The post, shared Monday on the r/sandiego subreddit, quickly gained traction with more than 500 upvotes and dozens of comments. The original poster claimed that during a visit to Sideways Bar in El Cajon “a few weeks ago,” they left a cash tip but later noticed their credit card statement reflected a $10 tip instead. At the time, the user wrote they dismissed it as possible error.
On a subsequent visit, however, the patron says they took a photo of their signed receipt and later discovered the tip had allegedly been changed from $4 to $8. “If you go to this bar beware,” the user wrote, adding that they had tipped $4 on two beers and were not a non-tipper. The post included images of the receipts as evidence of the discrepancy.
The allegations prompted a wave of responses online, with many commenters urging the patron to dispute the charge with their credit card company. Others suggested contacting management, filing complaints with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or reporting the matter to law enforcement. Several users characterized the alleged conduct as credit card fraud, while others cautioned that it could have been a clerical error during end-of-night receipt processing.
One commenter noted that even small tip alterations can add up if repeated across multiple transactions, potentially exposing a business to serious financial and legal consequences. Another pointed out that merchants risk higher processing fees or termination of their credit card accounts if chargebacks accumulate.
The original poster later clarified in the thread that during the first incident they wrote “0” on the tip line and left cash, while the second time they wrote “4” with no cash left, claiming both were changed. The user said they left reviews on Google and Yelp but did not indicate whether they had formally disputed the charges.
Under federal law, unauthorized alterations to signed credit card receipts can constitute fraud. Consumers who believe they were overcharged are generally advised to contact their credit card issuer promptly to initiate a dispute, as issuers often investigate discrepancies directly with the merchant.
As of now, no formal complaint or enforcement action has been publicly confirmed. Sideways Bar has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations circulating online.
The situation highlights a broader caution echoed repeatedly in the comment thread: patrons are encouraged to retain receipts, photograph signed slips, and review statements carefully to catch discrepancies early. Whether the incidents at Sideways Bar were intentional misconduct or isolated error remains to be determined.
SanDiegoVille has not independently verified the authenticity of the receipts or the claims made in the Reddit thread. Attempts to reach ownership of Sideways Bar for comment were not immediately returned as of publication.
Sideways Bar is located at 1078 Estes Street in San Diego's East County city of El Cajon.
Originally published on March 1, 2026.
Sideways Bar is located at 1078 Estes Street in San Diego's East County city of El Cajon.
Originally published on March 1, 2026.
