On 04/03/2012 21:22, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 14:32:34 on Sun, 4 Mar 2012,
Stephen Sprunk remarked:
One of the biggest differences between pubs is whether they allow "run a
tab", or "run a tab if they hold your card", or of course ask for
payment with order.

Right. And, at least in the US, if you run a tab on your card, they
authorize the card for some round amount, eg. USD 50, before serving
your order.

Not in the UK. They just hold your card hostage without doing anything
with it (which would probably require a PIN anyway).

Actually, some places in the UK will pre-authorise your card, if you ask
to open a tab. Then when you settle up at the end, you pay the actual
total. I've had this happen in the Hungry Horse chain, for example. I
think I prefer that to having my card held hostage, as it would be too
easy for someone to clone it while out of my control.


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