Credit Card Beware
 

This evening we were at Bonefish Grill. The food was very good. I gave the girl my credit card, & after a few minutes my husband asked if I got the card back. I checked..,& no card. So we called The waitress back to our table. My credit card was in her pocket. Gee whiz..how did that happen? Golly big, large mistake on her part. I was really really p o'd. I mean to the max. The mgr came over. He gave us 15% off the bill. I'm not impressed. Not good in my opinion. In fact really really upset. Guess what ...when the mgr revised the bill we tipped zero. I don't like being scammed!

Doesn't the card come back with the slip that needs to be signed?

Yes ... The card does 'usually' come back with the slip to be signed. It took
Us a minute to realize it was NOT in the folder. She had it in her pocket. I am not pleased.

Hey DORO22 both ways are possible. Innocent mistake...maybe....maybe finished the Christmas shopping with your card. We've gotten caught up in the Target & Home Depot credit card scams in the last year. It's simple just call your credit card company and tell them what went down and tell them you want a new card with a new number. Your covered and you'll have your card in a couple day's. Sounds like an innocent mistake but I'm like you, once that card leaves my sight I am never distracted by any BS until I have that card back in my paw. When its gone to long I'm suspicious. Good job you have to have eyes in the back of your head. If the person didn't do anything wrong it may be good to return with the tip. The server may have had some other customer crying on her about some silly issue and is sorry for upsetting you. I've made mistakes and you have probably made one or two during your life also. Take care.

OH... And p.s. It was NOT busy at all at 4 pm. We went early. The dining room was practically empty. I think many people are away to there hometowns for Christmas.

Just go into your online account of the credit card and see if extra charges were made or are pending. The card company will cover any wrongful charges if that happened, but it probably hasn't.

Maybe the card fell to the ground and somebody handed it to her as she was carrying/serving drinks or food.

Is there no room for someone making an honest mistake? I think not leaving a tip is over the top angry.

Really?!?! Well it was MY credit card...& perhaps the waitperson will 'remember' to place the card in the folder & not in her pocket the next time. I really don't think it was an 'honest' mistake. This is the first time ever we have not tipped a wait person. The attitude from the beginning was quite poor.

The card could have slipped out of the vinyl folder she had in her apron pocket!

Some restaurants have the servers do all the cashiering from their apron pockets--all receipts, cash, credit card slips, starting change and all cash tips are turned in to the manager at the end of the night and it's counted. The server pays any discrepancies out of their tips in there.

Not tipping for this is mean, IMO.

We have been going to Bonefish for years. The waitstaff has always been professional. You have no proof she was trying to steal your credit card, and shouldn't be accusing her of "scamming." Just my opinion.

:beer3::beer3:

:agree:

Bonefish is a primo spot to eat. Doro22 is communicating the experience at Bonefish. Not tipping is not terrible. It is a decision. TIP meant to insure prompt service....so if they don't give you marginally good service or pull a stunt like this with the credit card, DORO22 is well within the boundary of proper etiquette practiced in the tri-state area. I don't know DORO22 but I doubt this person was trying to save another 20% of the bill. When it comes to money if you do the correct thing you deserve the correct thing back but if your providing a service and you mess up expect zero tip. When were talking about my money and one party has to feel uncomfortable it's never gonna be me again. DORO22 for President. I go out to eat to relax, unwind and enjoy the company that I'm with not to be interrupted every two minutes with is everything ok can I get you something? I always have fun with the server, just don't want to have them become a part of the memory of our precious time together. I rest my case.

"wait person" Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

If you give your credit card to any server & they "some how" lose it--call the police. This happened many, many years ago to a relative of mine. It was very strange the server had the same last name as my relative. Whadda ya think?

We are also regulars at Bonefish and have been since they opened here, and for what it is worth, personally I think your reaction was "over the top". To accuse a server of scamming your card and to call over the manager and make a scene because it was in her pocket and not in the check folder was (to say the least) in poor taste and an over reaction.

I am sure this incident has gone down in Bonefish history as just another "only in the Villages folks!"

I did NOT accuse the waitress of stealing. I told the mgr that it was very sloppy handling of a customer's credit card. I stand by my decision not to tip in this instance. Should I reward poor service, & a nearly 'missing' credit card? What would all of you who are bashing me do if your credit card wound up in the pocket of a waitress! Give her a large tip?!? I don't think so. I too have dined at Bonefish many times over the last four years, and have always had excellent food and service. I will be going back because I like it there, but I won't have that waitress again. I was relating one incident just to remind others to be aware of getting their credit card returned, especially during this hectic winter season. Also I will be more acutely aware at every place I go to be cognizant of the prompt return of my card.

Excuse me! I did NOT cause a scene. Where did you get that one? It's a little ridiculous how some people come on here and twist information. The mgr came over and quietly spoke to us, and I told him it was sloppy & shoddy handling of a credit card, and he agreed. I believe causing a scene would have involved yelling and cussing. And guess what I have had private messages with people saying that they would have called the police in that situation.

Sounds to me like an honest mistake. Some folks like to pay in restaurants with cash rather than let their credit cards out of their sight.

Yes I think I will start doing the cash thing. Also there are some places where they bring a scanner to your table, and places where you pay online at your table.

What was this, then: "Guess what ...when the mgr revised the bill we tipped zero. I don't like being scammed!"

I'm betting it was a mistake on her part rather than an attempt to steal the card. Just like you, how many customers would actually walk out of the restaurant without making sure that the server had returned their card? If it was an attempt to steal the card, it had an extremely low chance for success. Other than the card incident, was the service she provided adequate?

I agree.

Thank you for reminder to check that card is returned.

As far as just call credit card company to replace, yes this is true, however when cards are stolen and used, WE pay in increased rates and/or costs. Just because most of us probably don't carry credit card balances, the cost is passed on to stores in higher cc rates charged by the companies and we pay it in the pass through cost of merchandise and/or services.

Again, thank you for the reminder.

Just a suggestion I ALWAYS follow .... when I use my credit card, I NEVER put my wallet away until the card is back inside. I'll lay it in front of me on a table / counter until the card is returned. You will be more likely to see your wallet and remember you are still waiting for your card.

What if she put the folder in her pocket and the credit card slipped out into her pocket and she did not know it?

In most cases where the theft of a credit card is involved in resataurants and shops all they need is the card number, expiration date and security code.....the physical card is not required to make purchases.

So why would someone with an intent do such an obvious act as keeping the card in the hope the customer would not miss it? I doubt it seriously.

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season.... be aware out there. Not everyone is honest.

Pay with cash, solves all problem's

The first and only time I've been to Bonefish, the service was just okay and it was busy. My opinion, it doesn't matter if it's busy if the waitperson is efficient! When the bills came (it was 8 women), we each got our bill (no error in getting the wrong bill). When we paid, the folders were returned to almost every incorrect person. I paid cash & received back about 4 dollars in change. (I gave them a $50). I finally got back the correct change after a 30 minute wait. Another person paid in cash and was still trying to get back the correct change when I left the restaurant. (by then, 45 minutes had gone by and I had another appointment that I had to get to). I have no idea what is up with the servers but perhaps they should have a different person cash people out and handle the cash and credit cards.

I am with the crowd that believes this was an honest mistake. It is too easy to have the card slip out of the holder, especially if carried in the apron pocket. That being said, you did say that service was slow and inefficient from the beginning. So, no, I probably would have left a nominal tip at best and it would have had nothing to do with the credit card misplacement. Had service been truly good or at least above adequate, yes, I would have left an appropriate tip.

That being said, thanks for the reminder. It is always good to be aware of your property, especially this time of year.

Redwitch, I agree, while I was working there were several times when multiple people would go to dinner, and due to various company requirements would need to get separate checks. Most of the time this worked just fine, however there was the occasional mix-up on the credit cards getting back to the correct person. As stated previously, I have also had a credit card fall out of the folder.
This was probably an innocent mistake.

I'll join the innocent mistake crowd.

BUT - I would like to see more of the system I have seen in other countries, the one where they bring a wireless credit card device to your table. You enter the tip amount, then sign. Your printed receipt has the total including tip.

Many Villagers wouldn't trust that, either.

They fear people seeing their credit card numbers, but yet......

...they write CHECKS for many things that get passed thru many different hands that could copy the checking account and routing numbers, plus the account holder's home address, spouse's name, phone number etc......PLUS the checking account holder's signature that can be forged quite easily.

Charge card is better. The credit card companies detect fraud and decline the transactions before they get approved, and they call the cardholder and pay for fraudulent charges.

The card holder can set alarms in their online account that will instantly alert the card holder when a charge has been approved. Or if something looks fishy you can immediately call or go online to see if any charges have been made.

Many wait staff carry bill folders in their apron. One does not keep your card to use it. Card is swiped with a reader, numbers captured, and a new card is made. Your card only needs to be out of your site for a second. I am thinking it fell out in the apron pocket, not all bill folders have a secured pocket for card. Bonus is there are plenty of restaurants to eat at so you don't have to return.

I always carried my bills and payment in my apron pocket in holders. I won't lose a card. That said, as you never mentioned the poor service initially and referred to scamming at the close of your segue into this story, it really seems like it is POSSIBLE there was a mistake. On a busy day, the wait staff has to check out the customers and it gets crowded at the machines. In an effort NOT to screw up, a well intention-ed waitperson would protect all cards and cash. Sometimes, they fall into pockets on an apron. I hope it was not a theft busted, I really feel that it was not. The story grew as we went along and now that I see it in its entirety, I stand by my hope of an unintended mistake. You resolved it the way you saw fit. We, as readers, observe your words and align one way or another. There is always room for cross consideration and I bet this gal was sick over it and not for almost getting caught.
Wishes don't make it so. I still have that gut feeling. And, no. I am not interested in buying any bridges.
Happy holidays and second chances go a long way to confirm ones suspicions.
Peace.