5801 Video Lounge & Cafe

truesavino

December 02, 2008

I contacted my bank about an amount held by a merchant (5801 Video & Lounge Bar, 5801 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-661-5600) on my debit card. The merchant is taking a 10 dollar hold fee out of my account and not returning it until two weeks later. This is done aside from the amount of my purchase bill. My purchase bill is processed and posted within a couple of days but the hold amount doesn't get returned to me until weeks later. The Bank says this is illegal and goes against the ?Merchant Service Contract?. They told me that they are telling their customers to report this activity to the FTC and to contact VISA. They also say this is becoming a trend with bars to hold money in order produce interest on the amounts that they are holding. Well I have contacted the FTC, and now I'm informing you. I will be contacting the PA Attorney General?s Office as well. Is this illegal, should it be and is VISA allowing them to do this? I also feel it necessary to blog this on the internet to grow awareness if in fact this is a growing sham trend yet to be recognized. FTC has told me if this is reported enough they will take action. FYI to all