Can you still get a tab anywhere?

Well there could be govenment regulations. A number of years ago, we had all new windows installed in our house. It was advertised as payable in a year, no interest. So I said, “Okay, if I pay you now, can I get a discount?” The answer was no, for if they gave me a discount for paying immediately, they would be admitting that they really were charging interest and that would violate the consumer protection laws. I’m sure they just took the note I signed to a bank and just discounted it. But they felt they just couldn’t discount it to me.

My grandfather had one at the local grocery store forever. While it was no longer a general service they offered, they saw no reason to close out the accounts of long-term customers.

So I doubt there are any such regulations.

I ran a tab at the local bar this weekend but I went in the next day and paid it because I told them I would.

The small town store where I often buy lunch would float me until my next visit but I’ve never taken advantage of it. I only know because I mentioned once that I wasn’t there the previous day due to a forgotten wallet and she told me I could have just come in. There’s also been a couple times when they had trouble with their credit card machine and I said I’d just pay it the next day rather than hold up the line. I wouldn’t think to ask to run a real tab where I had a week’s worth of purchases built up, though.

I was asked if I wanted to run a tab at a local music venue/bar recently. Not sure why I would want one so I declined.