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

[SomedayBaby]

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 .

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 ...WWYD?

[CharminglyGawky]

Yes pay, lots of places really do take the money out of the waitresses pay. I almost had the cost of a large glass of reasonably pricey wine docked from my pay when I was a student working in a resturant as the lovely couple had paid for the meal before it was served, then asked for the glass of wine mid meal... I really don't think they did it on purpose!

My boss took pity on me but the rule was the money should have come out of my pay. If it had it would have been over an hours worth of wages just gone baring in mind that minimum wage isn't much!

[HornyTortoise]

I actually always thought the breakfasts were included in the PI prices. Though we have never had one. Not sure why, I think it was mentioned to us once at one in Leeds..and it just stuck.

[DurhamDurham]

Horny unfortunately no matter how close an eye you keep on tables you have to pop out the back to get drink refills and desserts.

[HoneyBadgers]

I'm probably in the minority that wouldn't! It's been and done now, and you didn't do it intentionally.

We had a similar thing where we stopped at a drive in Costa on the motorway - full car of 5, all got drinks and breakfast bits (muffins, croissants etc). Placed the order, drove to next window. Collected order, the man said thank you and bye, we said bye and drove off. Later realised we hadn't paid! It was miles and miles from where we live and we weren't going to pop back so just left it.

Judging from reading this maybe I should've called and paid!

[SquidgeyMidgey]

Check it wasn't included in the price you paid then ring and pay. Why would you not pay for something you've had?

[CurbsideProphet]

Once I didn't pay for a Premier Inn breakfast, as their card machine wasn't working before I ate and I hung around the front desk for over 5mins afterwards, but no one came over. I'd forgotten about it until I read your post!

[VodkaValiumLattePlease]

I definitely would.... I once found a waitress in the hallway between the kitchen and toilet in f&b's bawling her eyes out because a table dined and dashed on her. Completely shameful thing to do unintentional or not...

[PersianCatLady]

It is hardly crime of the century but if you don't phone up and pay for it I think that you are going to keep on worrying about it.

Maybe £19 is a cheap price to pay for that peace of mind.

Also you may find that if you call that they have written it off and they may not even ask you to pay for it. Even though this sounds stupid trying to it through on the till might be too much grief for the person at the other end of the phone???

[bombayflambe]

I would call and pay because it would make me feel better. Not about the waitress, just about knowing that I'd done what I believe to be right.

[bandito]

What would be the reason for not paying the money that you owe? Fair enough that you didn't realise at the time but it'll only take a few minutes to give them a quick call.

[anyhue]

I'd call and pay (even though it is small amount) ... also, you might want to stay there again?

[PersianCatLady]

I once found a waitress in the hallway between the kitchen and toilet in f&b's bawling her eyes out
I think that it is disgusting that when this happens that restaurants actually charge their staff the full price of the food that was "stolen".

I can sort of understand them charging the staff cost price in these circumstances but to make a profit out of your own staff when a customer has stolen to me is despicable.

[Nanny0gg]

What would be the reason for not paying the money that you owe? Fair enough that you didn't realise at the time but it'll only take a few minutes to give them a quick call.

^^ This.

[Gloryjones]

Pay! I have had to pay for runners before when I was a waitress and with the best will in the world if you are covering a section of 8 tables, running to kitchen, bar etc you can miss things. Most waiting staff will be on min wage as well so £19 is a lot! If you ring you up and offer to pay they might say no but at least you've tried.

[SaucyJack]

"I can sort of understand them charging the staff cost price in these circumstances but to make a profit out of your own staff when a customer has stolen to me is despicable."

Presumably it's to stop staff not billing any family or friends that go in, and then pretending they did a runner afterwards?

OP- do ring up and pay. It's the decent thing to do.

[OhShitFuck]

I would pay.

[george1020]

Why would you not pay?

I really don't understand? Why wouldn't you phone up and pay over the phone when you realised? You ate the food! Why do you think you shouldn't pay? If it was your b&b and someone didn't pay how would you feel.

I hate this attitude of it being a big chain/company so people feel it's ok to screw them. It's the ripple effect, somewhere along the line someone is going to be affected by the fact you didn't pay, that's not ok.

[BoffinMum]

Certainly you should pay, if you feel you owe the money.

I had to force an electrician to take £1000 once when he had forgotten to bill us for some seriously expensive armoured cabling work. He absolutely didn't think I owed it, I absolutely knew I did. So I made him take it.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

How do the posters who are saying that the OP shouldn't worry, she shouldn't pay, they wouldn't pay etc etc feel about the fact that the wait staff will probably have the cost of the bill taken out of their already pretty abysmal wages?

Do none of you have a pang of conscience about advising the OP not to pay, if the waitress has ended up paying for it?

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I really don't see what's stopping you from paying now - it's far away? Ring them up, they will take your money.

It's less than twenty quid, you were prepared to pay it originally, just pay it.

[OverlyLoverly]

I would phone up to pay.

However, I wouldnt be suprised if they let you off paying.

[SlowSwimmingMom]

So if OP rings up now and pays - do we honestly think the PI will in turn reimburse the staff member who may have had the funds deducted from their wages ?

I doubt it.

However, regardless of this I think the OP should call and pay.

[MeAndMy3LovelyBoys]

I can't believe restraunts dock their waiter/waitress's pay when someone doesn't pay That's awful!

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

I would pay as I would feel bad- perhaps you should phone and check if you did pay with the room or not. Actually I can't see how it would be legal in the UK to make the waiter pay as chances are it would take them below the minimum wage. Although I'm sure it doesn't stop some employers trying it on.

[GabsAlot]

its not up to pi to check anything the retsuarant is still a separate business

i wold incase they blame the staff