[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Not that it makes a difference in this case, but the way restaurants process credit card charges is different from most businesses. First, they present you with a bill without the tip, say $80. Then, they take your credit card into the back room and immediately place a pending charge on your account for $80. Then, they return your credit card and a bill for $80 with a blank space for a tip. You add the tip, say $20, and sign a receipt for $100. If you use credit card alerts, like I do, you will immediately get an email or text alert for a charge of $80. Then, a day or so later, someone in the restaurant will change the pending amount from $80 to $100, which will show up on your credit card online statement. So, the bank alert never actually verifies the correct amount charged. I think the restaurant should only process one amount, the one that you signed, and not have someone change the amount days later. That is one reason that I always pay cash in restaurants.

I don't know what restuarants you frequent but we pay with credit card all the time at restaurants and usually add the tip on to the CC. I have NEVER seen two charges on my credit card bill. I also have never experienced a different charge than my receipt (which I keep to reconcile my statement).