Bill splitter karma

[Payforyourowndinner]

I wanted to share this as often read stories on here of people getting stung by people insisting on splitting the bill when they’ve gone all out on cocktails and steak.

I went out with work tonight, and don’t go often. I was driving so no drink but did have a starter, main, and dessert.

There is a person who works for the company but not on my team who often hears about meals out and adds himself on. No one ever stops him. He does get on with some of the men on my team so all good, but he does go for the steak, wine, sides etc and insists on splitting and folks are too scared to challenge him for some reason. Now as he’s not on my team he’s not on my team WhatsApp group so I put it out there on the chat I wouldn’t be splitting, just paying for my own. A few added that they’d much prefer to do that (and a few of the newer staff are on a lower wage). No one updated the other man (why would they?) so out we went, all ordered. Some preferred one course with water, others the same as me. Some shared wine. He ordered- (I made a note as it was crazy)
bread and oil
A starter
bottle of Rioja
main (steak and chicken)
two sides
dessert
2 pints.
Now, I’m all for going for it, fill your boots, but pay for it.
The bill came, he said “usual is it?”, I said what do you mean, he said well spilt like always. I took so much delight in telling him that we had all decided to pay for our own, times are hard and we have junior members etc. Oh the face, the face!! He said he would never have ordered what he did if he knew we weren’t splitting and I took great delight in saying “you wouldn’t have ordered what you did if you knew you’d have to pay for it all yourself? Didn’t you see some had one meal and a glass of water?”
As we paid the bill I also made sure that they took our payments before his so he couldn’t wangle. He was so red, he paid and left without saying a word.

I can’t believe the cheek of some people.
hope it will make him think twice. I understand friends splitting bills but why would he assume colleagues from other teams would want to pay for his dinner.

I wanted to share the little win. When I was a junior I wouldn’t have stood up to him either, but menopause does things to a woman.

Yeah… if you want to be “that” person. The way she has handled it is perfect. But going to HR? That’ll have josses looking down on you and everyone thinking you’re just a pain in the arse and enjoy shit stirring.

It becomes an HR issue if the guy actually starts bullying anyone over teams, or treating anyone from the dinner badly or spreading rumours or any of that stuff. But right now… this isn’t an HR issue.

You rock OP! Love this! X

A post to gladden anyone’s heart - except that of a CF freeloader, of course.
👏👏 OP!

Years ago when I was a student we would go for a curry, a lad tagged along with us who said he wasn’t hungry but then would hoover up everyone’s leftovers but never offer to pay anything as he ‘hadnt ordered’. He wasn’t skint, just a CF.

I wouldn't either - and I'd get the messages off Teams as well. Talking about this colleague, however much of a twat he is, behind his back could give him a reason to go to HR himself.

Everybody's an adult, they can speak for themselves. Hopefully this is nipped in the bud for your workplace now, OP.

This, x100. If TW wants to take it to HR I suggest they will laugh in his face.

Work events IME have always been either funded by the employer, or pay-as-you-go.

When I'm with friends, for some reason I'm always the one who gets handed the bill to sort out. Generally I do a sort of split and then shuffle - so most people pay the average, but if someone ordered loads of extras or hardly ate anything then I'll propose a different amount for that person. Nobody has ever said "No, that's not fair" - I think they're just too grateful for someone else doing the arithmetic!

I keep trying to catch up on all the updates but work is really busy. I anticipate a nice hot cup of tea, a bit of Easter egg and an hour scrolling slowly later this evening, devouring every. Single. Response. Thank you all 😍

If he responds just say, ‘Seriously, Bob, you didn’t expect Mary and Trev to subsidize your dinner, did you? They earn half your salary. Why would you do that to them and the rest of the team? Did you not notice some of them were on soup and water?’

What would be even more awesome is if he saw this thread

Nooooo I won’t be speaking to HR, no need, they won’t give a shit !

I’ll fight him in the car park instead … 😂

Hes read it but no response. Haven’t been left on read for a while

His face going red was him being angry with you...for daring to stand up to him and not allow him to behave this way. I know this type of men too well...a bit dangerous really as they always blame their behaviour on other people but hopefully not dangerous for you in a work sense. Well done you and I'm sure you're now a legend to your younger, less strong, colleagues.

He's just doing to you what he thinks you did to him this morning re leaving on read. Petty, but we knew that!

Someone with his level of entitlement isn't going to give a shit though is he? He clearly does this ALL THE TIME and no-one has ever called him out on it before, hence his fury that the OP dared to 'embarrass' him for his shameless cheeky fuckery.

Totally here for the update! Some people are just CFer and completely oblivious

You're my hero op!

We have just decided on Wagamamas for the next team meal. He won’t be invited …

I didn't think he was invited this time!

Op respond

I'm confused did you want everyone to subsidise your meal and drinks?

We had already decided to pay our own way, it's only fair. 🤷‍♀️

He's probably trying to do some mental gymnastics to make it sound like he's the wronged one, and can't think of anything to say.

He won't back down and apologise.

So my money is on him not replying, and a frosty atmosphere when you see him again (but that won't be at another meal, for a guess).

second this! X

A lipsmackingly delicious post and outcome. Let’s hope it has lit a few fires and encouraged some more people, menopausal or not, to speak out!

Did he drink the whole bottle of wine himself? Surely not, in addition to 2 pints, at a work event?

What an asshole though.

When we go out for team meals we seniors often sub the most junior people completely as the salary range is very wide.

I would say

We pre agreed between the team on our team whatsap that we would not be splitting the bill. As you are not in our team on our whatsap you were not aware of this however I don't understand why paying for your own food and drinks bill is an issue as surely only order what you can afford to pay for. I am sure you agree it isn't fair to ask junior members of staff on much lower salaries to contribute to the meals of those on higher incomes than them, don't you?

Oh to have the confidence of a mediocre man.

He thought his sparkly presence meant he could greedy caterpillar at the expense of others. He knows better now.

I cannot abide meanness. Totally fine with people sticking to a budget. Expecting others to subsidise you is snide.