Bill-splitting

[Clemsie]

Five of us had dinner last night - two couples and myself (I’m a single parent). At the end when the bill arrived, one of the couples declared that the bill would be split three ways. I’m not sure how it made sense that a bill for a party of five was split three ways but was too embarrassed to say anything. As a result I’m £20 out of pocket. AIBU to think that the bill should not
have been split three ways? Also, should I just stay quiet about the £20 and never go out with them again? What is the correct bill-splitting etiquette in this situation?

That’s a single person tax! Absolutely not on. I don’t mind dividing the bill up evenly of everyone broadly had the same but to divide it that way is ridiculously unfair!

Wow. The absolute brass neck on your DB. 😂

Has he tried that at the cinema or theatre, for example, I wonder?

The problem with some couples is they seem to forget there is 2 in a couple. You've actually paid for a partner that wasn't there.

The bill should be split between 5, cheeky feckers took a discount for themselves. Speak up next time.

Or ask for a separate bill for yourself so u just pay for yourself.

I can't believe how rude people are. They know u paid part of their bill.

I just do not know how 5 people think that a bill can be split 3 ways. Did they actually KNOW what they did. Also why didn’t at least one of the 4 not speak up? Cheeky bastards.

Had this happen to me a few times.

Just say no.

It is unreasonable, it is unfair and the person who suggested it isn't your friend.

Definitely not they should have worked out the cost by 5 and paid 2 x shares each.

I do think you need to speak up though but I'm surprised no one thought to say anything - are they usually tight or mean?

Normally if someone dosent drink or only has one course etc I/someone would bring that up in the bill conversation to pay else. Splitting it 3 ways is blatantly not fair/

YANBU!!!!!!! I HATE THIS!!!!!
when me and my OH go out I try and take into consideration others when we split the bill. So we have some friends where we split 50/50, others where we pay for what we’ve had and others where we take into turns to pay the full bill.

I’ve been out with couples before when my husband couldn’t make it and been expected to pay a “third” of the bill with two other couples and it made me so mad!!

I would say something. Personally in this scenario they should split the bill five ways and then each couple pay 2 x 5.

we often go out with a single friend and this is how we split the bill as it is only fair.

You needed to say something at the time, I don’t think I would bring it up now.

The other four people were taking the piss, they could not fail to have realised that this was not fair.

Exactly this.
What's more, at the risk of causing a minor scene, I would have spoken up politely before parting with any money.
Totally unfair.😡

You can't moan when you didn't speak up. People suggest things without thinking.

@Attractedtotheofflimits its incredibly hard running a household on one single salary, especially if you have kids. People who are happily paired up have such little understanding but why should Op shut up and pay up? £20 puts dinner on the table for a family. Does this mean we should just stay home if we don’t fancy paying for other peoples meals as well as our own? Outrageous.

You have some truly crap friends.

It could absolutely break the bank for some people.

5 people, 5 meals = bill split 5 ways. This is an easy one. Too late to say anything now, but next time speak up and say.
It's more tricky with other things like sharing a cab and it drops a couple off at one address and a single person at one address, this usually gets split 50/50 in my experience.

Been there, out with 3 other couples to the Indian. One couple have the most expensive meal there also naan each, rice each and lots of alcohol then the bill got split 4 ways at their suggestion! We should have said no we'll pay our own as we always share a naan and a rice but felt it would be awkward as the other couples agreed, they must have loved it. Definitely would speak up now especially with the cost of living. Think sometimes we just need to say no and not feel bad.

Dont worry OP
@Makemyday99 has indicated £20 is fuckall to her / him and will send this to you to make up for your friends lack of maths

I can only assume they meant split bill equally. Across 3 cards. The waiter then got confused.

Nothing eise makes sense.

I always speak up for the person who hasn’t had a drink or whatever in a bill-splitting deal. Needs to be reasonably fair. Point it out politely next time. They’ll be reasonable. And if they’re not, don’t go out with them again!

£20 is not extortionate but it’s fiddly splitting a bill between five people. Maybe don’t go for meals with couples on the future

Possibly they thought to divide by three is easier and quicker than to divide by five and then to double the quotient for a couple. £20 is a lot to be paying for nothing. Whether you can afford it or not is irrelevant; it's an unfair split.

How is dividing by 3 any easier than dividing by 5?
Gosh. If only we all had a calculator available

I always say we will all pay for what we had and am adamant about it. That way no one ends up subbing anyone else. It is the only fair way.

20% 1/5th all the way. I hate it when someone gets the billl and goes through it going 'well I had an OJ and so & so had a large glass of wine' but I'm the wine drinker lol, so I get it now 😂there are appswhere what you order is in your name and when the bill comes you pay for what you ordered, not used it but have heard they save alot of angst

You are not being unreasonable. That’s not acceptable at all.