In the interest of being kind to the OP, and keeping the thread on track, why don't we take the discussions of how much to tip (or not) to SmorgasBoard? That way, the issue of being overcharged (due to error or fraud), and how to pursue resolution can stay front and center in this thread.
I'll even go start a new thread. 
When I waited tables the owner/operator kept copies of all of the charge slips with his records. He also had the manager that collected the money and slips at the end of the shift verify the tips. When it came down to someone's total not equaling what he wrote, the rule of thumb is "assume the customer can't add." So if a person's bill was 24.15 and they put d $4.85 for tip and totalled it out to 28.00, we only got to keep the 3.85 because the final number is treated like cash.
We had a customer come in one time to dispute a bill, the owner had to produce the charge slip or return the money. (Luckily it was the next day so when the guy came in and said he didn't make the charge the owner was able to pull up footage of his son and his son's girlfriend having dinner and she wrote out the tip and amount and the son signed it. The man couldn't dispute it because he HAD authorized his son to use his card.) Apparently the girlfriend was a big tipper. Lucky server.
@Anonymous wrote:In the interest of being kind to the OP, and keeping the thread on track, why don't we take the discussions of how much to tip (or not) to SmorgasBoard? That way, the issue of being overcharged (due to error or fraud), and how to pursue resolution can stay front and center in this thread.
I'll even go start a new thread.
A great idea! And I'll volunteer to move any future off topic post over there.
From a BK years ago to:
EX - 3/11 pulled by lender- 835, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".
@bichonmom wrote:I'm not reading through all of the posts, so forgive me if this has already been said, but it is possible that this is still a pending authorization and has not cleared your bank yet. I have had that happen with restaurants and gas stations. Sometimes they will get an authorization for an estimated amount because they don't know how much the total will be (e.g. food total with tax and tip), so they estimate high to be sure there are enough funds being held to cover the total charges.
If you find out from your bank that it has in fact cleared for the total amount, then you can file a claim with your bank. Each bank is a little different in how they do this.With some you can do it over the phone and with others you need to go in person to the bank. You have your receipt as proof of the amount (write in the total with the tip, if you haven't already since the receipt will only have the total for food and tax).
Debit card claims are done differently than credit cards. Your bank will do an investigation and the likelihood is that you will receive the money bank. You can also file a complaint with your state's Attorney General/Consumer Protection Dept., which will pressure the business to do the right thing and refund your money. Be sure to give a copy of the complain to your bank when you file the claim with them, as this will help them to get your money back (it's just gives your bank a little more ammunition to fight on your behalf.)
I've had to do this a couple of times for different reasons than yours, but in both instances got my money back (and it was in the hundred of dollars).
Best of luck!
Now this is an interesting possibility, one of those strange things that sometimes happens with debit cards. I remember a long thread a year or two ago about huge pending authorizations on debit cards that were used at gas stations.
Unfortunately, it's not that uncommon for people to alter receipts, though. 
Personally, I find it works best to put the meal on a card, CLEARLY put a line through the "tip" portion & have the meal amount in the total. All my tips are cash only. That way I cover my backside & they can report whatever portion they choose to the proper folks.
