# Bar staff changing tip amount after signing of bill - illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466 "2004-07-16T19:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/1 "2004-07-16T19:07:10Z")
A friend of mine went out to a nightclub, and lo and behold when she got her bill there were about $50 of drinks she had not ordered on her tab which had been held using a credit card. After the staff member had tried to convince her to pay the full amount, because the staff member said she’d be fired if it was not signed - the staff member gave her $40 back after charging her $10 for an after hours drink for her boyfriend was served and charged to her (this is not legal either) while the staff member and her were discussing the bill. She signed the bill, and the next morning she called the credit card company and found out that after having signed the bill, there was a $10 tip she had not authorized on the tab. Is this illegal? I know the bar staff member actions were questionable throughout - but beyond complaints to the Better Business Bureau - what should she do? This is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that this happened. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/2 "2004-07-16T19:18:00Z")
> [@lexi](#): > > Is this illegal? It’s absolutely illegal in the US. I suspect the same is true of Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/3 "2004-07-16T19:20:32Z")
Hit submit too soon, sorry. The very first thing she should do is contact the issuing bank of her credit card and dispute the charge. Most (if not all) credit cards offer some level of protectiona gainst such activities. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/4 "2004-07-16T20:01:14Z")
I thought so – my guess was it was a crime something like check fraud. Adding a couple extra 0’s to the bill. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/5 "2004-07-16T20:06:00Z")
I had this happen once… the waitron at a restaraunt added a few bucks to the tip by changing a 4 to a 7. It was clear looking at the check what had happened, and I had retained the unaltered original. I called American Express, and they adjusted my bill. I don’t know if they took any action beyond that. For 3 bucks, they may have said, “Who cares?”. Or, they may have notified the restaraunt that their staff was playing games. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/6 "2004-07-16T20:21:44Z")
Your friend should also call the manager of the bar. Too bad for the bartender if she is worried about getting fired. Should have thought about that before scamming the customers, and she should be thankful that the police are being kept out of it. I would also tell your friend to keep her eye on her CC statements for the next while. If the bartender had no issue piling on extra charges, she may have also copied the number for future use. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/7 "2004-07-16T20:47:42Z")
She contacted the company which owns the bar & talked with the owner, the entire bill has been removed & the employee has been fired in the middle of the Calgary Stampede. I would have gone with criminal charges myself so this bartender would never work again - but the employee being fired is good too. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/8 "2004-07-16T21:04:28Z")
> [@lexi](#): > > the employee has been fired in the middle of the Calgary Stampede. Bummer for her, not being able to work during the drinkingest 10 days of the year in Calgary. Maybe she thought that your friend was some out of town yokel who wouldn’t do anything. BTW, what bar was it? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/9 "2004-07-16T22:05:36Z")
If they are kiting you tab after you have signed for a specific amount & tip, and have an unaltered copy: Kick up a fuss with the manager. Call the credit card company and complain, confirming you conversation in writing. Take you business elsewhere. If the employees as kiting your tab they are likely skimming your credit cars! ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/10 "2004-07-16T22:24:01Z")
It’s a damn good thing I keep my credit car in the garage!!! Damn scammers anyway. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/11 "2004-07-17T01:00:44Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > It’s a damn good thing I keep my credit car in the garage!!! Damn scammers anyway. It was a TYPO! :smack: So! I guess that you have NEVER made a typo! If the employees are kiting your tab they are likely skimming your credit card! * * * ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/12 "2004-07-17T02:20:03Z")
Most restaraunts I go to now print two separate copies of the credit card slip instead of the no-carbon-required copies. There is no way to show a copy of what the restaurant was given if you have a dispute. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/13 "2004-07-17T02:41:18Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > If they are kiting **you** tab… > > …confirming **you** conversation in writing. > > Take **you** business elsewhere. > > If the employees **as** kiting your tab… “So! I guess that you have NEVER made a typo!” Imagine how embarassed someone might be to make FIVE in a short post. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/14 "2004-07-17T16:35:10Z")
I used to work in a restaurant, and a server was fired for altering the tip amount. It’s fraud, and it’s stealing, and it’s illegal. Call the restaurant and talk to the manager, or better yet, go down with her copy of the receipt. This is why I circle the total amount and initial my total on the receipt. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/15 "2004-07-17T16:44:02Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I had this happen once… the waitron at a restaraunt added a few bucks to the tip by changing a 4 to a 7. It was clear looking at the check what had happened, and I had retained the unaltered original. I called American Express, and they adjusted my bill. I don’t know if they took any action beyond that. For 3 bucks, they may have said, “Who cares?”. Or, they may have notified the restaraunt that their staff was playing games. Waitron? Were these robots or something? 🆒 Most likely the credit card company will not take action even for somewhat large theft, as I understand it. Too expensive for them. However, do they report it as a crime to the police where this occurred? ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/16 "2004-07-17T16:46:03Z")
> [@stockton](#): > > “So! I guess that you have NEVER made a typo!” > > Imagine how embarassed someone might be to make FIVE in a short post. Not me, I’m glad to read through typos and get the general idea. And I don’t care if I mak them to. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/17 "2004-07-19T17:54:19Z")
I won’t say the exact name of the bar, but it is the one that used to have lion statues outside, is owned by the same company that owns Cowboys, and the name rhymes with mantra - if you have been to Calgary lately - you should be able to guess. At $10 a drink, it is not like a bartender is having trouble making tips. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/18 "2004-07-19T18:29:35Z")
First off, yes it’s illegal. Second _$10_ a drink? Is there cover there? That’s just… wow. I know where I’m never going. (not like I go out a lot anyway, but still) ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/19 "2004-07-20T00:21:23Z")
10 Canadian dollars? If so, that’s about $7.50 US, which is still steep, but not outrageously so. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466/20 "2004-07-20T04:22:32Z")
Something I learned the hard way. Normally when I go to a restraunt I’ll pay the bill with a CC then tip the waitperson with cash. So when I go to sign the tab I just leave the tip space blank. Well I’ve found you shouldn’t do that. If your not going to tip on the CC write down -0- in the tip space or else a waitperson might take it upon themselves to write down a tip FOR you. Like they did with me. :mad: What really had me pissed about that is the whole reason I tip with cash is so the waitperson doesn’t have to claim those tips on their paycheck. Or at least let them decide if they want to or not. And yes I know shame on me for helping someone cheat Unclesam… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-staff-changing-tip-amount-after-signing-of-bill-illegal/255466.md?page=2)