What would you do?

[41sunnydays]

We went out for a family member's birthday lunch, I organised it and everyone paid me for the set lunch and I organised the paying the place and sorting out food options, sending details to the restaurant etc. Lunch was £25 each.

The service was not great and quite a faults etc. No one complained on the day as we are all very polite etc however I decided to send an email complaining of the service etc and they were wonderful and responded with a big apology and offered £100 gift voucher.

The question is what do I do with the vouchers. No one knew I was making a compliant, and no one else bothered. We can't organise another lunch as we don't all live in the same city.

It would be difficult to share out the £100, but is it bad if I just keep it ...

It looks like you've already decided to keep it yourself.
A set lunch for £25 doesn't sound overpriced unless you only got one course or a sandwich for your mains.

Tricky one.

I think I'd message the group explaining the situation and say it works out as a £5 refund each. I'd also say that they can private message you for a refund in case anyone feels railroaded in to saying you should keep it all of its all kept on the group.

That way everyone knows it's fair. I'd say most people will tell you to keep it, I know I would but also gives everyone a chance to get a refund without being embarrassed to ask for it in front of others.

Your don't know what people's financial situations are currently and £10 (if a couple) could help.

Would you voluntarily choose to go back to this place to eat? If not.. the voucher is not really worth £100 to you. It creates an obligation on you to go back. I wouldn't over think it.. maybe put some money in a charity box or next time you see these people offer a round of drinks, if you use the voucher. Or... if you would rather not gi back.. offer the voucher to your kids school for a raffle prize if raffle prizes are still a thing.

@RandomMess

You could donate it to charity as a raffle prize if you felt bad about keeping it?

I was thinking this too, school Christmas raffle prize maybe?

It certainly comes across the your justifying to yourself why you should keep it and are hoping mn will agree to assuage your conscience.

Personally I couldn't do that £100 is a hell of a lot. I think it goes to a charity raffle, or you have to ask the birthday person. I do understand why a kitty for next time wouldn't work if it's vouchers.

You could donate it to charity as a raffle prize if you felt bad about keeping it? that's a nice option.

You could donate it to a care home or similar, or somewhere you frequent for the staff's Christmas do or your own workplace one?

You arranged a dinner for 22 people and complained about the issues, everyone lives far away and 100 quid divided by 22 people isn't much per person anyway so based on all of that, if I was one of the 22 people I'd say that's nice they refunded 100 quid, enjoy your meal when you spend it!

Turn it around.
If you had paid £25 for a meal that wasn't so good but received no apology or compensation,then hear that one person has complained on behalf of you all and then kept all the money,how would you feel?annoyed maybe?
I'd contact everyone and tell them what happened.ask if anyone interested in returning with a voucher.those that say yes,say give people,return voucher and ask for five twenty pounds vouchers.

I guess the question is what would you do with the vouchers? Clearly if the others wouldn't want to go back then less than £5 a head isn't going to make them do so. So if you share it out then it is going to get wasted.

Is it somewhere you would go - would you go there again without the vouchers or to use your £5? If you would then maybe use them and put the cash aside for the next meet up.

If you wouldn't then it is either a treat for you or a treat for someone else. Who that is is then your decision...

I like the Lotto ticket in their Christmas cards option.

@MaggieFS

It certainly comes across the your justifying to yourself why you should keep it and are hoping mn will agree to assuage your conscience.

Personally I couldn't do that £100 is a hell of a lot. I think it goes to a charity raffle, or you have to ask the birthday person. I do understand why a kitty for next time wouldn't work if it's vouchers.

Well done for describing what Aibu is for! I’d 100% keep it OP. If I was one of the 22 others I also wouldn’t mind if you kept it and certainly woundn’t be coming after you for my share (less than £5!)

The only thing is that if you decide to keep the voucher and not tell them, they might all wonder why you're going back to the restaurant you all moaned about. You'll then have to admit that you've got £100 vouchers from the joint meal...