Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be shocked by this? Or am I just boring...

139 replies

SummerTimeLana · 23/03/2013 00:10

Been with my boyfriend for 7 months now and I've met his family a few times.

His brother invited us out for dinner tonight (to celebrate his daughters birthday)

We went to a buffet, there was 7 adults and 3 young children. Lovely food and not too expensive.

Then the bill came and bf says "Shall we just do a runner?"

And his brother replied with "Yeah I would but it'd be hard to get away fast enough with 3 kids"

They were being deadly serious and it was definitely not a joke.

It would never occur to me to ever do that, if I couldn't afford to eat out then I just wouldn't eat out. Point is everyone tonight could afford to pay - and we did.

I'm not so naive and sheltered to not realise that yes people do this but aibu to be a little shocked by it?

OP posts:
countrykitten · 24/03/2013 10:36

So you would be happy to be with a man who said this sort of thing and considered theft in such a causal way? I certainly wouldn't.

Sallyingforth · 24/03/2013 11:28

I don't know what you are asking here for OP.
If you are certain it was serious then one day you are going to get caught up in thieving. Leave him.

lljkk · 24/03/2013 13:30

You may need to negotiate some strict boundaries if you want to keep this boyfriend, OP.

EduCated · 24/03/2013 15:36

I once did a runner*

[[
]]

[[
]]

[[
]]

[[
]]

[[
]]
*I accidentally didn't pay after some confusion with the card machine and went back the next day after I realised Wink

CandyCrushed · 24/03/2013 15:53

I imagine that this would be your BF on his wedding day when presented with the wedding breakfast bill Hmm

confusedalways · 24/03/2013 16:05

I was a waitress in a restaurant last year and people always tried to run out on the bill. Yes it affects the companies takings but can also get the waitresses who are in charge of the table in trouble. I once had to cover a tables bill out of my tips for the night as my manager was in an awful mood and so took it out on me. I always wonder how these people would feel if it were there daughter or niece waitressing and getting in trouble over dicks like them.

munchkinmaster · 24/03/2013 16:08

When I was about 8 my parents decided to do a runner and explained to me and older brothers what we were doing, then got up and they all ran out the restaurant. I was too scared and shocked to move so just sat there a bit tearful.

(Of course they'd paid when I was in the loo - cruel, cruel parents)

Spero · 24/03/2013 16:18

Ah. 'Jokes' that upset and scare people. How I do love those.

I would rather mix with thieves than people who pull stunts like that.

Trills · 24/03/2013 16:23

Why "boring"?

It's not called "being boring", it's called "not being a thief".

Do you generally like to spend time with people who accuse you of being "boring" when you don't want to break the law? It sounds as if you need some better friends and some self-esteem.

BlackMaryJanes · 24/03/2013 16:35

I once did a runner*

*He was well fit.

kerala · 24/03/2013 16:37

Theres a case on this about intent - a group of students decided to do a runner and there was much legal argument as to when the criminal intent was formed . It was at the students trial so they went to court and prison this is theft, a serious crime. Baffled at the "boring" comments.

DH and I did it once by accident it was our first meal out with DD we were with a big group he thought I had paid I thought he had. Our friends paid for us we were mortified and took the money around as soon as we realised what had happened.

IAmLouisWalsh · 24/03/2013 16:46

We had a terrible meal in a cafe once - snail's pace service, crappy food. We asked for the bill and waited. And waited. And waited.

Eventually DH went to look for a waitress to pay. He got to the top floor and the whole place turned round as if expecting him to have their food. He stuck his head round the kitchen door and asked to pay. Got the response 'in a minute'.

By this time me and my mam had left and walked round the corner to the public loos by the car. Five minutes later DH came haring round the corner doing a comedy run - he had waited and waited, asked twice more and then suddenly thought 'Bugger this' and walked out. Got to the corner and panicked hence the running.

I know it was terrible of him, but it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen!

ImperialBlether · 24/03/2013 16:51

Cafe, I am horrified this happened to you. How can you still be friends with the woman and why didn't you say something to her again? That was a disgusting way to treat you.

beginnings · 24/03/2013 16:54

I had dinner with my DH and MIL in Balaan's in Bluewater last year (really hope the woman I'm about to describe sees this as I still think it was despicable). On the next table there was a woman with a man and a little boy. They'd clearly just had a meal someplace else as they were discussing it. The couple had a cocktail each and the boy had a soft drink.

After a while they went really quiet and then after a few minutes I noticed they'd all just left - we were in the middle of eating so I didn't really register them leave. The waiter came over a while later looking a bit confused. He looked around a bit, looked a bit sad and then started clearing the table. I asked him had they left without paying and he said yes.

As we were leaving I sympathised with him and said to the manager I didn't think it was his fault as I thought he was in the kitchen getting our sides when they left. She was really unsympathetic. I asked the waiter if he was going to have to pay and he didn't answer me.

It's a horrible thing to do. I just keep thinking about the influence on that little boy too.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page