# How are tips rung up on a credit card? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322 "2018-10-02T15:49:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/41 "2018-10-03T06:46:00Z")
Oddly enough, it’s some of the smallest places I’ve been to that will do the US equivalent of bring “the machine” to your table as they’re using Square for payments, so it’s easy to bring over the tablet or phone with an EMV reader. And as someone mentioned above, several large chains have Ziosk or similar devices at each table so you don’t even have to wait for the server to bring the check. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/42 "2018-10-03T07:12:45Z")
The whole system in the US is archaic by today’s standards. Even food delivery and taxis have “the machine” here in Canada. You guys are about 20 years behind. I get handed the portable reader at the bar, or at my table, or at my front door, or in the taxi, and I insert my card and follow the prompts. The options are “tip by percentage,” or “tip by amount.” It’s really very simple. ETA: Oh, and why use a credit card when the amount can just come out of your account with no transaction fees? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/43 "2018-10-03T07:53:39Z")
Thank you for the responses to my question. I better understand the card charge process now I’d totally forgotten that Chili’s has a card reader at the table. I’ve only been there a few times. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/44 "2018-10-03T09:38:12Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > ETA: Oh, and why use a credit card when the amount can just come out of your account with no transaction fees? Do you mean credit va. Debit? Assuming the balance is paid off each month, I get: [ol] [li]No transaction fees[/li][li]Credit card points/cash back[/li][li]An interest free loan[/li][li]Extended warranty[/li][li]Travel insurance[/li][li]Chargeback rights if the seller doesn’t deliver[/li][/ol] What advantages does debit give me? ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/45 "2018-10-03T09:59:14Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > It seems strange that such a capitalist and commercialised society as America wouldn’t have the most advanced credit card machines, but there you go. I used to work for an American company, from an office in South Africa, that develops the backend software that handles credit card transactions. And it was always weird to see the latest and greatest features being pushed out worldwide but not to the US. I still remember being flabbergasted when we had to integrate a program that would allow you to cash a check using the camera on a smartphone. Huge amounts of effort by some very clever people to support an ancient payment system. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/46 "2018-10-03T10:38:58Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > It seems strange that such a capitalist and commercialised society as America wouldn’t have the most advanced credit card machines, but there you go. It’s a legacy of the way we handled banking until relatively recently. Until the late 20th century, it was difficult or impossible for banks to grow very large, so (even after a couple of decades of consolidation) we have a huge number of tiny financial institutions that don’t want to play nice with each other. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/47 "2018-10-03T10:49:20Z")
> [@yendis](#): > > I still remember being flabbergasted when we had to integrate a program that would allow you to cash a check using the camera on a smartphone. Huge amounts of effort by some very clever people to support an ancient payment system. I’ve actually wondered if that breathed new life into checks. It’s **much** less annoying to handle a check than it was a decade ago. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/48 "2018-10-03T13:06:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > ETA: Oh, and why use a credit card when the amount can just come out of your account with no transaction fees? Because the merchant pays the transaction fee, not me; and with a credit card I have a month to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/49 "2018-10-03T14:02:08Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > This way the card never leaves your sight, often not even your hand. Between the physical control and the need to enter your PIN, fraud has been dramatically reduced. > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Have you ever heard of “[skimmers](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS562US562&ei=GTe0W4-bKIug5wKuy66oAw&q=waiter+waitress+caught++credit+card+skimmer&oq=waiter+waitress+caught++credit+card+skimmer&gs_l=psy-ab.3...23058.26017..26480...0.0..0.111.947.9j2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i304i39j33i10.nrqsdPptOeU)”? Sure, i agree it reduces fraud and skimmers. Doesn’t mean it’s easier for me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/50 "2018-10-03T14:27:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Even food delivery and taxis have “the machine” here in Canada. > > You guys are about 20 years behind. Why are you even using taxis anymore? Use Uber and you don’t even have to use your card. You guys are so behind. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/51 "2018-10-03T14:34:34Z")
The method I’m seeing almost everywhere is that, when you go to the register to pay your bill, they ask if you want to add a tip. If you say, “$5”, it appears in the tip area on the receipt and, when they hand you the receipt to sign, they will remove that much cash from the drawer and set it aside for the waitress to pick up. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/52 "2018-10-03T14:58:57Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you even using taxis anymore? Use Uber and you don’t even have to use your card. > You guys are so behind. Why are you even using Uber? I just get in my flying car. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/53 "2018-10-03T15:44:08Z")
Flying car? I use my transporter. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/54 "2018-10-03T17:03:56Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you even using taxis anymore? Use Uber and you don’t even have to use your card. > You guys are so behind. Technically you are using your card, its just preloaded onto your account. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322/55 "2018-10-03T18:21:18Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > I once had to call back a restaurant a week later as the bill was $40, I tipped $6 as the service was medium at best. So when $48 showed up, I was surprised as this was the first time I’d seen any discrepency. The manager refunded the whole meal, apologized for the inconvenience, and stated that the server would be let go. Places need repeat business and a good reputation to do well. I once (and as I recall I posted on here about this as well) ate at a restaurant with my wife and paid with a card, putting the tip on the card as well. When I checked my account the following week, the charged amount was about $80, rather than the $40 it should have been. I went back to the restaurant to figure out what had happened (still had the receipt). The manager went back and checked their receipts, and figured out what had happened: during the second stage of the transaction, the server had put (inadvertently I assume) the “total” amount into the computer on the “tip” line, which basically doubled the amount of the bill. He refunded the difference to me in cash. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-tips-rung-up-on-a-credit-card/822322.md?page=2)