Seems to me someone is padding your charge. I always insist that:
1. I get an itemized bill, noting each item and the tax.
2. I always use a credit card, never a debit card. (My credit card gives me 3% back.)
3. I usually tip about 20% for good service but I always round the amount so the total comes out to a whole dollar.
Eg.: $52.31 + $10.69 tip = $63.00
4. I write $10.69 on the tip line, write $63.00 for the total
5. When I sign, I add $63.00 after my name and circle it.
If there is any despute I can tell the bank the correct total is in my signature and circled.
6. I do the same at the gas pump, stop at $**.00
7. When you get your credit statement it's easy to see the odd totals not ending in .00
If you suspect a problem with a restaurant changing the amount, you should bring your duplicate credit slip to the OWNER of the restaurant, NOT THE MANAGER, who may have been the culprit. Threaten the owner with a complaint to VISA or MC who can shut them down for tampering with credit slips. Some day we will be like Europe and they will bring the "machine" to the table and you type in your own tip. Problem solved.
There should be NO FEES added to your bill AFTER you are presented the total. Padded bills are more common near the interstates. People are traveling and live no where near where they had lunch on the way.
Years ago in Sarasota a restaurant manager did all the bills for the servers. You were presented with a bill for say $46.70 but when the charge slip came back it said $56.30 but the original slip was no longer with it. When patrons like me complained to the server about the NEW total, the manager would come over and explain that the server "hit the wrong key". NOT! It was the manager that was the thief. Turns out the manager was padding the bills for an extra cocktail you never received (mine said "7&7" on a reprint) and somehow pocketing that $9 on every bill all day long. The credit card company finally got multiple complaints, they investigated and shut down the charge system for that restaurant.
So go talk to ONLY the OWNER in person or by phone.
The Villages Gourmet Club WEBSITE lists the owners of all the restaurants around town.
Hope this helps.
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