Couple Arrested for Refusing to Pay Tip

[laurie31]

DH *hates* when a restaurant tacks on an 18% "gratuity" (most places do call it a "service charge") for large parties. He would tip MORE than that - if the service was good, but since they TELL what we have to pay, he refuses to pay a penny more. I tell him it's not fair to the wait staff that even if they DO give good service, they can't get more than 18%. He feels that since the staff is guarenteed the 18% that they give lousy service and it's a rip off.


I think the couple in the OP should not have had to pay an 18% tip when they had to get their own silverware and refill their own drinks.

 

[shrubber]

But they knew that the terms of their contract included an 18% charge when they ordered the meal. They may well have a reason to complain about the service but they have no excuse to renege on their contract.
Also, a meal for eight people including drinks comes to $73? No wonder the place is packed!

ford family

What contract?

 

[happygirl]

But they knew that the terms of their contract included an 18% charge when they ordered the meal. They may well have a reason to complain about the service but they have no excuse to renege on their contract.
Also, a meal for eight people including drinks comes to $73? No wonder the place is packed!

ford family

I agree with everything you said

 

[Papa Deuce]

Do you consider not getting one drink not good service

I guess I see it different if it in the menu and you read it and then you continue to order then you to abide by it

Also waiting an hour for food.

 

[okeydokey]

Very very poor publicity for the restaurant will cost them a whole lot more than $16. A mandatory gratuity is not enforceable by law I don't think so they couple will not face any penalty. The restaurant however is the real loser for calling the police.

I think having to get your own drinks and silver is lousy service even if the kitchen is backed up.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Wait time on food NOT the server's fault.

May or may not be.

And regardless, a gratuity is never mandated, by the very nature of the word.

 

[RitaZ.]

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

Got that right! Now that the story is public, people will be flocking to the pub. NOT!

 

[shrubber]

gratuity? Hell, I didn't order any gratuity...I had an egg salad.

 

[missypie]

For those of you standing up for the restaurant/server...there is a difference between being a jerk (stiffing the waiter) and committing a crime. Do you really in your heart of hearts believe that not tipping should be a criminal offense?

 

[happygirl]

What contract?

When you go in usually on the menu it will usually say groups of 6 or more 15% w ill be add to your bill. I think when you read that and still stay there then you agree to the terms of the resturant

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do you consider not getting one drink not good service

I guess I see it different if it in the menu and you read it and then you continue to order then you to abide by it

Can you cite a law that mandates that not tipping be illegal and tantamount to stealing?


The restaurant is entitled to get upset and heck, ban the couple from their establishment.

But what were the legal grounds for arrest?

 

[RitaZ.]

What contract?

I don't know about you, but I sign a contract whenever I go out to eat.

 

[Papa Deuce]

When you go in usually on the menu it will usually say groups of 6 or more 15% w ill be add to your bill. I think when you read that and still stay there then you agree to the terms of the resturant

That is NOT a contract, legally speaking.

Gratuity:

gratuity [grəˈtjuːɪtɪ]
n pl -ties
1. (Business / Commerce) a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered; tip
2. something given without claim or obligation
3. (Military) Military a financial award granted for long or meritorious service

 

[Jennasis]

This goes right into the "frivolous-use-of-public-resources" file. They seriously wasted the police department's valuable time with this nonsense? The officer actually arrested them...for what??? Theft? Gratuities may be automatically added, but nowhere does it say you must pay that amount.

And the manager really wanted all the bad publicity?? I foresee a very dismal holiday season at that pub.

 

[happygirl]

For those of you standing up for the restaurant/server...there is a difference between being a jerk (stiffing the waiter) and committing a crime. Do you really in your heart of hearts believe that not tipping should be a criminal offense?

I used to be a server so I'm very soap box on this subject. Yes, there are really bad servers at there, but 99 percent of the servers out there work there butt off to make every dime they can. When you don't tip a server for whatever reason you are really hurting that server.

 

[happygirl]

That is NOT a contract, legally speaking.

Gratuity:

gratuity [grəˈtjuːɪtɪ]
n pl -ties
1. (Business / Commerce) a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered; tip
2. something given without claim or obligation
3. (Military) Military a financial award granted for long or meritorious service

Like I said do you think not refil a drink is bad service? I don't

 

[Jennasis]

I used to be a server so I'm very soap box on this subject. Yes, there are really bad servers at there, but 99 percent of the servers out there work there butt off to make every dime they can. When you don't tip a server for whatever reason you are really hurting that server.

Tips are to be earned. They should not be compulsory. That's why it is a tip. FWIW I've never recieved servcie so bad I left no tip, but would think nothing of doing so if it happened.

 

[EMom]

A "mandatory" gratuity is a contradiction in terms. I don't blame them for not tipping. Waiting an hour for food is bad enough. But when I have to get up and refill my drink, I get testy. The tip starts to decline. To those who say it's not the server's fault that the restaurant was crowded......Well, it certainly wasn't the customer's fault! If the place is too crowded to properly serve the patrons, then don't seat them. If you think you might not be able to refill tea or water, leave a pitcher on the table. SOMETHING.

I don't think the manager ever offered to comp the meal. If so, he would have taken part of that money and paid the tip. Calling the police was an idiot move and will cost him business. No jury would ever convict these people, because I guarantee you....at least some of those jurors have suffered through lousy service and will sympathize with the customers.

Why should the server get tipped 18% for doing a cruddy job? I don't know of I would have left nothing, but I'd have been reluctant to leave 18%. It may be the restaurant's practice to add an 18% tip to parties of 6 or more, but it was this customer's practice to not tip for lousy service. Maybe they declined to accept the condition because they didn't think they actually received SERVICE.

 

[happygirl]

A "mandatory" gratuity is a contradiction in terms. I don't blame them for not tipping. Waiting an hour for food is bad enough. But when I have to get up and refill my drink, I get testy. The tip starts to decline. To those who say it's not the server's fault that the restaurant was crowded......Well, it certainly wasn't the customer's fault! If the place is too crowded to properly serve the patrons, then don't seat them. If you think you might not be able to refill tea or water, leave a pitcher on the table. SOMETHING.

I don't think the manager ever offered to comp the meal. If so, he would have taken part of that money and paid the tip. Calling the police was an idiot move and will cost him business. No jury would ever convict these people, because I guarantee you....at least some of those jurors have suffered through lousy service and will sympathize with the customers.

Why should the server get tipped 18% for doing a cruddy job? I don't know of I would have left nothing, but I'd have been reluctant to leave 18%. It may be the restaurant's practice to add an 18% tip to parties of 6 or more, but it was this customer's practice to not tip for lousy service. Maybe they declined to accept the condition because they didn't think they actually received SERVICE.

If it that busy then leave, you don't complain about slow servvice when you see how busy they are

 

[Papa Deuce]

I used to be a server so I'm very soap box on this subject. Yes, there are really bad servers at there, but 99 percent of the servers out there work there butt off to make every dime they can. When you don't tip a server for whatever reason you are really hurting that server.

I don't see anybody saying otherwise. But still, the people did not commit a crime.