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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:
Comefromaway · 31/12/2019 21:55

If the bill came to £60 for 5 people I’m assuming it was a cheap cafe type place in which case £5 may have covered 5 cans of drink, we don’t know, I presume the OP does having had the bill.

MamImHere · 31/12/2019 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Foxes157 · 31/12/2019 21:56

I should say for person of our group

QueenieMcQueenson · 31/12/2019 21:56

Yes, but we couldn’t actually pay as they didn’t take card. No ATM that we could see.
You should have made that clear and made arrangements to come back, or sent one person to find an ATM. You can not just walk out, it is a crime.

They were being UR with the wait for food and serving inedible fare, but you were massively UR to just leave.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 31/12/2019 21:57

OP, my dd is a waitress and if someone from one her tables walks out without paying it is taken from her already shit wages.

You should be totally ashamed of yourself and what you are teaching your children

If they leave having spoken to the manager about the wait and the poor quality food, no way would that be taken from the waitress's wages.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 31/12/2019 21:58

A lot of people on here are missing a trick. Apparently you can open a restaurant, make no effort to serve people nice food but still get paid for it.

rhythmoflife · 31/12/2019 22:01

Appalling behaviour. YABU.

Petrichor11 · 31/12/2019 22:01

YABU

You can’t just not pay. You can complain about the service and food and agree a reduced bill, but just walking out without paying outs you firmly in the wrong.

KitKat1985 · 31/12/2019 22:02

Yes YABU. Basically you didn't pay because you didn't have cash. The food being shit is almost a secondary issue. One of you should have gone to a cash point and whilst one of you complained about the food and tried to negotiate something about the bill. But you can't just walk out without paying. I doubt £5 even covered the cost of the 5 drinks you bought.

Sn0tnose · 31/12/2019 22:03

OP said "Complained after trying to eat it, then they gave us the bill."

I wonder how much they actually ate before complaining? You don’t need to eat more than a mouthful to know that bread is stale and you don’t need to eat anything at all to see that food is burnt.

QueenieMcQueenson · 31/12/2019 22:05

If they leave having spoken to the manager about the wait and the poor quality food, no way would that be taken from the waitress's wages.

Well, OP isn't clear if they complained. And some managers are dicks.

Spitsandspots · 31/12/2019 22:06

Couldn’t you have just Googled rather than starting a MN thread?

www.inbrief.co.uk/consumer-law/refusal-to-pay-at-restaurant/

yesteaandawineplease · 31/12/2019 22:07

yanbu I'd have done the same

GabsAlot · 31/12/2019 22:08

When you complained did u ask for it to be redone or say thats inedible or did you just no i dont like it and carried on

You cant just walk out without paying

Sparklesocks · 31/12/2019 22:11

You’re entitled and hugely wrong OP, sorry.

SevenStones · 31/12/2019 22:16

I think you went about this the wrong way round OP.

I would have refused to pay for the terrible food and that would have been the end of it. It sounds like you complained, but were going to pay anyway until you realised it was cash only. Then you told them you couldn't pay because you didn't have a card. Then you gave them cash for the drinks and left! That's very unreasonable.

Had you complained, told them you wouldn't pay for inedible food you hadn't eaten, paid for the drinks then left that would have been fine.

Mollychristmas · 31/12/2019 22:16

Honestly I would expect a visit from the police sometime in the new year.

I had this happen somewhere I worked (albeit slightly different but similar enough) they came and took a statement and then went round to the ‘thief’s house and spoke with them. They asked if boss wanted to press charges but boss said no and I don’t think it went any further but it could’ve had my boss been so inclined (my bosses boss was pushing for it but my boss thought it unfair to jeopardise thief’s job so said they wouldn’t give a statement)

YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 31/12/2019 22:25

If you read the OP she says that when told it was cash only they debated it not being posted. Then, not having enough cash they left. I feel like the bad food and long wait are just red herrings to make us more sympathetic. Other wise why even mention the part about cash only and not having enough to cover it. That would not matter if you were refusing to pay because the food was bad.

LuluJakey1 · 31/12/2019 22:28

What you did was wrong. However, they do not know your names. They may have CCTV footage which they could post in Twitter or ask a local paper or the Daily Mail to post asking if anyone can identify you because you left without paying for 5 meals. Grin

LuluJakey1 · 31/12/2019 22:31

I don't think it would end up in a prosecution- possibly a negotiation might take place!

ElluesPichulobu · 31/12/2019 22:35

yabu.

if the food is unsatisfactory you complain and ask thre manager to adjust the bill accordingly. you do not simply walk out.

and if you arrive at any restaurant with no cash you establish whether they accept cards before placing your order if you are a decent human being.

I suspect the food wasn't really as bad as all that, and if they accepted cards you would have paid up with a minor grumble, but you have inflated your tale of woe in order to justify your decision not to grapple with the consequences of not having checked on the card situation.

BrokenWing · 31/12/2019 22:37

Assuming, if you are expecting the police to contact you, you have left your contact details with the restaurant? It is NYE, so don't expect this for a few days.

If you consumed more than a mouthful of two of the food before complaining, which would have determined if stale/inedible then you are being unreasonable and should pay.

Not having cashing is irrelevant and separate to leaving refusing to pay. You could have discussed/agreed with the manager how to pay (bank transfer, leave something and come back next day they are open, someone went to nearest ATM)

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 31/12/2019 22:37

What you did was a criminal offence. If you can’t pay you have to leave your details. You were so unreasonable it’s hard to comprehend you are for real.

mummymayhem18 · 31/12/2019 22:40

Very skanky and a great role model to your poor children who were there with you. NOT!!

Original poster
MamToTeens · 31/12/2019 22:41

Not too worried by what people are saying about local papers etc as we’re not local anyway. After giving it some thought, I doubt police are going to drive over 100 miles just to argue this.

OP posts:
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