Couple Arrested for Refusing to Pay Tip

[VillageMama]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...052.html?yhp=1

If you’re frustrated by poor service at a restaurant, think twice before you decide to not tip. You may be in for a bit more than just a dirty look from the waiter.

"Nobody, nobody wants to be forced to pay a tip or be arrested for terrible service," Leslie Pope said when her happy hour ended in handcuffs.

Pope and John Wagner were hauled away by police and charged with theft for not paying the mandatory 18 percent gratuity totaling $16 after eating at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends.

Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself.

“At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back,” Pope said.

After the $73 bill came, the group paid for food, drinks, and tax but refused to pay the tip. After explaining the bad service to the bartender in charge, Pope claimed he took their money and called police. The couple was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car.

“I understand that, you know, we didn’t pay the gratuity, but it was a gratuity, it wasn’t something that was required,” said Wagner.

The owner admitted that the group waited unusually long for their food, but said the pub was extremely busy that night. He said managers offered to comp the food, a claim the couple denies ever happened.

“Obviously we would have liked for the patron and the establishment to have worked this out without getting the police involved,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics.

Police charged them with theft since the gratuity was part of the actual bill. However, it is doubtful that the charges will hold up in front of a judge. The couple is scheduled to appear in court next month.

This might make for an interesting conversation. Can a restaurant make a gratuity mandatory, under penalty of law?? Why would a restaurant risk negative publicity for $16?

I have to go make dinner... I expect this thread to be at seven pages within an hour.

[Tiggeroo]

The restaurant is foolish. Do they really want this story in the press for 20.

[AustinTink]

A mandatory tip is not a tip. Tell people what they have to pay, don't mince words by calling it gratuity.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is there a law that states that you must pay a gratuity? If there isn't, then the couple is not legally liable.

And I'm sure this will really help that problem with the restuarant being too busy. I certainly wouldn't go anymore if I was a local.

[missypie]

Right. Call it a service charge if it is not optional.

[Tiggeroo]

Generally tips are mandatory on parties over 6 or on special holidays. A good server waves this as they know they might very well do better then the mandatory amount.

[LuvCuteBoys]

I don't care if the service was phenomenal. Nobody should be forced to tip. And as far as I'm concerned, if they're gonna force a group of eight to tip, they should have to force a group of one to do the same thing.

Good publicity

[disykat]

Here's the part that struck me - the manager said they offered to comp the meal. Yea right, they offered, then when the customer insisted on paying in full but without a tip they called the police? I think I would have been willing to give either party the benefit of the doubt that there was more to the story - except for this outright unbelievable part. I rule for the defendant!

[VillageMama]

If the restaurant offered to comp the meal (as they claim), why not instead let the couple pay the $73 bill (which they did) and then give the $16 tip to the waiter from that money? Then the restaurant could keep the remaining $57 and come out ahead.

This story makes no sense to me.

[OceanAnnie]

Originally Posted by Tiggeroo

The restaurant is foolish. Do they really want this story in the press for 20.

Lehigh Pub = poor service and arrest in the public's eye now. Bad, bad call.

[Papa Deuce]

Good for the people... I wouldn't tip either.

My question is why the police felt the need to arrest anybody.... unless nobody on the police force understands the definition of "gratuity". Somebody's panties got bunched up, I guess.

[OceanAnnie]

Originally Posted by Papa Deuce

Good for the people... I wouldn't tip either.

My question is why the police felt the need to arrest anybody.... unless nobody on the police force understands the definition of "gratuity".

Me either.

[happygirl]

I think this guy was in the wrong. Most menu's clear state that parties of 6 or more then have a automatic gratitude of 15% add to there bill.

I can't believe the manager wouildn't take the tip off if they complained. It sounds he didn't want to leave and tip and was trying to find a way out of it

[chloelovesdisney]

I think calling the police was completely over the top ridiculous, the food and drinks were paid for. If I lived in the area, I wouldn't be going there anymore.

[happygirl]

Originally Posted by chloelovesdisney

I think calling the police was completely over the top ridiculous, the food and drinks were paid for. If I lived in the area, I wouldn't be going there anymore.

I would actually go there I'm glad they stood up for the server