I don’t doubt they told you that, but the scenario seems unlikely to me, unless the cardholder disputes the charge (in which case the signed receipt would be used by the restaurant to prove their case). AFAIK, the signed slips aren’t even submitted to the bank, let alone reviewed by them. How would the know if the numbers conflicted? Am I wrong? Do restaurants submit the slips to the bank?
I used to manage a service station (in New Zealand) and we never had to submit slips to the bank…they were only kept for our records (and in case of a dispute I guess - I never had to find out)
Wow - so in this case you would need to keep all of you slips and check them against your statement at the end of the month? A charge could be $2 or $3 out (or $10) because of a changed tip and you would need to check that when the statement arrives? That doesn’t sound all that consumer friendly to me - it sounds kinda backwards really…
My parents do this and spend an extra minute checking their math. I’ve never understood this; I always tip a whole number, which makes doing the arithmetic for the total much simpler.
In the hotel business, we get a “pre-authorization”.
Basically, our computer asks the customer’s bank’s computer, “If I try to charge $xx.xx to this card, will it clear or not?” If the bank authorizes, then we finish checking them in.
We get an authorization for the expected room charges, plus a little extra, in case they decide to watch a movie or make a phone call.
When they check out, we present them with the bill. When they agree that it is correct, then we post the official credit card transaction.
I believe that a restaurant gets a pre-auth for the amount of the bill, plus a little extra, in case the customer wants to leave a tip. When the customer fills out the tip space and signs for the total, then the restaurant rings up the official credit card transaction.
I always tip to make the bill total a round number, too. It doesn’t take a minute to check simple arithmetic. It shouldn’t take more than a simple glance in most cases. It saves time when reviewing billing statements. It’s easy (really) to remember that I spent $56 versus $55.21 without having to consult the receipt.
::shudder:: For some (typically low-end restaurants) they force you to pay at the register. It’s kind of like a cross between fast food and something approximating full service. I don’t mean low-end as “poor people restaurants,” but low-end (but delicious!) food, like just about any Coney Island, and a majority of the places called “family” restaurants that don’t bother to get a beer license.
Have you seen Microsoft Surface? Apparently you’ll soon be able to self-pay at the table, and have a sliding bar to specify your tip instead of figuring out dollars and stuff.
I’m still waiting for the day I can just walk in, a camera or RFID identifies me, my usual is on the table in 10 minutes and I can walk right out when I’m done, having the total (including my customary 15%) charged to my account automatically.
Why, it’d be just like the tab I have at my favorite pub, except they’d actually get paid with the electronic system!
It was a good while ago, so I might be leaving something out. I think they were worried that someone would see the wrong amount on their bill, dispute it, and because the restaurant couldn’t produce bona-fide authorization for the exact charge, the charge would get removed.
This wasn’t in the greatest (though certainly not worst) area of metro Detroit, so I could certainly see people trying a scam like this, and the restaurant getting burned more than once.
Why not just have a robot deliver it, and you won’t have to tip at all 
They could probably let you pay at the table now, with a wireless card swipe machine.
I worked at two restaurants (both in California) who told me completely contradictory things about this issue.
The first one told me you have to go by the amount of the total as it is written in, regardless of the amount of the tip.
The second told me you have to add the amount of the tip as it’s written in, regardless of the total.
I was inclined to believe the second for two reasons. A: they mentioned the founders of the restaurant were lawyers, and in general they were more strict about following certain legal CYA-type procedures, and B: this method usually favored me (the server) since there are a fair amount of people who write the tip they mean but can’t add for shit and end up screwing up the total. It was heart-wrenching to put in a total at the first restaurant, knowing I would only get $1 instead of the $10 they wrote on there because they added it wrong.
Well, but there’s a difference here. If it appears to be a mistake on the customer part, well- people make mistakes. If it appears the customer is being a deliberate cheapskate, then that’s another issue entirely.
A local restaurant chain in the Toronto area does just that: the bring the credit card machine right to the table, swipe it there, let you enter the tip, print the receipt, sign it, and you’re done. At Apple’s stores, it’s even easier. Sign the screen, and have them email the receipt to you.