Friend walked out of restaurant without paying

[GermanHouseCat]

NC for this. Long time MNetter, been on the site for years. Promise!



I went out last night with a friend and his brother and girlfriend. The friend lives abroad and is back for a few days so it was a nice chance to see him.

They had already eaten when I arrived (an independent gastro bar with table service) and then together we had a round of drinks before planning to move on to another bar.

We asked for the bill, which included the total of the food/drinks they had before I arrived and then the one round of drinks we had together.

When it arrived, friend said "let's just walk out, shall we?" Before I could even fathom what he meant, his DB and GF had agreed and they stood up and walked out.

I was completely and had to make a split second decision about what to do. The bill was large and I couldn't afford to pay it all - nor felt morally at the time that I should - I put the money on the table for my drink and left feeling mortified.

I am usually very assertive but I was just so shocked I didn't know how to handle it. I'm ashamed to admit it but I didn't call them up on it (they were all so cool about doing it) so en route to the next bar I feigned illness and came home.

It can't be a money thing, DF and his GF both have very good jobs, the brother is working.

AIBU to be absolutely mortified at being part of this? I feel that they have implicated me in this and any repercussions. Should I have paid the lot? Should I call the bar and give them DF's details?

[CoffeeTea103]

Wow what disgusting people they are. They basically stole, I would not want to be associated with vile people like this. Imagine what else they're up to.

[Passmethecrisps]

Oh my word! I am not surprised you were shocked - I would be totally stunned if people I knew did this.

It would be great to think of I was in this situation I would pay it then hold the rest to account but honestly, I would have done 100% what you did.

I wouldn't ever socialise with them again though - they sound terrible

[Nodoubledippingallowed]

What a bunch of bastards. Well done for leaving them to it. Not sure what I would have done in real life, I know what I would have done in my fantasy world...

[wingcommandergallic]

I'd drop the restaurant an email or letter with their names and addresses.

[Only1scoop]

Classless thieves

[Nanny0gg]

Do they go shoplifting in their spare time?

No different.

I hope you'll challenge them OP, if only by email.

[Zucker]

They'd now be ex friends of mine, if I was in your situation. I've often heard people having a joke when the bill arrives saying lets make a run for it. But never in my life has anyone ever actually done it!

Twats.

[dottytablecloth]

I would also contact the restaurant with their details.

Definitely that is stealing- what age are these people? Sounds v immature

[curiousgeorgie]

I have done this, but in very different circumstances. Terrible service, food took 2 hours to come and we asked for the bill about 17 times before getting one that included all the stuff we had cancelled because we couldn't wait anymore... So we left.

In this situation though... Disgusting.

[Pantone363]

Our local police recently face booked CCTV of a group of people who did this, they walked out of a local restaurant without paying, bill was about £200

They were arrested the next day!

[PullTheBricksDown]

Call the police and tell them what happened and that the 'friend' is only here for a few days. Hopefully they will speak to him. Disgusting behaviour. I would never want anything to do with them again. Thieves, pure and simple.

[hmc]

Drop them, completely. Tell your friend why and the cease contact.

[YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx]

You need to drop them in on it- you might get into deep shit if they catch you.

[GermanHouseCat]

The more I think about it the angrier I become. Friend and his GF will fly off back to where they live tomorrow, his brother doesn't live nearby.

Meanwhile I can never go back to a bar I like (luckily I'm not a proper regular who they would recognise) and have to wonder wtf my friend who used to be a decent bloke is now somebody who does things like this.

[hmc]

The post re CCTV - you could be implicated by association. Perhaps you should report to the police!

[GermanHouseCat]

They are all late 20s/early 30s.

From what I can gather they were very happy with the food and service - raved about how nice the food was and they had some 'banter' with the staff.

They will all be dropped like bricks, and I have started telling our mutual friends.

[ToffeeMoon]

I do understand you were unsettled by it but it is quite odd you said nothing at all afterwards. You could have been arrested yourself you know. You didn't have a credit card?

Of course now everyone will say you weren't obliged to cover for them - why should you?etc etc.

[JaneFonda]

I would call the bar up and tell them, really. Otherwise it'll look like you were part of it too, even if you did pay for your drink.

[riverboat1]

God, I've gone to tons of bars/restaurants with tons of different people in my life, and have never heard anyone even tentatively suggest doing this, less alone actually doing it! It sounds totally bizarre, I'd be as shocked as you. I'd try and bring it up somehow with them in the future, and in the meantime avoid the bar unfortunately.

[Passmethecrisps]

This is the sort of thing I would replay in my mind countless times until I had worked out the 'right' response.

As a n older teen I used to get taxis home with 2 friends who routinely ran away without paying. It was a very rural community and the taxi drivers were good people. It STILL annoys me

[Igggi]

If you like the bar, I would be inclined to pay the bill (you could say it was a mistake as you each thought the other ha paid, it something daft like that).
I'd be a wee bit worried that a description might be circulated around local establishments, the way some bars do if someone caused trouble.

[matildasquareded]

I agree, contact the restaurant, just for your own peace of mind.

I had a colleague who did this. I think she thought it made her look like a bad-ass, or something. What a loser.