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Watch out for Curry Club - They padded my credit card bill

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by lauralynne, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. lauralynne

    lauralynne Member

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    I got carry out at Curry Club on 7/30. My bill was $25.10, and I paid with a credit card. I didn't add a tip because I was picking the food up to go. I just got my credit card statement today, and the restaurant billed for $30.00. I will be calling Curry Club tomorrow to dispute this with the manager. It makes me wonder what else the person who handed me my food did with my credit card number. Has anyone else had something like this happen?
     
  2. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    If you have the receipt, then take the statement and go to the police and file a report with them. Secondly, make sure the CC company knows too. Then third go back to the restaurant and LOUDLY demand that they refund the $$$. If they refuse, then take the receipt and tell them you'll be filing a police report for theft of your credit card. PERIOD.
     
  3. wolf685cln

    wolf685cln New Member

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    No, but I'd be leaning into the manager pretty hard - and ask him to produce the signed reciept. Did you line through the tip section?

    If it's an Amex, you can call and they'll more than likely reverse the charges back to them until it's resolved. They've been really good about that in the past for questionable charges.
     
  4. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    It isn't like gas stations where they put a hold on your account for more than the actual amount, is it? And then when the actual charge goes through it's for the correct amount? I don't know but I've heard of that being done.
     
  5. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Restaurants do that as well.
     
  6. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

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    I think they only put holds on debit cards, not credit cards.

    I'd encourage you to take a more peaceful approach initially. Take your receipt and a copy of your credit card statement back to the restaurant and ask the manager if there may have been some mistake before causing a scene or involving the police. Causing a scene really only makes you look crazy and the police have more important things to do - only involve them if you have tried to resolve the matter peacefully are sure the restaurant has stolen from you. Who knows, maybe if you're nice they'll give you a coupon for next time as well as refund your money.
     
  7. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Of course, I would be diplomatic in the beginning but to me, its still credit card fraud because they probably gave themselves a "tip" because they "needed" one after the patron didn't leave them one (for the record, I don't give tips if its a take-out because I was not "waited on" like if I was a sit down restaurant. They probably thought the patron wouldn't notice if the amount was "rounded up" into an even number. I've read and heard about that happening.

    This isn't something to take VERY lightly. I wonder how many others have been affected too? I always keep my receipts from restaurants/take-outs because of this.

    Good luck and let us know what happens.
     
  8. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    It could have been a mistake too......I'd take the receipt in and show the manager.....
     
  9. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Whew, I was wondering when the voice of reason would chime in ;)
     
  10. razng2grtboys

    razng2grtboys New Member

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    I just wanted to chime in, not regarding the possible theft that may have occured (which is completely wrong) but the matter of tipping for carry-out service.

    I always tip when I get carry-out. Why? When you call to place your order you are being serviced. When you pick up your order you are being serviced. In between that time someone is also busy boxing/bagging your order. I like to tip for this reason, although not the same amount I would if I were sitting down in the restaurant. I usually give 10%. Maybe I'm being too nice, but that's the way I roll.
     
  11. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Have a friend that is co-owner of a restaurant chain all over fairfax county...he says that servers are paid differently than people who work as a cashier/takeout/cooks. Waiters make tips whereas people who work at the counter/cooks, etc aren't paid same as Waiters. Hence, I don't tip at the counter since they get paid more than the Waiters do.
     
  12. Shyam333

    Shyam333 New Member

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    I recommend talking to the manager first and letting them know what happened as I am sure that should resolve the problem. It could have been an accident or a rogue server who did this and the only way they can fix it is if they know about it.

    My wife catered a huge dinner from curry club and found the manager to be very honest and helpful for the event.
     
  13. PowerPlay

    PowerPlay Member

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    Some places charge different prices for carry out. For instance a pho place in Chantilly charges an extra 50cents for carry out noodle soup. That is to cover the cost of the container I'm sure and in those instances I don't tip, but agree.. someone had to pack up your order so I'll generally a buck or 2 if my order is under $20.
     
  14. Pluto

    Pluto New Member

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    FWIW, once when we dined at this place, a guy over charged our credit card accidently, gave a refund and finally charged the correct amount. He came back, told me what he did and also told me to check my statement if there is any issue.

    On another note, we had been to another Indian place in MD. It was not a regular buffet, that day each buffet costed $25, regular buffet is usually $8.99. And the service was terrible, water was not filled on time, even upon request glasses kept empty, plates were dirty, even upon request couldn't get clean plates and we had some other issues with the waiter, but i don't remember what was that.
    So, finally we got fedup of waiting and decided to leave the place and leave a tip.
    I didn't even bother to check my credit card statement for a while. And to my shock I found out they added a generous tip of 20% on their own. And I am sure that was not an accident as I clearly stiked out the tip section.
     
  15. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    So did you go back and dispute this with them after they charged 20%?? I hope you were able to do that.
     
  16. Pluto

    Pluto New Member

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    Nope, I didn't do that as I lost the receipt and I had no way to prove it.

    But while reading this thread I understood that restaurants keep all signed receipts and I should have asked him to prove that tiped 20%. Unfortunately I noticed it after 2-3 months.
     
  17. lauralynne

    lauralynne Member

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    I just found this on Visa's website:

    ***
    Best practices for restaurants – advice on processing gratuities

    Credit and debit card use at restaurants is becoming increasing popular among restaurant goers. According to recent Visa statistics, nearly 60% of the 70 billion dollars generated from restaurant transactions in 2005 were made with Visa Debit cards. Because debit cards are connected to cardholders’ checking accounts, improper processing practices can create customer service issues both for your business and card issuers.
    How authorizations with tips can lead to lost sales:
    • A restaurant check is for $100, but staff has authorized an estimated tip for $120.
    • The Visa cardholder’s bank deducts $120 from the available funds/credit.
    • The transaction amount was $115 ($100 + $15 tip).
    OR
    • The customer leaves the tip in cash so the transaction amount is $100.
    • When a customer views their account activity and sees a $120 hold against their account, they may think the restaurant has overcharged and decides never to return to the establishment again.
    Keep your customers happy

    To help ensure high customer satisfaction and loyalty, merchants should only submit an authorization request for the known check amount, excluding an estimated tip. Visa’s operating regulations do not allow merchants to estimate authorization amounts.

    To stay in line with Visa requirements, restaurants should:
    • Make sure terminals, systems, software and back-office processes are set up to authorize without adding an estimated tip amount. Call your merchant provider or processor for more details.
    • Train your staff to use proper authorization procedures, entering only the amount of the ticket.
    You are protected

    Many restaurants submit higher authorization amounts because they think that it protects them from chargebacks. To protect your business, Visa ensures that restaurant authorizations are valid for the amount plus 20 percent, so there is little or no chargeback liability when a tip is not included in an authorization request.
    For more information on handling Visa card transactions at your restaurant, download Visa Tips for Restaurant Staff (PDF, 1mb) and Visa's How-To's for Restaurant Owners and Managers (PDF, 520k).
     
  18. lauralynne

    lauralynne Member

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    I called Curry Club today and spoke politely with the manager. He said "Sorry about that" and took my information down. He said he will check with his accounting department and get back to me soon. I do wonder if this issue is the result of the restaurant having improper authorization procedures in place or the result of an individual staff member's decision to add a tip? I did cross through the tip line on the receipt for my carry-out. I agree that addressing this peacefully is the best approach.

     
  19. lauralynne

    lauralynne Member

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    I do sometimes tip for carry-out (usually in cash), such as when I have a special order or receive extra service, but didn't do so in this case because they just handed me the bag and swiped my credit card.

     
  20. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    If I ever have issues, I always just dispute it with the credit card company. I don't have a lot of extra time to deal with the back/forth with the vendor. Like what someone else mentioned, Amex is SUPER with producing lost receipts or dealing with disputed amounts. Sometimes it's been an error on my part and it's paid in full. But other times, it's then left up to Amex to deal with.

    Good luck!
     

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