About
Credit Cards
Paying by credit card is a way of life here, and shops that do not accept credit cards are at a disadvantage. A lot of smaller shops won’t take credit cards, certainly none in the markets, and retailers selling goods with very low profit margins, such as electronic products, may ask to add the card commission to the selling price. Some places have a minimum purchase amount, usually $20, for payment by credit card.
Almost all restaurants and cafes take credit cards, but food courts and hawker centres don’t. At pubs or nightclubs it’s common practice to leave an open or running tab, where your credit card is held by the cashier until you are ready to leave. This practice is generally safe, but can leave you vulnerable to ‘card skimming’. How much of this goes on is hard to tell, but syndicates have been busted. The credit card slip you sign has a space for a tip to be included – remember, a 10% service charge is automatically included in all bills.
Another word of caution: at a pub or nightclub, always check your bill before paying. These places get so crowded that it’s normal for strangers to share a table. Quite naturally, you might strike up a conversation with another party. The waiter has no idea if they are your friends or perfect strangers and may well put their drinks on your tab since bills are usually charged to a table! This is partly because it’s a Singaporean custom for one person to pay first and later split the bill among themselves. On the other hand, thanks to the influx of expats, waiters these days are used to making out separate bills for one table so if you’re with a large group of friends, it’s fine to ask for separate bills – before you order, not at the end of the night.
Keep your credit card safely. Cashiers often do not check the signature signed against the one on the credit card, making it easier for someone who found or stole the card to use it. If you lose your card, call your issuing bank immediately to cancel it.
Almost all restaurants and cafes take credit cards, but food courts and hawker centres don’t. At pubs or nightclubs it’s common practice to leave an open or running tab, where your credit card is held by the cashier until you are ready to leave. This practice is generally safe, but can leave you vulnerable to ‘card skimming’. How much of this goes on is hard to tell, but syndicates have been busted. The credit card slip you sign has a space for a tip to be included – remember, a 10% service charge is automatically included in all bills.
Another word of caution: at a pub or nightclub, always check your bill before paying. These places get so crowded that it’s normal for strangers to share a table. Quite naturally, you might strike up a conversation with another party. The waiter has no idea if they are your friends or perfect strangers and may well put their drinks on your tab since bills are usually charged to a table! This is partly because it’s a Singaporean custom for one person to pay first and later split the bill among themselves. On the other hand, thanks to the influx of expats, waiters these days are used to making out separate bills for one table so if you’re with a large group of friends, it’s fine to ask for separate bills – before you order, not at the end of the night.
Keep your credit card safely. Cashiers often do not check the signature signed against the one on the credit card, making it easier for someone who found or stole the card to use it. If you lose your card, call your issuing bank immediately to cancel it.
