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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really pissed off at this restaurant??

233 replies

K1092902 · 03/08/2017 20:28

Booked a meal this afternoon in London for for 9 at 1pm. A restaurant a few people recommended to us and that friends we are staying with have been to and said was very good. We expected the price to be pretty high a) it's central London b) it has a good reputation

There was an office party of some sort in there- about 10 of them.

Anyway we had our meal and the bill came. There were 8 adults (My friends and their 2 adult children, DSDs, Me and DH) and 3 year old DD.

I looked at the bill at thought it was quite high. I offered to pay as we are staying with our friends and they took me and DH for dinner in Tuesday night but friends insisted on paying half and after tooing and froing we OKd it

Friend noticed we had been given the wrong bill after again noticing the price seemed a little high.

We were given the bill for the other group. Waitress and manager told us that we couldn't pay our own bill as it was already paid for and all they could do was give us a print out of a receipt.

DH said we wouldn't be paying and the manager threatened to call the police so I paid to keep the peace and because DD was getting upset. They have given us a gift voucher for the difference but I'm still pretty pissed off

OP posts:
SaltLiquorice · 03/08/2017 22:22

No way! Which restaurant was this. I organise corporate entertainment in London a lot. I need to know.

Littlebelina · 03/08/2017 22:22

Another one who is very confused about why you would pay?

Greenifer · 03/08/2017 22:23

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Redglitter · 03/08/2017 22:25

OP not been back?

What a surprise eh?

VeryCunningStunt · 03/08/2017 22:26

Why is anyone reading this and replying as if it really happened?

Name and shame!

Trading standards!!

Social media vigilante justice campaign!!!

Grin
VeryCunningStunt · 03/08/2017 22:29

OP not been back?

To be fair, she's had a hell of a lot on her plate over the last few weeks. Hopefully this is the last of the current run of bad luck and she can settle into a nice, relaxing, problem-free summer.

TennisAtXmas · 03/08/2017 22:37

Small claims court OP - should be a straightforward case, you can do it online.
Write to restaurant first summarising what happened and asking for the money you're owed (mention that you felt bullied into accepting vouchers by their threats of calling the police, which ruined your evening, but have since taken advice, and are not happy with this, as you are out of pocket and have no desire to eat there again to use voucher..).
It's worth asking them to refund what they owe you within 14 days. I've often found that works without actually going to small claims, but if they don't respond, then go through small claims.

Tottyandmarchpane1 · 03/08/2017 22:39

Good god you'd have to be deeply dim to pay someone else's bill. It has made me laugh though.

Kailoer · 03/08/2017 22:40

Why would anyone pay the other tables bill!? OP which restaurant? Why did you even consider paying...

millsbynight · 03/08/2017 22:43

This can't be real?!

No self-repsecting reputable central London restaurant would do this. Everything is digital/computerised these days so just because your table's bill has been paid, doesn't mean they can't ring that receipt up again on the screen?!

Also, when you book a restaurant you tend to leave a phone number or email address, or both so they'd easily be able to track down the other table who had left. And actually, when booking a group you are usually required to give your card details and pay a small deposit.

I'm confused.

GabsAlot · 03/08/2017 22:49

this nearly happnd to me went to a pub had a meal wnt to pay seemd much more than we ha workd out-said sorry think you made a mistake thy checkd it said no this is yours

turned out they thought we were a diffeerent table-i say bad managmnt they werent apologetic but no way was i paying somone elses bill

frenchcheeses · 03/08/2017 22:53

You paid someone else's bill to keep the peace? Then you're a pussy.

Penny4UrThoughts · 03/08/2017 23:02

I would have suggested that instead of giving you vouchers, they put them towards the bill, leaving you the correct amount to pay...

Surely that's not too difficult? Confused

seven201 · 03/08/2017 23:04

I think you were a bit silly to pay up! I think you need to get on social media and review sites. There is no way they should have fobbed you off with a voucher! Do you even want to eat there again?

Someone once accidentally paid for my petrol pump and it took about 10 minutes for them to sort out which I thought was excessive. It's ridiculous that the restaurant couldn't just put your total through separately and then suffered the loss from their mistake. I bet the other table noticed they had the wrong cheaper bill but decided to stay quiet!

UrsulaPandress · 03/08/2017 23:08

I demand to know which restaurant this was.

Trb17 · 03/08/2017 23:10

YABU to have agreed to pay it!!!

Restaurants fault so should have been their loss!

I'm gobsmacked you agreed to pay for another tables bill. WTAF!

Starlight2345 · 03/08/2017 23:12

I think after all the stress you have endured in the past few weeks maybe get your DH to take you to maui to recoperate.

SnickersWasAHorse · 03/08/2017 23:15

I guess if the other table was a corporate event they most likely didn't look to closely at the bill, just handed over the company card.

Sharl2017 · 03/08/2017 23:17

Put it on social media. Tweet about it... multiple times... straight after each other. Review them on facebook. Trust me, it works wonders. No business wants the public to see bad reviews online and normally will do anything to resolve the situation to your standard.

Strokethefurrywall · 03/08/2017 23:18

Goodness me. What a rather unfortunate turn of events. Again.

Collaborate · 03/08/2017 23:23

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rollonthesummer · 03/08/2017 23:24

Why didn't you let them call the police?!

PearlyPinkNails · 03/08/2017 23:25

This can't be real.

No one would pay this.

LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 03/08/2017 23:36

Sorry but like fuck would I have paid it! It sounds a bit ridiculous that the restaurant did it in the first place..they would normally be keeping the customer happy especially as they were in the wrong! Strange

Floggingmolly · 03/08/2017 23:40

Does op have form for having quite an eventful life?