If you’re like most people, you probably use your debit card to pay for meals when you eat out.
It’s a convenient way to avoid carrying cash, and it’s pretty widely accepted these days.
But if you’re not sure how to tip with a debit card, don’t worry we’ll explain everything here!
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How to Tip at a Restaurant with a Debit Card
Add the tip to the total amount of the bill and sign for it.
The server will then be able to retrieve the tip from the machine.
Some people like to leave the tip in cash, but this is not necessary.
You can also include a tip when paying with a credit card.
In this case, you will need to tell the server what the total amount is including the tip so that they can process it correctly.
Check the Bill for Percentage to Tip
On your bill, you may see a percentage and a dollar amount.
For example, it may say 10%, 15%, or 20% with the dollar amount next to it.
This is the suggested tip for your service.
You’re not required to pay this amount, but it’s a good guideline for how much you should tip.
If you don’t see anything about tipping, a standard tip is 15-20%.
Use this tip guide to help easily find your percentage and dollar amount to tip.
Decide How Much You Want to Tip
The amount you tip is ultimately up to you.
You may want to consider how good the service was, how big your group was, and what the total bill came out to.
A standard tip is 15-20%, but you may want to give more or less depending on the situation.
Tipping With a Credit or Debit Card
Whether you use your Credit card or your Debit card, you can just add the tip to the total amount of your bill and sign for it.
The server will then be able to retrieve the tip from the register at the end of their shift.
If you made an error but already wrote down a total and signed for it, you can just initial the change and write in the new amount.
Just be sure to include the tip in this total.
How Does a Server Get Their Tip?
Each business is different and has its own practices for distributing tips.
For credit card tips, the restaurant will often times add them to the server’s total earnings for that day and they will receive it on their next paycheck.
Which takes longer for them to receive the money, but it will eventually make its way to them.
For cash tips, the server will often put it in their pocket or a special place for tips at the end of their shift and then divide it up with the other servers who worked that day.
Why Do Tips Not Show Up on Credit Card?
There are a few reasons why your credit card tip may not show up right away.
The first reason is that the restaurant may not have processed your payment yet.
If you paid with a debit or credit card, the restaurant may not have run your card until the end of their shift.
This means that your tip may not be processed until the next day.
The second reason is that the restaurant may have a policy where they don’t add tips to your card until after you’ve left.
This is so that they can avoid any mistakes with adding the tip to your bill.
If you’re worried about your tip not showing up, you can always ask the server when they expect the tips to be processed.
This can give you a better idea of when you should expect your tip to show up on your credit card statement.
Cash is King!
Cash is always the best way to tip at a restaurant, but understandably, not everyone carries a lot of cash on them these days.
For one the server will get the money that day.
And the government won’t get to instantly tax it. I’m not saying whether that is right or wrong, but it’s a thing.
And in my own opinion, being a server is an exhausting job that is usually someone’s second or third job, so be nice!
Keep in Mind That Tipping Is Optional
While it’s customary to tip for good service, you are not required to do so.
If you had exceptional service, feel free to give a larger tip.
But if you felt that the service was poor, you may want to skip the tip or speak to a manager about your experience.
Tipping is always up to the customer, so do what you feel is best in the situation.
We hope this article has helped clear up any confusion you had about tipping with a debit card.
Next time you’re out to eat, don’t forget to add a tip to your total bill!
Final Thoughts
Leaving a tip with your debit card is just as easy as using cash or a credit card.
Just be sure to keep in mind how much you want to tip and what the total bill comes out to.
If you’re ever unsure about how much to tip, a good rule of thumb is 15-20% of the total bill.
We hope this article has helped clear up any confusion you had about tipping with a debit card.
Next time you’re out to eat, don’t forget to add a tip to your total bill!
