Complaint Review: Vanilla Visa; Vanilla Visa Gift Cards; Visa Gift Cards

I received a $50.00 VISA gift card for Christmas. Tonight I took my wife out to Applebees for dinner and our bill was $71.60 plus tip. When it came time to pay the bill I gave the waiter $31.60 which included a $10.00 tip and the $50 gift card. I asked her to deduct $21.60 from the bill so the amount due was exactly $50.00 which she did. The VISA card was rejected. She tried again and again it was rejected. We then called VISA and we told that they withhold 20% of the amount at a restaurant for "tips and incidentals" so the most I could put through on the card was $41.60. This is not quite 20% but we did that. Then, we get home and I call VISA and they tell me there is now $0.08 left on the card. I ask why? They are holding the other $8.32 for 3 to 7 days "until it clears" even though they know I spent exactly $41.60. I have a lot of issues with this as being unfair and deceptive business practice. For me to use the remaining balance on the card ($8.40) I have to wait 3 to 7 days and then I have to know the exact amount left and then make sure I don't use it at a restaurant or I will go through the same problem. Now when I use it I have to know the exact amount left before using the card and have the store take the other portion of the balance due first and then have them put a charge through for $8.40 exactly! As far as I'm concerned this is a rip off of the consumer by the credit card company and I can just imagine how many 100's of millions of dollars they just pocket in un-used gift card balances. This is a very deceptive and unfair business practice on the part of VISA. The way it should work is that the customer gives the card first and the balance left on the card is deducted from the amount owed and then the customer pays the difference. That is the way a Starbucks gift card and other gift cards I have ever used works and is sure the way that VISA gift cards should work as well. This is a clever way to "steal" from the American public that needs to be made illegal.