We recently returned from Prague. Every time we ate at a restaurant, when we asked for the bill, the wait person asked if we were paying with cash or a credit card. What difference does it make to the wait person?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5513 posts
Why is this an odd question? They have to bring the handheld credit card reader to your table if you are paying with a card.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
They won't have to bring a credit card machine to your table if you are paying in cash.
Posted by
Chicago
7825 posts
maybe a difference in steps they take to process and close your tab.
i worked in retail in the USA before and we would ask customers cash or charge
similarly we were in Italy, Germany, and France, and waiter asked same thing and came back with the portable
credit card machine
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5835 posts
Prague and the European resturants I have patronized bring the credit card machine to you so that your card never leaves your possession. You can add an extra or round up (tip) if you so desire.
And if you pay cash, many European wait persons have a money belt with change so that you can settle with cash at your table.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8434 posts
In the UK, we were told they were required to do the CC transaction at the table as they are not allowed to remove your card from your sight.
Posted by
Edinburgh
2639 posts
I the Czech republic there is a fairly new system called FIK which records all financial transactions in shops and restaurants, if you are paying by credit cards they would have to create a FIK code before they can process the payment but if paying cash the FIK code would be on the receipt they would hand to you to pay.
Most places have a hand held machine to do this , some place all the servers will have them in some places just a few.