I tried to close my tab this weekend and the bar tender said i had to buy another drink or he wouldn't close it out. I told him i had to drive home but he said i needed to spend the min. This doesn't seem legal?
2007-07-09 02:14:50 · 8 answers · asked by It's me 2 in Dining Out ➔ Other - Dining Out
That's not uncommon, the business must pay 1.5 to 3 percent to the card company when you pay using a credit card, It is a business decision and it is legal.
2007-07-09 02:24:37 · answer #1 · answered by Jan Luv 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a merchant there is a cost to processing credit cards. Did the Bar have a policy posted for credit cards? Did they have a min drink policy? Sometimes instead of a cover charge there are purchase requirements. Before going down a legal road you need to make sure of these potentials.
2007-07-09 09:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by robbiecougar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most places have a five dollar min to charge a CC.
You could of bought a drink for someone else, or just a water or coke.. maybe some chips or nuts.
I don't think that pressuring you to buy another drink is nice, but he could of worded it differnet by saying "we require a minimum of X dollars to run a CC"
I think that you should call the manager of the bar and discuss this issue with him/her, and let him/her know that you are concerned for others that could be put in this situation.(and buy a drink and drink it then drive) And that maybe there should be a visible sign to see, etc.
If it were me, I would of bought that extra drink, then poured it on the bar and walked out. >.>
2007-07-09 10:48:33 · answer #3 · answered by Cammy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They should tell you up front or have signs posted.
It is legal, all businesses must pay a percentage to CC companies. It just impacts small businesses to a larger degree.
You could have always bought a coke or bottle of water to meet the minimum so its not like they were forcing you to drink more than you wanted to. And you were already planning on driving AFTER having a few drinks.
2007-07-09 09:48:42 · answer #4 · answered by Kenzie072 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here in IL, you cannot require a minimum purchase to take a credit or debit card. The merchant can try to do this if they are that customer-unfriendly, but it is not technically legal and if there were a dispute, it would not hold up in court.
2007-07-09 13:00:10 · answer #5 · answered by JenJen 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Usually bars have signs posted to say this. It's pretty like this - it's their bar, they make the rules.
2007-07-09 09:23:08 · answer #6 · answered by Sunidaze 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is illegal with Visa/MC processing. There is no minimum amount that has to be charged. They can loose their merchant account.
2007-07-12 16:52:04 · answer #7 · answered by I Know, I Know 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in CA. I don't know about where you are.
2007-07-09 09:23:07 · answer #8 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋