Re: Restaurants overcharging on Debit Cards

Colters BBQ of Texas does this -- adds the tip -- even though it is a
self serve cafeteria and there is no one to tip.

I talked with the manager at Colters and he informed me this was done
just in case you wanted to leave a tip.

This is a big deal.

Suppose I paid my bill by cash and on the way out I saw two pieces of
pie I wanted priced at $1.50 each.

What if I picked them up and continued out the door after telling the
manager I would get back to him and settle up in two or three days?

He would have me arrested for shoplifting -- yet he is doing the same
thing to me and thinks it is ok.

Bank of America thinks it is ok too.

Online banking of BOA is now issuing a disclaimer which states this
"usually happens and will be straightened out in three or four days
when the transaction becomes final."

Colters is not the only one -- nor is Bank of America -- engaged in
these practices.

QT service stations is another.

I used a debit card for a purchase there, entered my pin and when I got
home found out they not only had a hold on my account for the amount of
purchase but another hold for $50.

QT's regional office told me when you use a debit card at the pump it
automatically places a hold for $50 to cover your purchase -- then when
the purchase is completed the exact amount replaces the $50 hold.

In my case it didn't -- it was added to it. QT blamed Bank of America
and Bank of America blamed QT.

In the mean time I was out $38 service charge for BOA paying an item I
did not have the money on deposit to cover -- and refused to refund the
charge.

QT officials told me to select the credit card option at the pump, even
though it was a debit card, and only a $1 hold would be placed on my
account.

I did that and sure enough it worked.

But...

The balance in online banking after my last transaction was deducted
was $1 less than my available balance -- and this was done with
absolutely no explanation as to where the $1 difference was or why.
Three days later when the transaction posted it was balanced out again.

The bottom line is -- banks and businesses who practice this are doing
to their customers what they would have those customers arrested if it
was reversed and we did it to them.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Whats Best? Travelers Cheques, money, credit card?
    ... You cannot use your debit card in an ATM machine, ... My bank gives us a "bank card" that we can use at an ATM or use when we make a purchase in a store. ... When we make a purchase we can use the card as a debit card or a Visa card. ...
    (rec.travel.cruises)
  • Re: A Personal Note
    ... disability money, gratis, per month. ... So I coughed up the goods and gave her my debit card ... So low, for so long, in fact, that the bank ... account didn't seem to do anything like *exist* in any real sense, ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: Things we remember...
    ... Furthermore, theft based on a check will have no daily limit, likely no ... and can be canceled by the bank to prevent further ... protection with a check then you do with a debit card. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: OT Bankcard Fraud
    ... Bank of America phoned me for verification when I made a credit card charge to pay 'the German news server' individual.net--- because it was an out-of-the-country purchase. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Things we remember...
    ... Furthermore, theft based on a check will have no daily limit, likely no ... and can be canceled by the bank to prevent further ... protection with a check then you do with a debit card. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)