How do you feel about people who don't pay their bill in a restaurant?

Question

I do understand that in some situations, like if the food was totally mixed up, really bad, or if the server has been rushing you and giving you crap all night long, management helps out your problems.

Do you feel that it is wrong that a customer skips out on their bill even though everything has gone right?

I am a waitress in training, and I even mentioned to the customers if they were okay with me as their waitress for the evening and all. It wasn't a busy night, never ignored them, suggested feature menu items, never got their orders wrong, (they were very specific assholes too) and above all asked them how was the food, if everything was okay, and if they needed anything else.

I even said if there was anything wrong just let me know and I can fix it for them and they said NO NOTHING!!!!!!

They even seemed to be happy and all too and ate ALL OF THEIR FOOD! But they ran out, without paying their food.

Now did I do anything wrong or is it them? That meal came out of MY PAYCHECK!!

You see, I'm a poor broke college student and it's not like I get a lot of money being a waitress.

Why do people have to be so cruel and in case you are wondering, California Labor laws allow the option for employers to take it out of their employees or not.

Don't say I didn't pay attention to them. I did and they had a lot of chance to get their check, even to other servers throughout the night!

Answer 1

I definately think it is wrong!!!!!!! My daughter is a waitress and she had the worst day the other day. A customer not only used foul language and put everything and everyone down, to top it all off he and his family skipped out on the check, leaving the manager in a bad way and my daugter who works so hard without even a tip!!!! It's just wrong so if anyone reading this is thinking about it, JUST DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

My friend had a similar experience, but she worked as a waitress so she knew all the "rules". You should have insisted that you see the manager after you asked him to scratch the meal off the bill. (Make a scene if you need to!) Most restaurants will do it provided you're being reasonable (an unreasonable situation would be like the time this lady wanted me to take something off her bill because it was "inedible" yet she managed to eat 90% of it. This does not sound like the case in your situation. If you hadn't really touched the food, he couldn't have called the police because technically you hadn't used the restaurant services. If you had however, I think he could have. Next time something like this happens (hopefully never!) don't let some pushy, obnoxious waiter tell you the manager is unavailable. He was probably just afraid of getting fired.

Answer 3

As a Person who's spent a good part of their life in the restaurant business you get to see all kinds.

From what you said you did nothing wrong and most likely you are right. They probably came in with the idea to Dine and Dash. Sorry you had to get them because I know you worked hard.

Oh by the way, last time I looked it's illegal for any restaurant to debit an employees pay for an unpaid check when such a circumstance arises.
What you don't know can cost you money.
Check with the labor department in your state.
Report it and look for another job at a reputable place that doesn't take advantage of it's employees

Answer 4

I don’t know why the manager took that meal out of your paycheck. He/She should have comped their meal (meaning that he/she should have deleted the order from the system) you shouldn’t have been charge for their meal; I mean you were doing your job. It’s not your fault they where total *** holes. I use to be a waitress when I was in High School and when I was put in that type of situation, the manager use to comp the meal with out giving me or any of the other servers grief. You might want to ask your manager why that money is being taken out of your paycheck... especially if you are still in training.

Answer 5

#1 Line up another job first before you give notice to your present employer.
#2 Work for another restaurant owner, as it is not legal for it
to come out of your pay. You are not hired to be the gestapo
in preventing crime. And, that's what it is. The owner knows that as well. He's too lazy to do the reporting and is also committing a crime.

Answer 6

some people are just lame and get a thrill out of doing it. i did it once when my boyfriend and i realised neither of us had any money on us. well, we had some money, and we put that down on the table, but it didn't cover the bill. i've seen people do it purposely. i was in a dennys and these two guys had a huge meal and then they had the waiter go to fetch some more things and they went outside, had a cigarette, and headed off.

Answer 7

people who do that are wrong. they're thieves. i would have to be completely and utterly disgusted with the entire establishment to convince myself to skip out on a bill. i don't even tip less than 15% even if i'm unhappy because i know that it's not only the server who is affected by low tips. it sucks but there are people out there who do things like this just for the hell of it. and it sucks even more that it came out of YOUR paycheck. i thought that employers couldn't do that but i guess that varies by state. bottom line: it sucks, it happens, don't dwell on it cuz it will make you crazy. just do your best at your job and you won't have to second guess yourself. just believe that karma will get them. what goes around comes around.

Answer 8

It was nothing you did wrong, they would have done it to ANY waitress. You were just the unlucky one to serve them. With that said the real a-- hole was your manager making you pay for it. I don't want to hear that the manager couldn,t just write it off and take the loss.

Answer 9

alot of people have never waited tables before and they don't realize that if they skip out on a bill, it will come out of the server's pocket. I don't think it had anything to do with you, they were just stupid theives. They stole their meal and you had to pay and that SUCKS! I'm sorry that happened to you.

Answer 10

What!! are u kidding me.. I work at IHOP and whenever things like that happen the manager comp the ticket. U don't have to pay for it. I heard somewhere that it's against the law for them to do that.