Credit Slip Completion w/ Tip??

Question

How do waiters or restaurants complete your transaction after they run your credit card for the meal but before you add the tip?? Do they run your card twice or is the transaction on hold until you fill in the tip amount?

Answer 1

I work at a restuarant and your "on hold" idea is pretty much right on. In our case, we swipe the card and enter the amount of the check. Then we take that check to the customer to sign and add the tip (if they wish). After that we go back to the credit card machine and "recall" that ticket by using a transation number on the top of the ticket. We are prompted by the machine to enter the tip amount and "finish" the transation.

Answer 2

the transaction doensn't go through until the tip is added

Answer 3

your credit card is usually swiped and that pops a ticket up (the one with Tip and Total that you actually sign).  Then when they get your copy that you signed and put the tip on, they take it finish the transaction with the total amount after tip that you filled in.  Then it is finalized and complete. and no your card is only needed one time. so yes.. your transaction is basically on hold until you fill in the amount.

Answer 4

Your card is still in their system and they don't charge it until you tip and sign it.

Answer 5

most restaurants, ALL corporate chains, will have their computer system batch transactions after a certain hour like 3am. Once you give your credit card to be swipped it pays for the bill as you see it given to you. Each check/bill has a different number. Your credit card information is now linked to that check, so when the server goes to enter the tip, they have to go to a much more simplified version of the check and claim the amount (If there are insufficiant funds, the card will decline just as it would if you paying for the check). Once batched, it will total your credit card from that check and finalized the charge. So to answer your question, yes it's kind of on hold while it's pending