"Dine and Dash"?

[Countdown]

Am I missing something? Why don't restaurant owners take an imprint of the Credit or debit card before serving the food?

They seem to be losing an awful lot of money from scummy scroatey people and I wouldn't have thought that handing over you CC details in advance would be for anybody.

[miniman]

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

[Spare tyre]

We’ve just come back from a European holiday, there were some Irish people wearing vests who did exactly this. It was an independent outfit, i felt bad

There was a story in the paper where a family did it all the time, think dad got jail time

I know prisons and stuff are full but I’d happily pay extra tax to get scum under control, I’m just paying for it in other ways finding them at the moment

[Countdown]

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Why would it upset you?

[Bonefish Blues]

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before after being served I would be straight out the door.

Them's the problem!

[Short Grain]

Countdown said:

Am I missing something? Why don't restaurant owners take an imprint of the Credit or debit card before serving the food?

They seem to be losing an awful lot of money from scummy scroatey people and I wouldn't have thought that handing over you CC details in advance would be for anybody.

Some restaurants used to deduct it from the waiters or waitresses wages! Used to stay just outside London for work regularly and was eating dinner, in a Harvester I think it was, work didn't stump up for a 5 star hotel , and I had to pop to the loo at the end of my meal. Plates etc. still on the table, plus half a pint. Came back to find a panicking waitress searching the restaurant for me! Told me she thought I'd done a runner and it would have cost her
Gave her a fiver tip for scaring her!

[lizardbrain]

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Whenever our business credit checks a company and they go quiet, it's considered a win

[vaud]

Countdown said:

Am I missing something? Why don't restaurant owners take an imprint of the Credit or debit card before serving the food?

They seem to be losing an awful lot of money from scummy scroatey people and I wouldn't have thought that handing over you CC details in advance would be for anybody.

I suspect it is about perceived customer experience. Personally I'd be happy to leave a deposit (as you need to for some bookings to deter a no-show) but that's me.

[NDA]

There are many restaurants I go to where you need a credit card to make a booking. A good idea.

I'd be happy to tap a card when ordering - why not? It might keep the oiks out.

[Mobile Chicane]

'Posh' people do this too.

Something wasn't quite to their liking - not mentioned to wait staff at the time - fk off without paying then write stty review.

[dunkind]

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Why wouldn’t you want to present your card before ordering? We all pay for most things before hand, concerts, flights, sports events, rent, groceries, cars etc. Why not food and drink?

[miniman]

Countdown said:

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Why would it upset you?

Because it implies that everyone is assumed to be a crook as a starting position.

[vaud]

miniman said:

Because it implies that everyone is assumed to be a crook as a starting position.

Well some people spoil it for the rest of us; it seems odd to deny yourself a nice meal that you were going to pay for anyway.

[gotoPzero]

A lot of it imo is etiquette. It can be seen as rude to ask for payment for food before you have even seen it.

A lot of the nicer places round here only take bookings online now and the majority take a £20-£50 deposit at the time of booking.

I think that's a good balance but I am wary of paying anything up front and will always check reviews thoroughly and pay on a credit card.

[boyse7en]

miniman said:

Countdown said:

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Why would it upset you?

Because it implies that everyone is assumed to be a crook as a starting position.

Every McDonald's I've ever been in demands payment before i actually get the food. Is the Savoy grill any different?

[Countdown]

miniman said:

Countdown said:

miniman said:

Are you serious? Why on earth would I do that? I get it for outdoor dining where you’re out of sight but if I was asked for a card before being served I would be straight out the door.

Why would it upset you?

Because it implies that everyone is assumed to be a crook as a starting position.

To me it implies "Sorry, because of some scummy people we've had to take extra precautions".

Just thinking - you have to leave a deposit for your hotel room in case you use the minibar or do some damage. You also have your CC pre-approved before you can get fuel. Neither of those make me think I'm being treated as a criminal.

[dunkind]

miniman said:

Because it implies that everyone is assumed to be a crook as a starting position.

Really? To me, being asked for a non refundable deposit for a reservation or a tap of my card as a walk in implies the restaurant/hotel are running a serious business like lots of other trades and retailers and are probably pissed with the ever growing number of aholes that either don’t turn up or do a runner

[RC1807]

I wouldn't think twice if a bar or restaurant wanted to swipe my card as security, because I've seen how many scum bags take the piss.

In the U.S. it's the norm, to run a tab. I've seen it in Europe too.

[Hoofy]

"We've been hit so many times by dine and dashers that we're now taking credit cards up front."
"Oh, that's awful. Here's my card."

Works for me.

There's a popular restaurant near me and you have to pay a deposit to secure your booking. I expect they've been messed about by so many no-shows that they've adopted this policy. (The deposit goes towards your final bill.)

This is the modern world - ghosters, no-shows, empty promises, people just not taking responsibility for their actions - children in adults' bodies! Flakes.

For my workshops and classes, I used to just run with people saying they're interested and will be there but then people forget, life gets in the way, they can't be arsed - basically, they don't do what they say they will do, so now I charge up front. If they don't turn up, I still have their payment.

[simon_harris]

We have been lucky enough to eat at several Michelin starred restaurants - we always have paid for the meal up front when it is a tasting menu, when it wasn't we have at least paid a substantial deposit and given payment details.