B pubs do (if the pub allows tabs at all).

I have witnessed the 'card locker' type setups, particularly at pool halls and things like that where the amount you pay is dependent on how long you're there. Either way, I don't actually think their merchant banks would be happy with them placing charges against cards without the customer being present. I suppose it's a deterrent.

[Deleted User]

IanManc said:

Deleted_User said:

IanManc said:

Marchitiello said:

MalMonroe said:

I've been asked for my card before but I said I didn't want to do that, thanks. It wasn't a problem. Nor should it be. I don't like the idea of my card being 'behind the bar'. There have been quite a few instances where my restaurant and pub bills have been incorrect (usually to my detriment) and I like to keep tabs (pun intended) on where my money's going. 

Just because they ask doesn't mean you have to comply. If that means that they don't want my business, I'm more than happy to take it elsewhere.

It's your choice, not theirs.

Opening a tab and leaving one card behind the counter has been the norm for at least 20 years ......

It may be "the norm" where you go, but I go out to pubs and restaurants a lot and have ever encountered it. It may be your experience, but it has certainly not been "the norm for at least 20 years" for everyone everywhere.

You've missed out the fact he/she mentions London.

I went out for a meal when there last and the chef missed out key ingredients in a dish. I took a few bites, noticed it and sent it back. They tried to charge me for it plus the % service charge. 

Yes, of course. Because we poor northerners never ever go to London do we?  So I wouldn't know what happens in pubs and restaurants there, would I?  And Manchester's a little village without such sophisticated establishments, isn't it?  SMH.

I have no idea where you are.
Was simply pointing out that London has strange customs and peculiar inhabitants 

jon81uk

Deleted_User said:

IanManc said:

Deleted_User said:

IanManc said:

Marchitiello said:

MalMonroe said:

I've been asked for my card before but I said I didn't want to do that, thanks. It wasn't a problem. Nor should it be. I don't like the idea of my card being 'behind the bar'. There have been quite a few instances where my restaurant and pub bills have been incorrect (usually to my detriment) and I like to keep tabs (pun intended) on where my money's going. 

Just because they ask doesn't mean you have to comply. If that means that they don't want my business, I'm more than happy to take it elsewhere.

It's your choice, not theirs.

Opening a tab and leaving one card behind the counter has been the norm for at least 20 years ......

It may be "the norm" where you go, but I go out to pubs and restaurants a lot and have ever encountered it. It may be your experience, but it has certainly not been "the norm for at least 20 years" for everyone everywhere.

You've missed out the fact he/she mentions London.

I went out for a meal when there last and the chef missed out key ingredients in a dish. I took a few bites, noticed it and sent it back. They tried to charge me for it plus the % service charge. 

Yes, of course. Because we poor northerners never ever go to London do we?  So I wouldn't know what happens in pubs and restaurants there, would I?  And Manchester's a little village without such sophisticated establishments, isn't it?  SMH.

I have no idea where you are.
Was simply pointing out that London has strange customs and peculiar inhabitants 

Does it? I've been to a range of pubs in various parts of London and yet to find these strange customs!
I'd say the ability to open a tab is maybe more common outside of London. In London it felt more common to have card machine offered to you every time.

Marchitiello

IanManc said:

Marchitiello said:

MalMonroe said:

I've been asked for my card before but I said I didn't want to do that, thanks. It wasn't a problem. Nor should it be. I don't like the idea of my card being 'behind the bar'. There have been quite a few instances where my restaurant and pub bills have been incorrect (usually to my detriment) and I like to keep tabs (pun intended) on where my money's going. 

Just because they ask doesn't mean you have to comply. If that means that they don't want my business, I'm more than happy to take it elsewhere.

It's your choice, not theirs.

Opening a tab and leaving one card behind the counter has been the norm for at least 20 years ......

It may be "the norm" where you go, but I go out to pubs and restaurants a lot and have ever encountered it. It may be your experience, but it has certainly not been "the norm for at least 20 years" for everyone everywhere.

Have you ever tried to open a tab behind a bar for you and your mates to have drinks? How was that managed? Bars and Pubs in London (up to Zone 2/3) have always asked to leave a Card with them (started frequenting them as a student with a part time job in 1997, and clearly remember my manager opening a tab and leaving his credit card behind the bar on our first celebration night out).
 As I said in another response, this was particularly the case when Bar/Pub had a minimum transaction spend level to use a card (could have been £10-20) so one pint at £2.50 -back in the days) could not have been paid with a single card transaction. Nowadays every single transactions are tapped in as there are no min spending limits I have seen in a long time, so the “open tab” scenario  may be only applicable for corporate event or similar.

Marchitiello

this article from a national newspaper is from 15 years ago and starts with “we have probably all done it..” and now you are trying to make it sound it is only mine or few other people experience..https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/make-a-criminal-s-day-leave-your-card-behind-the-bar-774494.html?amp

worth pointing out that it was indeed an article to highlight the potential risk of doing so and that “in theory” you could be held liable “if” the card was lost or stolen

vestrit

FWIW, I used to see lots of bars ask for a card behind the bar, but it seems to have become far less common over the past 10 years. That may be because lots more people are using their phones rather than cards, or because we've all become a lot more aware of identity scams etc?

Personally, if I was a regular and they asked, I probably wouldn't have a big problem with it, because I know the staff. But the flipside is true; if I was a regular, I wouldn't expect to be asked for some sort of security because they know me.
Only similar experience I've had recently was when I arranged for a big dinner for my wife's 50th, so I paid a lump sum up front for the meal and a drinks tab, and then they refunded me what was left over. That way no card was physically exchanged.

Marvel1

Sorry to hijack, but I'm wary now as to handing card over and keep it on you.  When I visted the USA, the restuarnts took the card from me to swipe (away from me) and they returned the card and I had to sign the receipt - is this ok?

jon81uk

Marvel1 said:

Sorry to hijack, but I'm wary now as to handing card over and keep it on you.  When I visted the USA, the restuarnts took the card from me to swipe (away from me) and they returned the card and I had to sign the receipt - is this ok?

We used to do that in the UK 20 years ago before chip and PIN started. Its a safe as it was back then, the waiter might go and clone the card by copying the magnetic stripe, but in a reputable restaurant its unlikely.
I wouldn't worry about it that much. Be more cautious about the tip, when they swipe the card its just a pre-authorisation, you then write the tip amount on the slip when signing and the waiter then adds it to the bill after you have your card back. Write the tip amount on your copy of the bill too. They might mis-read it, or they might add more dishonestly. If the bill is $20 and you add $5 tip keep an eye that your statement is for $25 not $26 or $30. I've only had it happen once and I think it was a genuine mistake reading my handwriting, as the $5 became $6 so I didn't worry about the extra dollar.

Marvel1

jon81uk said:

Marvel1 said:

Sorry to hijack, but I'm wary now as to handing card over and keep it on you.  When I visted the USA, the restuarnts took the card from me to swipe (away from me) and they returned the card and I had to sign the receipt - is this ok?

We used to do that in the UK 20 years ago before chip and PIN started. Its a safe as it was back then, the waiter might go and clone the card by copying the magnetic stripe, but in a reputable restaurant its unlikely.
I wouldn't worry about it that much. Be more cautious about the tip, when they swipe the card its just a pre-authorisation, you then write the tip amount on the slip when signing and the waiter then adds it to the bill after you have your card back. Write the tip amount on your copy of the bill too. They might mis-read it, or they might add more dishonestly. If the bill is $20 and you add $5 tip keep an eye that your statement is for $25 not $26 or $30. I've only had it happen once and I think it was a genuine mistake reading my handwriting, as the $5 became $6 so I didn't worry about the extra dollar.

Cheers, the first time I went and they give the receipt and pen, I had to Google what to do lol.  As tipping over here on the card machine you have the option to enter amount.