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Original poster

if you owned a restaurant what would you do ....

245 replies

EezyOozy · 17/02/2022 20:25

Went to gp today, they said I could attend at short notice .... Had to wait for ages with two young kids to actually be seen … got out at 1730 , it's quite a long drive home.... so I decided to take them to pizza place over road. Have been many times before and just pay using my phone. Didn’t have purse with me as was in other bag and left in a hurry.

Had our food , just as I was asking for the bill my phone died. Had a charger in car…which was over the road.

I apologised profusely as it was totally my fault. I alerted the waitress as soon as I realised. She went to get the manager.

Again I apologised profusely and admitted it was my fault. The manager was really really abrupt and a bit of a bully about it, and said I wasn't allowed to leave!

-she wouldn’t let me go and get my charger , saying that I couldn't leave without paying

-She wouldn’t let me use their business phone to call DH and have him pay over the phone (it's also a takeaway so they take payment over the phone)!

-She wouldn’t let me go home to get money…..

-I offered to leave my name and address and all contact details!

They just kept saying “you can’t leave until you’ve paid, you will have to contact someone to bring you some money"

Me: "But my phone has died and you won’t let me get my charger or use your phone”

“Well that’s your problem, but you can’t leave without paying or we will
CALL THE POLICE"

Went on for about 20 mins and my kids were both going mental by this point and I was struggling to contain them . Eventually I said “look I’m just going to have to leave, phone the police if you like. I’ll call up and pay when I get home”

An elderly couple who had overheard the whole thing came over and said they’d just pay our £20 bill as the was ridiculous…
So the couple paid, I said goodbye to them at my car and thanked them grovelingly. I insisted on taking their bank details and mobile number, and within 5 mins I had charged my phone and transferred them the money (and texted them to confirm).

Is it just me or were the restaurant really mean??!!! I would have expected them to let me get my phone charger or call my husband ?

yes it was totally my fault, i apologised profusely I will never rely on just my phone again

I like to think I would have just let the person get their charger?!!

OP posts:
thirstyformore · 17/02/2022 22:41

@Cuck00soup I am a lawyer, and it does Wink

thirstyformore · 17/02/2022 22:42

@Cuck00soup mens rea

chaosrabbitland · 17/02/2022 22:43

they were being stupid , it would have made sense to let you use their phone , if they were that worried that you were going to do a runner one of them could have a accompanied you to the car even though that still would have been way over the top , they obviously dont have any common sense

ChaToilLeam · 17/02/2022 22:47

Utterly ridiculous! Did they expect you to contact your husband with psychic powers? Anytime I’ve ever had a problem like that, they’ve happily lent a charger. Or they’ve just taken my details and let me pay the next day.

MelaniaFlump · 17/02/2022 22:51

How do you go on when you're buying petrol? If you can't pay, garages file a police report.

This is misleading. If you can’t pay for petrol the garage takes your details then lets you go.
They then give you a period (usually 24 hours or so) to come back and pay. If you don’t, the details are passed to the police.

It’s not a crime not to be able to pay at the petrol station nor to have your phone die (nor your card declined assuming you didn’t know it would be nor genuinely forget your wallet) in a restaurant.

DropYourSword · 17/02/2022 22:55

I hate pig headed stupidity like this.
I get that cafes and restaurants also have to deal with people lying and not paying. But INSISTING you pay while not actually letting you do anything that would facilitate that in any way is absolute madness!

yupyupyup · 17/02/2022 22:57

I'm gonna go against the grain here...

I would never rely on my mobile phone to make an essential payment where I didn't have an alternative available.

You have eaten food which this restaurant has paid for and they clearly think you are about to steal it from them.

Why? Why did you not order something when you got home or bought something which you could pay for BEFORE consuming it?!? I always, always check that I have the means to pay before I buy something and it doesn't matter how 'busy' I am with kids or whatever. Not this restaurant's problem!

I'm almost certain the restaurant has their reasons for their actions. CF!

CourtRand · 17/02/2022 22:59

I'd have let you get your charger if you left the kids/ your phone or something else of value in the restaurant while you did it.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 17/02/2022 23:01

@yupyupyup

I'm gonna go against the grain here...

I would never rely on my mobile phone to make an essential payment where I didn't have an alternative available.

You have eaten food which this restaurant has paid for and they clearly think you are about to steal it from them.

Why? Why did you not order something when you got home or bought something which you could pay for BEFORE consuming it?!? I always, always check that I have the means to pay before I buy something and it doesn't matter how 'busy' I am with kids or whatever. Not this restaurant's problem!

I'm almost certain the restaurant has their reasons for their actions. CF!

ODFOD

My card is always in my phone. I don't check every single time I pay for anything. There have been times it's not been there because I've taken it out and forgotten or dps had it and I've forgotten to get it off him. It happens. It isn't remotely in CF territory as she was trying to pay.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 17/02/2022 23:01

Why? Why did you not order something when you got home or bought something which you could pay for BEFORE consuming it?!?

Do you really want the genuine, logistical reasons of why I opted to go to the pizza place rather than ordering a takeaway / going to a supermarket? I suspect you're not actually interested.

I have said multiple times it was my error and that I've not dont this before.

I've also said multiple times how much I apologised, so please don't call me a cheeky fucker!

Having your phone die is not "stealing". It's a mistake... have you never made one of those ?

OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 17/02/2022 23:03

@Ladybyrd

Don't turn up at a restaurant and order and eat a meal, without a guaranteed means of paying for it.

How do you go on when you're buying petrol? If you can't pay, garages file a police report.

You honestly feel hard-done-by?

Not all the time. I used to work in a garage. I used to write their number plate and mobile number down. Sometimes it happens. One of them things. Definitely wouldn't bother the police with it
Original poster
EezyOozy · 17/02/2022 23:03

You have eaten food which this restaurant has paid for and they clearly think you are about to steal it from them.

Also, why would they think I'm about to steal from them when I have offered to pay in various ways eg over the phone,by calling DH, before I left the premises ?! Confused

OP posts:
Aweefatcat · 17/02/2022 23:03

That’s so odd. My card didn’t work in a local sandwhich shop; they still gave my my food and asked me to just pay the next time I’m in

Youonlyhaveonelife · 17/02/2022 23:04

Own 2 restaurants and would have just let your husband pay over the phone. Worst case would have let you leave and trusted you to come back. Most people are honest and we all make mistakes.

DropYourSword · 17/02/2022 23:05

@Ladybyrd

Don't turn up at a restaurant and order and eat a meal, without a guaranteed means of paying for it.

How do you go on when you're buying petrol? If you can't pay, garages file a police report.

You honestly feel hard-done-by?

They file a police report if you drive off without paying.

They don't just file a police report if you have a genuine issue!

I had problems a few years ago with this. Can't remember the exact details (whether I'd forgotten my purse or whether the card didn't work). Called my DH and tried to pay be inputting his card details manually into the machine. That didn't work either. I think they ended up handing me an invoice to pay and I returned later in the day to pay it.

Yes, she SHOULD feel hard done by. She had a genuine issue which she was willing to resolve in a number of ways. Restaurant was being pig-headed for the absolute sake of it.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 17/02/2022 23:06

I love that couple that paid your bill for you!!
Restaurant were being ridiculous.

DeathStarLampShade · 17/02/2022 23:09

I’d have let you go and get the charger.

Their approach to this was a total waste of everyone’s time and pointless aggravation.

And for 20 quid too. I get they don’t want people doing a runner but it’s not like you were on the oysters and Dom Perignon.

thesparkthatbled · 17/02/2022 23:11

I'm just imagining someone trying to do a runner with a 2 and 4 year old in tow...Grin

UserWithNoUserName · 17/02/2022 23:13

They were totally UR and stupid to boot.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 17/02/2022 23:15

The lady of the couple who paid for me has messaged me back to say the money is received and to say how happy she was to help, she hopes I got home ok with the children etc. I told her about it being "Random Acts of Kindness Day" today (apt) and she said "oh that's so wonderful - every day should be random acts of kindness day.". ❤️

OP posts:
Original poster
EezyOozy · 17/02/2022 23:16

I'm just imagining someone trying to do a runner with a 2 and 4 year old in tow...

Haha, yes I know. Tired ones too. Not to mention it takes me about 10 minutes to strap them into their car seats!

OP posts:
Didioverstep · 17/02/2022 23:18

They where wrong. However I bet they get this a lot with people who aren't genuine. We own a restaurant and had dine and dash more times than I can remember and unfortunately the police don't care. So yes sometimes it's too much. But in your case we would have taken your contact details or offered you to use the phone.

Bohemianwannabe · 17/02/2022 23:22

They obviously thought you were a master criminal (been watching too much netflix obviously) and thought you would Rob them if they let you behind the counter or perhaps call in reinforcements they were utterly ridiculous in not allowing you to use their phone and yes OK you were a bit of a div but mistakes happen I hope you let them know u paid the couple back as soon as you got your charger stupid bloody people

Juliauns91 · 17/02/2022 23:24

Wow - I never go anywhere without cash on me - never. I wouldn't rely on a phone.

TimeForTeaAndG · 17/02/2022 23:28

@Juliauns91

Wow - I never go anywhere without cash on me - never. I wouldn't rely on a phone.
Well aren't you just perfect Hmm

OP, glad the couple helped you out. It's absolutely horrible to realise you've forgotten something. And what an idiot of a manager to not allow you to use their phone.