Most bar goers don’t scrutinize card charges from their previous night out, especially if they’ve had multiple drinks.
According to one man on TikTok, however, bartenders may be taking advantage of this in order to scam customers.
In a recent clip posted to his account @kilianranger, Ranger advises bar customers to never leave the tip line blank. His video got over 26,600 views.
Are Bartenders ‘Scamming’ Customers?
“For the people out there that go out to bars a decent amount, and you are ordering drinks, I would always advise just doing a dollar tip or a two-dollar tip every single round,” he says.
According to him, something nefarious happens when customers sign a receipt but leave the tip line empty.
“You just gotta be careful with these bartenders when you don’t tip,” he says. “Because bartenders will write in tips if they want to.”
Ranger says he has seen this happen before. In one case, he says one of his friends ordered a $5 beer and did not tip on that specific round. However, he says she had already tipped $5 earlier because she usually tips well at the beginning of the night to get quicker service.
“She just signs the receipt and doesn’t put down a number or cross out that she’s not tipping for that round,” he says.
According to Ranger, the bartender later wrote in a $20 tip.
“Then she got charged for it the next day,” he says.
Luckily, he says, his friend checked her banking app and disputed the charge. But he says she might not have noticed if she had not looked.
“If you’re not gonna tip, just scribble on the receipt or something,” he says.
He clarifies that he is not telling people to avoid tipping bartenders. Instead, he says customers should protect themselves if they leave the tip line blank.
“If you’re one of those people that are like my friend, that tips the first time a heavy amount and then doesn’t tip the rest, this can very well happen to you,” he says.
What Can You Do If A Bar Overcharges You?
If a bartender or server adds a tip you did not authorize, bring it up with the restaurant or bar immediately when you notice the extra charge.
A bartender cannot just write in a voluntary tip and charge it to your card without your permission. That is different from an automatic gratuity or service charge, which a business may add if it discloses the charge properly.
In order to get a refund, you first need to gather evidence. Keep your customer copy of the receipt if you have it, and take a screenshot of the posted card charge.
Then, you can contact the bar or restaurant. A manager can pull the merchant copy, compare it with your customer copy, and reverse the incorrect amount.
If the business will not fix it, customers can also dispute the charge with their card issuer. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says consumers should contact the credit card company right away about billing errors. To protect your rights, the CFPB notes you also need to send a written billing-error notice within 60 calendar days after the charge appeared on your statement.
Bartenders In The Comments Reject This Ever Happens
In the comments, several bartenders said this was unheard of in the community.
“Do not listen to this dude oh my god i would NEVER write in a tip,” one commenter wrote. “$1 is not worth getting fired or sued. that’s insane.”
“No, they don’t do that,” a second one wrote. “It’s illegal.”
Some bartenders took issue with the tipping system Ranger described.
“I’m glad you tipped on the first round but if you don’t tip me on the second third or fourth round you’re the last customer I’m coming to,” one commenter wrote.
Another viewer said the warning was worth taking seriously.
“This definitely happens,” they wrote. “I’ve seen it many times. Never leave the tip line blank OR leave both copies of the receipt.”
BroBible has reached out to Ranger via email for comment.