The last two times a good friend has been to roadhouse they doubled charged his card.

Last night I went with my girlfriend and for some reason they charged an extra $2.00 after I had already left a $5.00 tip.

Not advising you not to eat here so much as to check your charges after you do.

It's not an uncommon practice for the hold amount to be a few dollars higher than your bill + tip. The actual cleared amount should be correct. If it is not, contact the restaurant management.

Cook you own steak...much better/cheaper, no lines, and you don't have to worry about some dumba** messing with your card.

I agree with the second poster...some credit approval companies approve initially for over the amount and then in 2-7 days you will see a charge for the actual amount. That is most likely the case...you should probably call Roadhouse or the bank before you accuse them of theft.

at places where tipping is frequent, the bank will charge at least 20% more than your bill to cover for the tip that is going to be left. Once the restaurant clears out all the credit cards at the end of the night, it will show up as the exact amount you left on the next bank day.

It takes up to 5 business days for the pending charge to clear. It is policy set by banks, not resturants.

Tonight I got a cup of chili and there was a green bean in it! That was wierd.

Attention Tom and other posters: Banks DO NOT control how much a merchant will "freeze" on an account when a credit card is used. The card processor the MERCHANT utilizes does this. Why would the bank care that the merchant is covered? Merchants will typically blame a card holder's bank out of a lack of knowledge but I believe more often they do not want to deal with angry consumers and they like to push them off to the respective depository institutions. I would recommend everyone obtain a credit card for use at restaurants and gas stations to avoid problems with your primary checking account!

Banks do not charge over the amount as stated. It would make no sense for them to do so.

As I said earlier slo-g...

quote:

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some credit approval companies approve initially for over the amount

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reading is fundamental

emgee, you're correct, was referring to the posts by Tom and Svan. Should have clearly stated that.

Sorry to take my crappy morning out on you.

Thanks for correcting me, slow-g. It is the credit card processing companies, not the banks, who set those policies.

Also, it causes more problems with debit cards than credit cards. Your suggestion of a credit card to use at resturants is a good one. It will avoid ahving that "pending charge" freeze up money.

In the fierce arguement that has ensued yall are missing the bigger picture, THERE WAS A GREEN BEAN IN MY CHILI!!

I think they do that on purpose. I recall having had one in my chili before as well.

They also bring you free green beans if they mess up your order.

I think the green bean means you win the centerpiece.

Yummmm green beans and chili!!!!

thanks for the explanations guys will check that in a little bit to see if it went back to normal - they really charged a friend twice though and both times he had to go up there and argue with them and they were not nice about it - couldnt believe it... he told me about this after we were whining about our difference of a couple dollars... his was a difference of around $50

Your friend needs to contact corporate, then.

If you have trouble with the company or resurant in refunding and/or giving you some sort of proper make-up for trying to screw you....Contact the Credit Card company and let them know this was pulled. They will pull their abilty to take their card.

I've had this happen to me numerous times around the country over many years. The Card Companies have always been quick to respond and the business is also quick to repond. Free meals or gift cerificats, just about anything to keep them in the good graces of the Card company and the customer. At the least a "heart felt" appolgy from the MGR.

For the double charge, a quick call to your bank's customer service typically will fix that. No argument, no pleading, no BS just say they double charged you. In most cases the bank credits you and leaves the burden of proof to the merchant.

It's the credit card processors - not banks - that put green beans in chili. Jerks.