ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Handing over a credit card to a waiter is something many of us do all the time and may not think twice about it. One Salem family is upset after noticing the tip line on a restaurant receipt increased overnight.
The Salem family ate at Abuelo's and noticed more money than expected was drawn from their bank accounts the next day.
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"It was $45.50 and I tipped $10 even, made it $55.50, " said Whitney Anderson, customer.
The mother of three said she looked at her bank statement and the numbers didn't add up as to how she remembered. She said the amount withdrawn was $65.50 instead of $55.50. She went back to the restaurant to bring her concerns to management's attention. Anderson said she asked to see the receipt.
"I was like before you give me that, is that the merchant copy or customer copy" she said. "He looked at it, opened it and was like, 'It's the customer copy'."
Anderson said her signature was forged and looked nothing like her handwriting. She said the tip line had $20 instead of the $10 she said she signed for.
Being a waitress of 11-years, Anderson said her issue is not being charged the additional $10. She said when dining people hand over their bank information and trust the server. In this case, she said that trust was breached.
"It was almost a 25% tip and then they go behind you and fraudulently sign a name to a credit card receipt," she said. "I don't feel that's any different than someone taking your debit card."
Anderson said the manager told her they would have a response within 10 business days. Anderson posted her story and the receipt on social media and brought the story to WSLS 10's attention. Afterwards, she received a call back form restaurant managers - sooner than she expected.
"You're not satisfied with your restaurant experience and I apologize for that. I would like to refund the entire value of your check," managers told her over the phone.
In a statement Abuelo's General manager, Jason Mcknight, said they are "taking this complaint seriously and are investigating the details."