friends happy to steal from a restaurant

[shanefolan29]

A couple of nights ago, myself and an old friend along with 2 of his friends were eating in a restaurant/bar in London. We had drinks too and when we asked for the bill the restaurant mistakenly only charged us for the drinks. The three I was with felt great about it and when I tried to point it out to my friend that we should say something he said no they'd screw us over if they had the chance [as if he personally knew the restaurant which he did not.]

I felt too pressurised to go against the crowd so went along with it and secretly returned later and paid for the food as my conscience would not rest. However it sort of upset me of their morals here, I am no saint but has anybody else ever experienced this sort of thing in a restaurant when out dining?

It baffles me too how we often cite such behaviour to criminals or poverty stricken people from council estates etc when infact all of my friends that night had good jobs and came from comfortable families. I have seen similar behaviour too when at uni when 2 people [both of whom attended private school and came from 'good' families] both fleeced our landlord and ran out on paying their bills.

I was once at an upmarket pub with a group of friends when the next table left without paying. They'd had a leisurely meal with starters, lots of drinks, desserts - must have been a big bill. The waitress and manager started arguing about it within our earshot because he was saying she would have to pay for it, and she was in tears saying it wasn't her fault and she couldn't afford it. My friend complained to the manager for treating the waitress like that, as did someone at a neighbouring table, but he said it was none of our business. In the end we left her a 100% tip to try and offset her expense, but our meals had definitely cost less than theirs so it won't have covered it entirely.
I was so proud of my friends, but would have been so ashamed to have been part of the other table. Reconsider your friendships, OP.

no i won't tell them cos i'd feel it would annoy them or rub them up the wrong way.

Why wouldnt you want to annoy them or rub them up the wrong way by highlighting their behaviour?

My husband’s oldest friend bought stolen goods from a pub acquaintance and told us thinking we would find it as acceptable as he did. He had not thought of the feelings of the victims the thief targeted. We were pretty appalled. However, being British, we did not upbraid him. We sit listening to him attacking the unfeeling ‘Tories’ now instead. Hilarious what?

I'd of not said anything. Their mistake! Your friends did nothing wrong IMO.

I'm obviously Satan.

Of course you're not Satan, Green. Just a bit of a dick.

90% of the people on here would've paid the bill they were given and left.
Don't think so, but dishonest people do tend to believe that everyone else is as dishonest as them.

@mostdays it's their way to justify it. They know it's wrong.

I would have said something there and then.

I bet your friends would have kicked up a fuss if they had been overcharged.

However, being British, we did not upbraid him.

I’m British Teacher and I’d have told him exactly what I thought.

Have the courage of your convictions, don’t use your nationality as an excuse.

@PyongyangKipperbang Actually I waitressed for years and relied heavily on tips as this was before minimum wage came in. I don't always tip now however because I know that I worked hard for my tips and don't see the need to fork out extra money because someone sulkily carries my plate from the kitchen to my table.

If on the other hand they make the effort to be welcoming, attentive and helpful I will be more than generous! Most are but I don't tip everyone because it devalues the whole idea of tipping for good service. I know that takes effort (I've been there) so I am happy to pay over and above their wages for that.

''Why wouldnt you want to annoy them or rub them up the wrong way by highlighting their behaviour?''

because then you look like the moral high ground taker and people hate that and get very defensive. Not worth the hassle i know from experience.

No, they just don't like the spotlight trained on their own shitty behaviour. But if you're happy to facilitate that, go right ahead.

''they just don't like the spotlight trained on their own shitty behaviour.''

well yea i agree but that's the problem with ALOT of people, they have no problem criticising others but go psychotic when challenged over their own behaviour and get all hostile and it just gets me worked up. Not worth the hassle. That's why i generally don't anymore, as my mum says ''live and let live''.