She Tried To Leave A Custom Tip - And Accidentally Got Charged 30% Instead

When Reddit user u/ComprehensiveAir8036 stopped by a burrito bowl spot for takeout, she expected guac drama at worst — not a surprise 30% tip. But thanks to a brand-new card reader situation, that’s exactly what she got.

The payment screen suddenly asked her to choose between 20%, 25%, 30%, or “other.” The problem? The machine wasn’t touch screen, had no labeled side buttons, and only responded to number keys.

She tried pressing 4 for “other,” but the button didn’t work. So she asked the employee what number to press, and was told to hit 3 instead.

Spoiler alert: 3 was not “other.” It was 30%.

When the tip was added to her card, the Redditor immediately clarified she hadn’t meant to select 30%. The worker said she assumed the OP wanted to tip and couldn’t refund it because they only process refunds if there’s an issue with the food.

The OP pushed back, explaining the machine wasn’t functioning properly and didn’t clearly allow a no-tip option. The employee dismissed it, saying, “It wasn’t that much anyway.”

That’s when the manager stepped in — and things escalated fast. The manager claimed all card readers work that way (they don’t), suggested the tip would “make someone’s holiday,” and implied the OP was being unreasonable.

After being called gullible and blamed for the mix-up, the Redditor finally got her tip refunded “as a courtesy.” She was also warned it wouldn’t happen again.

All she wanted was a burrito bowl — not a crash course in payment terminal roulette.

Spoiler alert: 3 was not “other.” It was 30%.

AI-generated image

Here’s the original post by Reddit user u/ComprehensiveAir8036.

I went into a burrito bowl place to order takeout. They had this new tip option on the card reader that they've never had before. The card reader is not touch screen nor are there tabs on the side to select options there are just numbers.Before I paid the screen asked what amount I wanted to tip 20%, 25%, 30% or other. I tried to press the number 4 for "other" but the button did not work. I told the worker number 4 did not work and asked the worker what to press for "other" and she told me 3. After I selected 3 it added a 30% tip to my card.I told her I wanted to select other and not 30%. She told me she was not aware that I was not trying to tip and she thought she remembered the number order. I asked her to refund my my tip and she said that's not possible since they can only refund actual orders if there is something wrong with the food. I told her the card reader buttons were not working properly and it does not have an easy or obvious option to select no nor did the right option work.She refused to refund me saying "it wasn't that much anyway". I asked to speak to the manager telling the manager they need a more user friendly option to select no on the card reader and the manager told me all card readers are like this (it's not other places have a no option and touch screen).She told me my tip would really be appreciated and help her staff since the holidays are coming up and this could be my way to make someone's day. I told her that because they are using a system like this they don't care about their customers let alone their workers if they need to even rely on scamming people to get tips and I want a refund.The manager asked me why I selected a 30% option if I wanted other and I told her the number for other did not work and when I asked her worker about it she told me the wrong answer. She told me I was gullible and blaming her worker for my own mistake and out of "good customer service" she will refund my my tip but told me this will not happen again.

Let’s see how the Reddit community reacted.

Oxfordcomma42

Tips aren’t compulsory.

Background-Interview

You should report them.

Impossible-Wolf-3839

They don’t deserve your business.

Saffron_Maddie

That’s theft!

Dangerous_Prize_4545

Leave them a bad review.

KaliTheBlaze

NTA.

SoCalArtDog

You handled it well.

LelandHeron

Don’t go back there again.

Crimson_queen911

Tips are for the underpaid staff.

Yvette-Miu-Miu-Mom

You should dispute the charge.

redflynot28

It’s a scam.

Reasonable_racoon

Report them for fraud.

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In the end, the OP got her refund — but not without a lecture. What should’ve been a quick takeout stop turned into a full-blown debate about tipping, tech glitches, and accountability.

Now the internet is split: honest mistake or shady setup? Either way, she’ll definitely be eyeing that card reader a little more carefully next time.