Sorry, our machine's not working. What would you do ?
Feb 5, 2007 | 12:12 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
I had this happen last month at a place run by a couple of older English guys in the South of France--way out in the the country. The very nice French woman couldn't get the machine to process any of my credit cards and we were trying to figure out what the right exchange rate for Amex travelers checks in $ would be for Euros when one of the bosses came in and noticed the terminal had come loose from the phone line.
He also told me that local phone service in the area was not very reliable and they had a lot of problems getting authorization for charges. But they could call in on a cell line if they had to.
That's why I usually carry traveler's checks for emergencies.
He also told me that local phone service in the area was not very reliable and they had a lot of problems getting authorization for charges. But they could call in on a cell line if they had to.
That's why I usually carry traveler's checks for emergencies.
Something similar happened to me also in Orange, Provence a few years ago the staff was very apologetic.
Walked a block or so away to an ATM and got the cash out and they took 20% off the bill .. good deal you ask me
mike
Feb 12, 2007 | 2:17 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Colorado; Oregon
Programs: BD *G, DL PM, HH Gold
Posts: 287
-adam
Just kidding.
Feb 13, 2007 | 8:37 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KEYQ
Programs: CO PPlus, Amex Platinum, DL Silver Medallion, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,310
My wife and I were at a restaurant (more sports bar) in Houston and when the check came, I pulled out the credit card and was told "oh, our machine's broken." Since I was working in the treasury group at my former employer at the time, I pointed out she can do it manually it over the phone. The waitress said she couldn't do that either.
So I told her "I don't know how much cash we have and I doubt there's enough for a tip" she said "that's OK, as long as you can pay the bill". We scraped together what we had and she probably got a $.50 tip.
Unsurprisingly, the place shut down about a month later.
So I told her "I don't know how much cash we have and I doubt there's enough for a tip" she said "that's OK, as long as you can pay the bill". We scraped together what we had and she probably got a $.50 tip.
Unsurprisingly, the place shut down about a month later.
Feb 14, 2007 | 7:12 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA
Programs: Hilton Gold, DL DIrt Medallion
Posts: 38,267
Edit: I just noticed the "foreign country" part. In a foreign country I'd probably do what you did and scrape together the cash to avoid trouble. In the US, there's no way.
Feb 14, 2007 | 8:10 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Earth (PIT)
Programs: Airline/TSA Avoidance Platinum, Hotel Disloyalty Silver, Hertz 1.7*
Posts: 5,277
My wife and I were at a restaurant (more sports bar) in Houston and when the check came, I pulled out the credit card and was told "oh, our machine's broken." Since I was working in the treasury group at my former employer at the time, I pointed out she can do it manually it over the phone. The waitress said she couldn't do that either.
So I told her "I don't know how much cash we have and I doubt there's enough for a tip" she said "that's OK, as long as you can pay the bill". We scraped together what we had and she probably got a $.50 tip.
Unsurprisingly, the place shut down about a month later.
So I told her "I don't know how much cash we have and I doubt there's enough for a tip" she said "that's OK, as long as you can pay the bill". We scraped together what we had and she probably got a $.50 tip.
Unsurprisingly, the place shut down about a month later.
If they warn you before you order, that's different. You can then choose to stay and deal with it or just leave. If they spring it on you when it's time to pay, that's their problem. Screw 'em.
Seriously, I can't imagine the machine being down ever even coming into play until they brought back the old style credit card slips from the manual imprint gadget. Only at that point should I know their electronic processing is down. (Well, maybe if I happened to see or overhear something, but I should not be told "Oh, our machine is down" when I present the card.)