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

A woman went to grab a burrito bowl to-go, and somehow her “custom tip” turned into a full-on 30% charge. Not a “whoops,” not a “maybe I misread it,” but the kind of mistake that happens because the card reader is set up like a trap.

The machine offered tip options: 20%, 25%, 30%, or “other.” It was not touch screen, there were no helpful tabs, and the button she tried for “other” literally would not work. So she asked the worker what number to press, got told 3, and watched the system slap on a 30% tip anyway.

Then the refund fight began, and the manager’s excuse made it even worse.

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

AI-generated image

Original Post

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 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 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

This is like the AITA fight over splitting a deceased grandfathers art collection, with an estranged father suddenly demanding a share.

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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The worker told her to press 3 after the “other” option she tried, number 4, would not respond at the burrito bowl counter.

When she demanded a refund, the worker and manager both acted like the only problem was that she should have guessed better.

The manager doubled down by saying all card readers work “like this,” even though the “other” button she was told to use never behaved like an option.

And just when she thought she could get the charge fixed, the manager called her gullible for blaming the worker for following the wrong instructions.

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.

Nobody wants to be called gullible after the card reader charges them 30% when they tried to pick “other.”

For another tense money standoff, see what happened when she questioned paying her sisters tuition after a hidden scholarship.