Credit card machine not working, meal already eaten

[TwoWheels]

A strange one here..
So you go into a restaurant, order and finish a meal, when you offer your credit card you are only then told that the credit card machine is broken.
You have no cash, and cannot withdraw cash from the credit card (Corporate business card)

Do you leave your CC details with restaurant to process later?
Do you simply explain that unless they process your card, you cannot pay for the meal?
Tell them you will post a cheque to them on Monday ?
Can they demand you find a solution ?

The "We take credit card" sticker is in the window, They didn't inform you of the problem before you ordered... you cannot exactly return your purchase...

What would you do? Is the onus on the Restaurant to inform you of the problem before you order ?

 

[pinkyBear]

I would go to the nearsest bank machine, get out cash and pay for my purchase.

 

[TwoWheels]

I would go to the nearsest bank machine, get out cash and pay for my purchase.

You have no cash, and cannot withdraw cash from the credit card (Corporate business card)

Not an option..

 

[Joe Q Public]

I think pinkybear meant you should have used personal funds to pay.

It is a tricky one. Only last week I had to get some tyres for the car. Job was done and attempted to pay by card. Card machine was broken. No problem, the owner took the details and phoned it through to his card provider. Job done and no hassle.

 

[Berni]

They should have a manual imprint machine for a backup (something like this - http://www.ehow.com/about_4673883_credit-card-imprint-machines.html )
This would allow them to properly take your details to process the transaction later.

 

[Joe Q Public]

However they must also seek authorisation by phone at the same time. The can then enter all the details including the authorisation code later.

 

[Towger]

Get them to ring you for card details when they have fixed machine.

 

[Deas]

If this actually happened what was the outcome?

 

[claytho]

anybody usen a credit card should have an old swipe machine which takes an imprint of the card. or they could take down the number and put it through the next day.

 

[Joe Q Public]

There is no putting it thru the next day. They must phone the card authorisation centre whilst the customer is present. Merchants are warned that they may not get their money if they do not follow the rules.

 

[AlastairSC]

Only cash is legal tender, afaik. Other payment methods are by agreement. As the options weren't explained to you at the start, you should be able to leave at the time but still have an obligation to pay for the meal i.e. your side of the contract. Not worthwhile for the restaurant to enforce (that's why they should have explained up front) but you still owe them payment in a mutually-agreed way and time, I think.

 

[sunrock]

Could you not offer to do the dishwashing?

 

[Time]

Could you not offer to do the dishwashing?

That is only in the movies.