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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t have had to pay?

316 replies

MamToTeens · 31/12/2019 20:57

Took DH, 2 DC and BIL out for lunch today. After ordering, it took 10 minutes for the drinks to come (not too long considering, but they were literally cans that we could see from the table). We then had to wait another hour and a half for food! There were 2 cooked meals and 3 sandwiches. The cooked meals were burned and the bread was stale, basically inedible. We are a bit but couldn’t manage much. We were then told that it was cash only, even though it hadn’t been clearly advertised (argument was that it was on the door, which was open so we couldn’t see the sign). It was around £60 for the 5 of us, so I couldn’t afford it with cash. We walked out without paying and they threatened to call the police. Haven’t heard anything yet. AIBU to have refused to pay? And will they be able to do anything when they don’t have names or anything?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 31/12/2019 21:12

Yes, but we couldn’t actually pay as they didn’t take card. No ATM that we could see.

You should've opened your mouth and asked where the nearest one was then.

paulinespeaksmanylanguages · 31/12/2019 21:12

You should have told them at the time of your complaint.

They could have put it right or reduced the bill.

If you weren't happy with either action-if offered-then ou could have put down what you thought it was worth and if they weren't ok with that, left them your name and address.

Otherwise, I think you have behaved very badly. Did you at least not pay for the cans of drink?

Why don't you begin the New Year by putting a cheque in the post and sending it to them.

Onekidnoclue · 31/12/2019 21:13

That’s illegal. You’ve taken their food and drink and refused to pay.
Legally you can only walk out without paying full price if you pay for the cost of the ingredients and an explanation along with your contact details.
The restaurant would be within their rights to call the police and prosecute you for theft.

paulinespeaksmanylanguages · 31/12/2019 21:14

To answer your question, if they don't know who you are, then it's highly unlikely that the police will launch a hunt for you.
Where would they start?

PumpkinPie2016 · 31/12/2019 21:17

You shouldn't just walk out and not pay!

Ok, they didn't take cards which you didn't know but you could have asked them where the nearest atm was? One person could have gone for cash while the others waited? Or left your contact details and asked for their bank details to do a transfer? These days, you can even transfer on your phone!

If you felt the meal was so bad that you didn't want to pay on those grounds then you should have told them this and just paid for your drinks.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 31/12/2019 21:17

If the food was inedible, I don't see why they should have paid for it.

Lazydaisydaydream · 31/12/2019 21:18

I love a cheeky fucker thread.... It's pretty unusual for it to be the CF themselves who actually starts the thread though Grin

paulinespeaksmanylanguages · 31/12/2019 21:19

I think the point is they didn't give the café a chance to rectify the situation and just slinked off. The ATM is a red herring.

WaterSheep · 31/12/2019 21:19

If the food was inedible, I don't see why they should have paid for it.

Even if you give the OP a pass for the 2 cooked meals, what's the excuse for not paying for the sandwiches?

Homemadearmy · 31/12/2019 21:20

Some places take it out of staff wages

JustHereWithPopcorn · 31/12/2019 21:20

Oh wow you are a CF

1Morewineplease · 31/12/2019 21:20

You should have complained long before and you should have paid , hopefully a reduced amount.
Surprised it was cash only but you should have found a way to pay up. Maybe one of you should have gone to a cash point.
You can’t just eat and leave.

Crazycrazylady · 31/12/2019 21:21

They may pass the CCTV footage to the police. Absolutely disgusting behaviour from you.

notapizzaeater · 31/12/2019 21:24

One of our local bars put the pics up, they took them down when People started screaming about privacy but tbh the damage had been done. You need to go back and pay. Some poor server might be getting sacked for this

GrannyBags · 31/12/2019 21:24

You should have at least paid for the cans of drink and explained that you were not paying for the food as you couldn’t eat it. But you have committed theft as there was nothing wrong with the drinks.

emilybrontescorsett · 31/12/2019 21:25

You think £5 is enough to cover 5 drinks ?
What were you drinking, pond water?

MilaRos · 31/12/2019 21:25

This is so bad! You can't just walk out of a restaurant and not pay?!? What were you thinking?? You should have voiced your concern and said to them you wanted the bill to be amended, to reflect the service and quality.

CraftyCow93 · 31/12/2019 21:27

I disagree with the majority, if something is not as it should be, ie fresh from a restaurant and served within an agreeable time then I totally agree with you. I would've done the same.

Meirou90 · 31/12/2019 21:28

Sounds like you’re looking for an excuse for your thieving.

TooTiredForThisShite · 31/12/2019 21:28

Ooooh

You're gonna be on the local FB page tomorrow!

GrannyBags · 31/12/2019 21:28

Hang on - you walked out without paying, but then you left £5 for the drinks?
Make your mind up

MumUndone · 31/12/2019 21:28

I think you did the right thing OP.

Sn0tnose · 31/12/2019 21:29

It was around £60 for the 5 of us, so I couldn’t afford it with cash So you would have paid it if you’d had the cash? What you’ve done is stolen £60 from a small business and attempted to justify it by claiming you had to wait ages for it and it didn’t taste very nice. The time to walk out was either after you’d been waiting an hour or as soon as you saw your burnt meals.

Yes, YABU. And no, the police are unlikely to issue an All Ports Alert for you but most businesses have CCTV, so you might find yourself on social media and other local businesses asking you to pay before you receive their services.

NorthernLightsInWinter · 31/12/2019 21:30

an hour and a half for sandwiches on stale bread? And burnt hot food?

I'd have refused to pay as well and told them to go ahead and call the police and waited.

but just walking out was not the way to handle the situation.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 31/12/2019 21:32

Even if you give the OP a pass for the 2 cooked meals, what's the excuse for not paying for the sandwiches?

She said the bread was "stale, basically inedible."

If someone came on here and said they were running a restaurant and producing burnt, stale food after an hour's wait but that was no excuse for people refusing to pay, would you all be saying they were reasonable?