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be careful of restaurant double charges where they claim they've "reversed" the first charge

I was in London a few weeks ago and we had dinner at a busy pub in London I'll call "Mr. Foggs Tavern" because that's their name.

Dinner and pint were nice, we decided to have a 2nd pint and enjoy more of the people-watching. While we were drinking the 2nd pint a different staffer, not our waiter, came out and said she was collecting the bill so I tapped my card on the machine and it said it went thru. We continued talking and enjoying the pints, then a few minutes later our waiter came by. He said the bartender hadn't put the charge for the 2nd pints on the bill so he'd reversed the charge and wanted to charge us for the meal again, 2nd drinks included this time. Stores have reversed incorrect charges many times in the past so I thought nothing of it. Tapped again, and when we finished our drinks we were on our way.

Now that we're home I look at my credit charges and sure enough both charges are on the account. I'm disputing the charge but I'm doubtful it will work. I did tap my card to the machine twice so if the merchant insists it was really two purchases I don't see much else we can do.

Posted by
4871 posts

it's not hard to dispute a credit card charge and in my experience the card tends to favor the card holder

Posted by
1604 posts

Another possibility is that chargebacks usually take a bit of time to show up. If it hasn't been very long, it still may show up. If it doesn't I also agree that it is very likely your card company will refund the charge anyways.

Good luck!

Posted by
17556 posts

I had a double charge by a small cafe in California. I disputed it with my credit card provider and they asked me to first request a resolution with the cafe. I did, and they quickly resolved it.

I suggest you start by contacting Mr. Fogg’s through their website.

Posted by
2094 posts

Something similar has happened to us twice and both times it was resolved without much angst. In Munich the waiter said the first charge didn’t go through and ran it again. When both charges appeared on my bill, the CC company asked if I’d signed a receipt, and told me don’t worry when I said I had not. (Do people still sign receipts? This was a couple of years ago) and the second charge was eliminated. A cruise charged us for spa services we didn’t do, removed the charge while onboard, and it later reappeared on the bill. When I called to dispute it, the CC agent was adamant…No, she said, this was nothing to be disputed, this was fraud, and would only transfer my call to the Fraud department. That one took a few months, but was eventually removed. I’d remain optimistic. Good luck.

Posted by
16402 posts

I'm curious if there are any paper receipts with this tapping process.

Absolutely. I always ask for a receipt. And if the charge is reversed, they can give you a receipt as well. Tapping is just a different way to use your credit card. The credit card machines can give receipts.

Posted by
4871 posts

In case you wondered about those signs that say if you don't get a receipt your meal is free, I was reading a blog that said this is to prevent employees from scamming the owner by keeping payments

Posted by
4295 posts

The reversal should be immediate. I purchased a dress last month in Ljubljana and in my haste pressed the button for dollars. I immediately told them I wanted euros. They cancelled the transaction, giving me a receipt which I signed. They then recharged the dress. I only had one charge on my card. And 3 receipts.

Posted by
627 posts

FYI in Italy merchants are required to give you a paper receipt for every transaction, even a coffee at a bar, and regardless of how you pay for it.

Posted by
23642 posts

AND -- it is my understanding --- that you may have to show that receipt to the "tax police" outside the restaurant to prove that the proper taxes are being collected. No first hand experience but have read about it in different publications.