One of the most awkward situations a server can find themselves in is having to return to a table and explain that the guest’s credit card was declined. I always try to break the news gently, but without fail the moronic customer always thinks it is my fault that their card isn’t working. One busy night I was faced with this wonderful situation. A very business-like lady at one of my tables demanded to pay the check. I walked over to the computer and slid her card…..DECLINED. Knowing that she was going to be pissed off about this, I slid it again….DECLINED. I then tried keying in all of the information……DECLINED. Ok, I did all I could. I walk back over to the table and quietly tell the lady that the “machine doesn’t like her card”, and ask if she has another one I could try. She instantly gets pissed. “What do you mean it doesn’t like my card!!??” Great, so much for being discrete. “Well miss, I tried running it a few different ways, and it is being declined.” She looks up at me, turning red. “Well you are probably doing it wrong.” “Miss, I run about 30 cards a night, I think I have the hang of it.” This doesn’t make her happy at all. Instead of just paying cash, or giving me a different card, she calls her credit card company and gets into a heated discussion with them in front of her entire table! She keeps saying, “I have plenty of cash! This is bullshit!” I disappear for about ten minutes and come back when she has calmed down, slightly. She keeps making a scene and her guests look thoroughly embarrassed. Finally she just pays cash… .and tips me like shit because it was my fault her card got declined! Thanks bitch!

- Kristen