[BumpaOompa]

I am relatively new to The Villages and my wife and I have been enjoying many of the restaurants at the town squares. When dining specifically at the Brownwood restaurants I noticed some unusual activity on my restaurant charges. As I have done my entire life I order, eat, pay the bill with a credit card and close it out after adding a gratuity. I am very articulate about my financial house and accounting so I always save a receipt and reconcile them with my credit card statement. What is unusual is that only half of the receipts reconcile with my statement (granted I have only dined in Brownwood about a dozen times). The ones that don’t match generally have an additional amount of $1-$5 on my credit card statement. There is no pattern that I can make out. This has occurred multiple times at WOB, City Fire and even when I use a credit card at the beverage shacks. So, with me being new, I am wondering if fees for some reason (entertainment on the square, use of credit card, ?) are being added after I close and sign the receipt. The amount is small so I have been letting it pass but if there are no good explanations for why this extra amount is added I may start taking it up with the restaurant managers.

[Two Bills]

I would get on to CC provider.
What is on the receipt, and you signed off for, is the amount you should pay.
Had this myself some years ago, so only pay cash now.

[Skip]

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.

Skip

[papillon]

What credit card gives you 3% back, please?

[vintageogauge]

What is more unusual is that more than one restaurant plus the booze shacks are doing this. Why not just take one of the receipts and ask them what it's for.

[Bay Kid]

I always compare my receipt to the statement just in case this type of problem shows up.

[giorgio1948]

Unfortunately, the wait staff (server) may change the tip amount.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BumpaOompa

I am relatively new to The Villages and my wife and I have been enjoying many of the restaurants at the town squares. When dining specifically at the Brownwood restaurants I noticed some unusual activity on my restaurant charges. As I have done my entire life I order, eat, pay the bill with a credit card and close it out after adding a gratuity. I am very articulate about my financial house and accounting so I always save a receipt and reconcile them with my credit card statement. What is unusual is that only half of the receipts reconcile with my statement (granted I have only dined in Brownwood about a dozen times). The ones that don’t match generally have an additional amount of $1-$5 on my credit card statement. There is no pattern that I can make out. This has occurred multiple times at WOB, City Fire and even when I use a credit card at the beverage shacks. So, with me being new, I am wondering if fees for some reason (entertainment on the square, use of credit card, ?) are being added after I close and sign the receipt. The amount is small so I have been letting it pass but if there are no good explanations for why this extra amount is added I may start taking it up with the restaurant managers.

If that is happening, it is fraud and totally illegal. I would dispute the charges with my bank. I always use cash to pay at a restaurant because I will not allow the server to take my credit card into the back room. I use a credit card for all other purchases, never a debit card.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by papillon

What credit card gives you 3% back, please?

Sam's Club Mastercard..... 3% on Dining and Travel, 5% on gas, 1% on other things.

[bilcon]

I agree that someone is playing you. I also use cash at restaurants. Too many horror stories of card numbers being stolen or tips being added or changed. I also like giving the employees their tip in cash. That's just me.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by papillon

What credit card gives you 3% back, please?

has a I/2:/3% you can look up details I usually get back between $1500 to $2000 a year not so much this year because of not doing as much it’s a no fee card and the whole bill is drafted every month from credit union

[JohnN]

one reason I always pay cash

[Skip]

Originally Posted by JohnN

one reason I always pay cash

I agree cash is KING, but if we go out to eat 3 times a week, that means we need to carry about $200+ on me and go to the ATM every week.

Credit cards are very safe. Federal law protects you from fraudulent charges. If you tell the bank you did not make the charge, they freeze your account and issue you a new card. Stealing and using credit card numbers is a felony. The new cards with chips are even safer. Soon the account numbers will be removed from the cards once we go to 100% chip processing.

Skip

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I always use cash to pay at a restaurant

Yeah, same here.

[golf2140]

Capital One Savor gives 4% at restaurants