Is it Safe to Start a Credit Card Bar Tab?

You're at a bar. You want to have a few drinks. Before you begin, the bartender asks you for a credit card to secure your bar tab. What do you do?

First, realize that this is a common practice in most bars and clubs. If you don't want to use your credit card, bring enough cash to cover your purchases. The credit card-secured tab is a safety measure for the bartender; if a customer leaves without paying their tab, the bartender is often required to cover the charges from their own pay.

What if you handed over your credit card, and now you're seeing unauthorized charges on your account statement? Unfortunately, mistakes and fraud do happen sometimes. The best thing to do is check your account regularly. When you see questionable charges, give them a day or two to resolve. Sometimes they will come off. If the charges remain, get in touch with your credit card company and dispute the transactions.

For the most part, credit card bar tabs are good things. They're convenient for the bartender, and they keep your card filed away from others so that you're only charged for the drinks you actually order.