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?

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

It wouldn't be legal to take money out of waitresses contracted (hourly) pay it would be breach of contract. It could be taken out of tip money though

We have restaurants in the UK who charge their staff a tarrif to wait tables there!

Apparently it's based on something to do with expected tips (not actual tips but expected ones)

[Lorelei76]

Just pay already!
Jeez, there are times when it can be hard to do the right thing but this isn't one of them.

[nebulae]

When we were on holiday in the Highlands a few years ago we had a lovely meal in a local pub. The locals were really friendly and persuaded us to stay afterwards for the quiz night. We had a great night, joined in with one of the quiz teams, had a few drinks etc (all on a tab with the meal), stayed all night until closing time. You know where this is going. A couple of hours after getting back to the cottage we were staying in I realised we'd not settled the tab. I was mortified. They'd all been so friendly and welcoming. We went back the following afternoon and apologised profusely but they were lovely about it. They said they weren't worried, they knew we'd come back and pay at some point. If I'd not gone back to pay, I'd still be regretting it now. Having said that, I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep over a PI type place.

[LuluJakey1]

If you had the food, why would you not pay now?

[sniggy01]

I would pay as i would be worried that the waitress would be made to pay out of her wages

[BusStopBetty]

Yes you should pay.

I don't think it's legal to deduct it from staff wages? Unless it's agreed in the contract and doesn't take them below minimum wage? It's a despicable practice anyway.

[RepentAtLeisure]

If it's 'only' £19, call and offer to pay it!

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Not saying OP she shouldn't pay. She should.

But the wait staff won't get money taken off them. They generally get paid minimum wage. If the money is docked then they will be paid under minimum wage. This is illegal.

You can't base "fact" on what happened 20 years ago.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Oh and I worked at a chain restaurant for quite some time so I'm not pulling it our of my arse.

[autumngold6]

My son worked in f & B two years ago on minimum wage and the staff had to pay for runners then.

[Ladymayormaynot]

EvansOpel - because this is what experience has taught me. Numerous occasions over the yrs where pointing out a charging error has just been seen as a nuisance. The ones that I recall easily are B&Q were I was significantly undercharged for some flooring & another occasion in PC World where an item was on the receipt but they hadn't processed my credit card. I was worried the cashier would have a short fall in his till but was he the least bit grateful when I returned to the shop once I realised what had happened ? No he treated me like a complete nuisance & was clearly annoyed that he then had to deal with a difficult transaction. I won't bother again.

[ReginaBlitz]

Bollocks didn't you know! They will have cctv why you moaning over £19.

[FayaMAMA]

I did this at the airport! We had drinks and food (which had taken an age) and we heard the final call for our flight so just ran to the gate without a second thought! Only realised when we sat down on the plane that we hadn't paid... I called up when we landed to explain and they said not to worry and that it happens all the time

[JaniceBattersby]

If waiters are being charged for runners and it means their wage tips under minimum wage, then they should anonymously report to HMRC who will act. They are really hot on this kind of abysmal behaviour from employers.

[LadyDeadpool]

I couldn't not pay the money back to them, I used their service/goods and I would need to pay for it.

I was in a charity shop a few weeks ago and somehow despite having the lovely lady at the till pack my stuff managed to walk out without paying, when I remembered I dashed straight back into pay, neither of us could work out how it happened but she was very grateful and surprised I had gone back especially as it was "only" £4.80 but how could I not?

[Liiinoo]

It's a no brainer. You ate the food, you had no complaints so PAY FOR IT. Anything else is theft. Do you really want to steal £20?

My DD1 is travelling at the moment. Last week she went to a very naice hotel bar (much posher than her backpacking budget would usually allow) and had two glasses of wine. When the bill came they had only charged her for one glass. She called the waiter over and pointed out the error. The Park Plaza were so touched/impressed by her honesty they wrote off the whole bill. Even if they hadn't I am still proud that my cash pressed daughter knew what was the right thing to do.

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

Definitely Janice it's shocking practice. (Also they should tip the press off so we can all boycott them)

[Balletgirlmum]

Did you not have to tell her your room number or surname?

I'm in a PI at the moment. Usually you don't pay at all in the actual restaurant. It goes on your bill.

[Bluechip]

I would pay out of principle. Left a pub once and realised we'd not paid for drinks with a meal. Went straight back - I don't want to have something I haven't paid for.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Isn't there a weird loophole in the law that means if the employer has your permission to recover the money from your wages, it doesn't matter if it takes you under minimum wage? There used to be, and it was stupid because you'd lose your job if you refused, so you couldn't win.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

I can assure you, that Premier Inn staff do not have to pay the bill when someone does a runner.

Unless you think they hand out any extra cash when the till is up?

[MudCity]

Pay because it is the right and honest thing to do. There is no better reason.

[Hallors90]

I work for the company and I'm desperate to know what you did op. I really hope you've paid!

[Xmasbaby11]

Yes you should pay. Just phone up. I'd do it now - the longer you wait the more guilty and weird you will feel, even though it was a genuine mistake.