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Original poster

WWYD - Pay or not for meal we did an (unintentional) runner on

339 replies

SomedayBaby · 23/08/2016 20:17

We got back yesterday from ten days away in the UK. We spent Sunday night in a Premier Inn before driving back yesterday and went for breakfast in the adjoining pub (you know the one that's affiliated with the PI) before leaving.

Anyway, we've just been talking about the trip in general, the P Inn breakfast was mentioned and we've just realised we didn't actually pay for it. We think it was £19 (for two adults, kids eat free)...we strolled in and got shown to a table then upped and left when we were done Blush.

In our defence, this was the third hotel we'd stayed in on that trip and with the others breakfast was included, so it just didn't seem to occur to either of us to pay. The waitress happily waved us out as we left so it obviously didn't occur to her either!

Dh think's it would be silly to call them now...this P Inn is about 350 miles from where we live so popping in to pay isn't an option and dh thinks calling them over less than £20 is stupid and we should leave it. I feel really bad though and guilty and ridiculous Hmm...WWYD?

OP posts:
DeathpunchDoris · 24/08/2016 19:23

Pay up. A lot of well known companies hold the staff responsible for losses. Tesco, for example, hold shop staff responsible for losses from theft (they lose their monthly bonus). Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Premier Inn were the same.

stealthsquiggle · 24/08/2016 19:31

We semi accidentally did a runner in Barcelona once. We had asked for the bill 3 times over 40 minutes, and eventually decided that we would get up and walk slowly to the door to get the staff's attention. It didn't work, so we just kept walking. I don't regret it because we gave them every chance and wasted a lot of our time in the process.

OP in your circumstances I think I would call and at least offer to pay (having checked that it hadn't been charged to my card). It's not a large amount of money and you are clearly feeling guilty.

EnglishRose1320 · 24/08/2016 19:33

I think I would phone and offer to pay, once at f&b the waitress only typed the vat amount on my receipt into the card machine and I pointed it out (tempting not to because my whole table had given me cash and I was paying on card, would have been about £100 up) and she was so grateful, she said it would have been taken out of her wages.

Another time we went bowling at a local non chain bowling alley and for some reason we didn't pay at the beginning like usual, by the end we completely forgot, called the next day when I remembered and they said they would call back to sort out payment when they checked how much, they didn't call, I called again and they still didn't call back so I never paid but I did try to.

Gyderlily · 24/08/2016 19:38

Premier inn is a buffet style breakfast where anything not used its thrown away as it's already cooked! Personally I wouldn't worry about it as the staff/manager won't even be aware

sharksontheplane · 24/08/2016 19:41

I'm guessing that they forgot you hadn't paid as part of your room as you can prebook and pay in advance.

They probably won't even know but if there was any risk of the staff paying from wages I would pay.

[sits on fence]

Outtaker · 24/08/2016 19:50

Docking pay like that must be illegal. I understand someone's reluctance to report as they may lose their job, but if the dismissal were seen as a consequence of whistleblowing the employee could expect serious compensation.

CrushedCan · 24/08/2016 19:55

Don't pay! I'm a waitress and all we do is voif it off if this ever happens (twice this season) no employee has to pay for it - mistakes are made and the company isn't exactly going to go bust over it so stop worrying!!!

starsorwater · 24/08/2016 20:02

You are wrong, you people who say illegal, report, shouldn't happen. It is not so easy in practice. My nearest pub takes it out of tips, (they also charge for breakages eg dropped glasses/bottle of wine etc.) my local petrol station takes from wages staff being responsible for seeing people do not drive off, number plates not obscured from cctv accidentally on purpose. They also run eight hour shifts with no breaks, expect staff to stand all night at counters (no seating), lots of things. If it is your only job, and you are one of only 2 or 3 employees, you may know fine well your rights but you don't say anything. Minimum wage, zero hours contract employment is a world away from what is right.

Gyderlily · 24/08/2016 20:11

Premier inn isn't a small local pub, it's one brand that's part of a huge chain and nobody will get their wages docked, neither will there even be anything on a computer to notice if they hadn't been asked to pay upfront due to the type of breakfast it is! Sausages, eggs etc are all cooked and laid out as are all cereal, croissants etc you even toast your own bread and get your own juice/coffee! It's completely self service and as stated before leftovers just binned at the end!

OliviaStabler · 24/08/2016 20:42

nobody will get their wages docked, neither will there even be anything on a computer to notice if they hadn't been asked to pay upfront due to the type of breakfast it is!

What about disciplinary action against the waitress etc? Financial penalties are not the only ones. If you think no one suffers when someone thieves like this, you are very much mistaken.

Outtaker · 24/08/2016 20:43

I think the differences in reactions are partly a reflection of people's different attitude to money...

For some who've grown up in affluent homes with no money problems and plenty of spare cash, £20 is a trifling amount that is spent without much thought. For those £20 isn't really enough to make a fuss about.

For those who have never had money, and have to mind every penny, £20nis far more significant.... And not paying it is more of a big deal.

However given that it seems waiting staff can be penalised for a 'runner' (albeit illegally), whether or not you feel £20 is a lot to you, you should pay.

Ragwort · 24/08/2016 20:45

How do you know that no one will get their wages docked Gyderlily - do you actually work for Premier Inns? Hmm

starsorwater · 24/08/2016 20:57

It's thieving.
Both my dcs have recently been the victims of this, I was in my own bar staffing days.
Don't know about PI but do know about other big chains which I dare not name. The franchise owners put on the pressure and there are no better jobs around or else the staff are hoping for trouble free references to let them move on.
My ds got charged £62 for a petrol station drive off. That was more than he earned for the whole sodding shift. My dd cried when she say her pay packet last summer after a table full cleared off.
You should be ashamed not to pay.

lifeonthemuvaside · 24/08/2016 20:59

I wouldn't pay!
I would feel guilty and wrong but not enough to make me pay! Shock

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/08/2016 21:20

Eating a meal at a restaurant, and failing to pay is theft.

How can anyone argue that theft is acceptable? I could understand someone stealing if it was the only way to feed themselves or their child - but this isn't the case here.

Shop lifting, theft, breakages and spoiled items are called shrinkage, in the shops, and we all pay for shrinkage in the price we pay - it doesn't come out of the company's pockets - it comes out of yours and mine. I would be very surprised if restaurants were any different - and I don't see why I should pay more for things so other people can decide not to pay - either at the time or afterwards!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/08/2016 21:22

Lifeon - I am glad you would feel guilty about stealing, and maybe landing someone on minimum wage with paying your bill. I just wish it would make you do the right thing.

AnneElliott · 24/08/2016 21:23

I would pay it op. I forgot once to pay the bar bill at DS birthday party. I rang up as soon as I realised and paid by card.

For me, I would worry about it, so paying it would be the only way to get peace of mind.

kittyjewel · 24/08/2016 21:38

Somedaybaby are you going to pay up?! A lot of mixed reactions here and we wanna know what the outcome is!
I don't think you should pay. I doubt it would have been taken from the waitress's wage. And even if it did they would hardly give her it back once you coughed up. Left over breakfast gets thrown away after service. Don't feed more money into multi million pound companies when there is no need. They are better off than you. I can assure you £19 will not go a miss. This was a genuine mistake, and because you left the building this can not be rectified! And even if it was you would never know the outcome. Shit happens peeps! Live with it! Smile

blueamberuk · 24/08/2016 21:50

Yes, if morals worry you then should pay - errors happen but be aware Premier's policy in all bars. restaurants etc is that staff have to pay for their mistakes so the waitress would be short. I would pay as that would make me guilty others would not give a toss - which are you?

Gyderlily · 24/08/2016 21:50

Not premier inn specifically ragwort but for the company that own it in a management position ... Premier inn doesn't serve breakfast the restaurant/bar on site does so yes I may well have worked for the same company that op accidentally didn't pay ... Not all hotels have the same restaurant attached however breakfast service is pretty much the same whichever it is! I can absolutely guarantee the only thing affected by this will be the food wastage bin that would have had a few less dried out sausages and beans that day Hmm

GoLightlyHollie · 24/08/2016 22:22

I once worked as a waitress during my uni days and we had to pay for runner. I'd call up and pay, if nothing else you'll be happy you did and you'll give someone else in the country faith that there are honest people out there and they in turn will pay it forward.
Definitely pay.

Rachie1986 · 24/08/2016 22:25

Def pay here.

What did you decide?

Tapandgo · 24/08/2016 22:27

Why wouldn't you pay for what you have had?

Outtaker · 24/08/2016 23:13

I can understand that an unscrupulous boss may try and pass the cost of a runner or a drive-off to the hapless waiter/attendant, but I can't see any rationale for it.... How could a waiter stop you running without paying your bill? Even less so a petrol station attendant! It's scapegoating of the worst kind - replacing one theft for another. I had no idea it exists and think those affected by it should campaign against it, and for it to be brought into the public domain so people will feel more able to stand up to it...

Equally bizarre are those on this thread who have argued that a restaurant would be reasonable to charge a waiter should the cost of the food but not the price - what twisted logic leads to this.

fluffymummykins · 24/08/2016 23:20

Pay. Its about what is morally right. Its essentially theft otherwise!