Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How do you stop from being cheated? (self.Blind)
submitted by suitcaseismyhome
I'm from a country where tipping is not the norm, and certainly never on a €1-2 coffee or juice. I'm also used to using tap to pay methods in much of the world, or worst case I figure out a pin pad on chip and pin.
Recently I realised that whilst travelling in a different country, which also uses tap to pay, the staff had been adding themselves a tip without my asking or approval. I assume that this was because they realised that I have limited vision ie after I had asked for help to read the coffee menu, etc.
What is the best method to avoid this? If I know the cost of the drink and the total, but cannot see the total on the machine, how do I know that I am paying the correct amount?
Appreciate any suggestions as I was really frustrated to see that I had been taken advantage of multiple times (and yes, I realise that I'm at fault, but I don't know how to prevent this from happening in those places where tips are the norm for even a coffee)
Recently I realised that whilst travelling in a different country, which also uses tap to pay, the staff had been adding themselves a tip without my asking or approval. I assume that this was because they realised that I have limited vision ie after I had asked for help to read the coffee menu, etc.
What is the best method to avoid this? If I know the cost of the drink and the total, but cannot see the total on the machine, how do I know that I am paying the correct amount?
Appreciate any suggestions as I was really frustrated to see that I had been taken advantage of multiple times (and yes, I realise that I'm at fault, but I don't know how to prevent this from happening in those places where tips are the norm for even a coffee)
QuentinJamesP89 7 points 1y ago
Do you have enough vision to take a picture of the total on the screen and either enlarge or ocr it?
PrincessDie123 6 points 1y ago
If you can call the business and report this to a supervisor. That being said idk if it works everywhere but there’s an app called “Seeing AI” that can read text aloud to you, it’s free so it’s got its limits but it is better than nothing you just point the phone camera at what you want it to read to you.
terpin 3 points 1y ago
Hey first of all, you are not at fault. This is the same as someone reaching into your pocket and robbing you, they're thieves!
Second, if you're using tap to pay you can talk to your bank and explain to them that you did not approve that tip and adjust it accordingly. If you tell them you're visually impaired it shouldn't be a problem, they'll just add it to your file for when it sadly happens again. Don't feel bad for being robbed, it can happen to anyone.
Second, if you're using tap to pay you can talk to your bank and explain to them that you did not approve that tip and adjust it accordingly. If you tell them you're visually impaired it shouldn't be a problem, they'll just add it to your file for when it sadly happens again. Don't feel bad for being robbed, it can happen to anyone.
suitcaseismyhome [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you sincerely. That was a very kind message when I needed it.
You are a good person.
You are a good person.
pictouguy 2 points 1y ago
On Android you can use Lookout by google or you can use the lens function built into the camera
mdizak 2 points 1y ago
Maybe see if your bank offers 2FA via your phone with every payment. When someone tries to charge your card, a quick notification pops up on your phone with the merchant name, amount, et al which you then accept or decline.
rumster 2 points 1y ago
What phone do you have? You can use software like AIPoly and Seeing AI to help you. Also if you live in the U.S. you can get a free bill reader. Try to pay with cash and I do agree something should be done.
suitcaseismyhome [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks. Seeing AI doesn't work for Android, right? (I know iphone is more common amongst Americans, but Android is common in rest of world so a lot of the Apple apps don't work)
I did download Lookout, as well as a few other apps, and will have to learn new ways to deal with this suddenly very worse vision. And the people in the queue behind me may need to be patient.
Cash isn't an option in this country where I was cheated. That is a country with a huge level of paranoia still for corona, and so many places were 'no cash permitted'.
I appreciate the tips (ha!) and will have to see what works best when I find myself in these situations in tipping countries which won't deal with cash.
I did download Lookout, as well as a few other apps, and will have to learn new ways to deal with this suddenly very worse vision. And the people in the queue behind me may need to be patient.
Cash isn't an option in this country where I was cheated. That is a country with a huge level of paranoia still for corona, and so many places were 'no cash permitted'.
I appreciate the tips (ha!) and will have to see what works best when I find myself in these situations in tipping countries which won't deal with cash.
Nighthawk321 2 points 1y ago
You can also try Google Lookout on the Playstore. People say it's just as good or sometimes better than Seeing AI.
Shadowwynd 2 points 1y ago
The EnVision AI app is similar and runs on Android. It is subscription based ($5 / month) and is very similar to SeeingAI. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.letsenvision.envisionai&hl=en_US&gl=US
tasareinspace 2 points 1y ago
you can use seeingai (it's an app, $1) to read aloud to you things you can't see, as long as you can point your phone camera at it.
codeplaysleep 1 points 1y ago
>the staff had been adding themselves a tip without my asking or approval
This might just be the policy at that particular restaurant. Some places do this automatically.
This might just be the policy at that particular restaurant. Some places do this automatically.
suitcaseismyhome [OP] 4 points 1y ago
An automatic tip for a coffee - that's completely outrageous?? And it's a place I know well and I do not think that is the norm. It was multiple vendors too.
codeplaysleep 2 points 1y ago
Well, maybe not at just a coffee shop, but if they serve other food.... In the US, at least, some restaurants go ahead and automatically add a 20% tip to your order. You can remove it, but of course, that requires you know it's there. It's not *super* common, but I've seen it on many occasions over the years.
In the US, restaurant wait staff are one of the few classes of people that an employee can legally pay less than the federal minimum wage to, so the staff relies on tips to get by. If the tip money they make doesn't even out to at least minimum wage, the restaurant is supposed to make up the difference. So some places automatically add the tip, because they don't want to have to pay that money themselves. It's shitty all around for you and the wait staff.
It also would explain why someone would be tempted to add a tip to your bill themselves - though it's certainly not right and is effectively theft by deception if you don't know it's there.
But yeah... you not getting screwed on these things also require the staff being trustworthy with you. That's possible if it's a place that's automatically added the tip, but if the wait staff wants that money or they're adding it themselves...
I don't know the extent of your vision loss. Can you use something like a strong magnifier to view the check? Or maybe you could try Be My Eyes?
Another option would be to check out the menu online when possible, before going in, so you don't have to ask for help. That might stop them from jumping to conclusions if that's the only help you need.
You could also call the restaurant and complain, or call your credit card company and potentially have them issue a chargeback for a portion of the bill (how easy that is to do depends on your issuing bank and their policies).
In the US, restaurant wait staff are one of the few classes of people that an employee can legally pay less than the federal minimum wage to, so the staff relies on tips to get by. If the tip money they make doesn't even out to at least minimum wage, the restaurant is supposed to make up the difference. So some places automatically add the tip, because they don't want to have to pay that money themselves. It's shitty all around for you and the wait staff.
It also would explain why someone would be tempted to add a tip to your bill themselves - though it's certainly not right and is effectively theft by deception if you don't know it's there.
But yeah... you not getting screwed on these things also require the staff being trustworthy with you. That's possible if it's a place that's automatically added the tip, but if the wait staff wants that money or they're adding it themselves...
I don't know the extent of your vision loss. Can you use something like a strong magnifier to view the check? Or maybe you could try Be My Eyes?
Another option would be to check out the menu online when possible, before going in, so you don't have to ask for help. That might stop them from jumping to conclusions if that's the only help you need.
You could also call the restaurant and complain, or call your credit card company and potentially have them issue a chargeback for a portion of the bill (how easy that is to do depends on your issuing bank and their policies).
suitcaseismyhome [OP] 6 points 1y ago
Thanks for replying but to clarify I am very well versed with tipping culture around the world.
This is a coffee place not a restaurant.
I highly doubt that they are automatically applying a tip to every customer. I suppose all that I can do is ask them the price of the coffee and then try and figure out the price of what they've charged me and see if they align.
It is incredibly disappointing and frankly considering that I did not consent to it I consider that equal to theft.
This is a coffee place not a restaurant.
I highly doubt that they are automatically applying a tip to every customer. I suppose all that I can do is ask them the price of the coffee and then try and figure out the price of what they've charged me and see if they align.
It is incredibly disappointing and frankly considering that I did not consent to it I consider that equal to theft.
Laser_Lens_4 3 points 1y ago
I’ve been to a number of places that do this. It’s infuriating. I’ve had more than a few angry calls with the manager. If payment terminals were made accessible, this wouldn’t be a problem
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