Didn't pay the bill

[ffsimstupid]

Stupidly went out with a bunch of 'friends' last night for drinks and food. They decided they weren't going to pay because they 'get away with it all the time' and essentially we're going to leave me with the bill because I was protesting. Long story short ended up follow them out ( I know so stupid). I'm the goody two shoes of the group because of my guilty conscience and as I suspect this morning I feel awful. I really want to ring the restaurant and let them know the situation and pay when they open but I'm scared this is the wrong thing to do and can land me in big trouble.

Please try not to flame me I know full well I was in the wrong and I want to fix this, please advise me what you would do.

Go in or call and pay the bill.

I would:

• Phone restaurant and explain there had been a miscommunication between you and your friends and you realise your share of the bill hadn't been paid. Pay for the items that you know you had, plus enough to cover a generous tip.

• Permanently ditch your friends

I’d go back, apologise and say there was a misunderstanding and each thought the other had paid, and then pay the bill.

Then I’d harass the other “friends” for their share and drop them afterwards.

Can you afford to pay the entire bill?

If so, call them and say its been brought to your attention that nobody paid the bill last night, so can you settle it now.

And never, ever see those CFs again.

@Jiggeriepokerie
Hi jigger thanks for your response I'm 100% calling but I'm not sure what they'll likely say

Pay your share and give the restaurant names addresses and mobile numbers of the hideous twats you socialise with and they can get the police involved if they choose to. Then delete and block every single one of them.

I wouldn't do anything now, though at the time I would have paid my share on the way out.

The only thing I would do now is stop being friends with those people

You should pay your share of the bill.

Maybe to avoid getting in trouble - pop cash in an envelope addressed to manager, write a note saying you are sorry but you realised your friends left without paying, and so you’re dropping off your share.

You shouldn’t be on the hook for their food as well.

But I hope you won’t be going out with them again.

I own a cafe btw and wouldn’t expect you to cover the whole bill in this situation.

People do skip out on paying - unfortunately it’s part of the costs of doing business, and means we charge slightly more to everybody else than we otherwise would.

@aNonnyMouse1511
Yes I would pay for the whole bill, will being doing either way, I'm just a big worrier and I'm scared they'll say they want to escalate it. Yes won't be meeting up with them again

(And in principle yes I agree you should give the details of your friends to the restaurant but I imagine you won’t want to, as obv they’d know it’s you!)

Oh god how awful.
You need better friends.
I would pop into the restaurant with cash and pay your share. Don’t pay for the others. The problem with phoning them and paying by card over the phone is that they could charge the whole price.
Never eat out with them again

I’d definitely phone or call, do this before opening time. Someone will be there. This could be the time restaurant take action, they could already have reported the crime, along with video footage. They could circulate video images of your group on social media.

Can you explain the situation more? What age are they?
Did they just get up and walk out or make a complaint in order not to pay?
Did noone say anything to you all as you walked out?
Were they actually going to allow you to pay the full bill for them?

This is mental!
I wouldn't be paying for them but I'd pay for myself.

@8by8
I hate being one of those people I'm the type to go back in the shop for walking out with something. I think it was just the fact I would be left with the bill and then flamed by my 'friends' for going back. In your case do you ever get the police involved?

Dreading calling in at open time

I’ve walked out without paying the bill on occasion (very forgetful). I just go back as soon as possible and pay. I’ve only ever been thanked for going back in and paying (I guess they were worried that I wouldn’t).

Oh if you’re happy to pay the whole bill they won’t escalate it.

Just say you’re very sorry but there was a miscommunication, so you’ve come back to pay the bill.

Pay with cash instead of card so they won’t have any way to escalate it if you want.

Phone, apologize, say it was a mistake and pay the bill.

Never go out with those people again.

That's terrible. I own a cafe bar. It's very very hard. I haven't been able to afford to pay myself for 3 months. You have stolen from this business.

I wouldn’t call the police if you came back to pay.

If I had names and it was a big bill I might cal the police or more likely go to the small claims court but we’ve never had a bill big enough to bother about tbh, average spend from a table is less than £30 for us.

What lovely "friends" you have.

Call and pay for what you ate and drunk. Don't under any circumstances pay for theirs as it's not your responsibility. Just say you thought it had been paid but there was a misunderstanding. Personally I would give the restaurant your 'friends' details but I would speak to them again.

@emmetgirl she's going to pay it back she's already said that.

OP you're absolutely doing the right thing, if you pay it I'm sure they'll leave it.

That's terrible and the fact they do it all the time . I take it not the same place all the time ? .
It is stealing !!

They're thieves, pure and simple

They won't escalate. They just need the bill paying. I feel for you. Good for you for doing the right thing.