Couple Busted for Refusing to Pay Tip

[GLaw]

If you’re frustrated by poor service at a restaurant, think twice before you decide to not tip. You may be in for a bit more than just a dirty look from the waiter.

[bg]

If it's a ridiculously long wait (taking into account reasonable factors) I'll just get up and leave. There are ways to handle things when you're short-staffed or have an unusually busy night.

[VoTrooper99]

I can't believe the PD actually made the arrest. I wonder how the law runs there???

[bg]

Also wondering, how is it that those two got busted out of a party of six? Did the other four "friends" ditch?

[blackflagg509]

Also wondering, how is it that those two got busted out of a party of six? Did the other four "friends" ditch?

Cause they weren't drinking the Kool-Aide like they're so called "friends" were.

[yrualeg]

I will never pay a tip for poor service...and I have a hard time understanding how you can be charged with theft, it's a Gratuity that's not mandatory it's a tip. And if it was included in the bill how could they not pay it? There are too many things in the story that are not making sense.

[ABN MP]

My question is what it a tip or a Gratuity that is included in the bill. Most restraunts will include a mandatory Gratuity for a party of 6 or more. I am wondering if this is what it is. If so they have no choice since it is calculated into the bill and they made the reservation with that understanding.

[VB]

I was thinking of getting a bunch of my friends together and going there, order a bunch of food and drinks, pay the bill, and leave without leaving a tip! Let's see if all of us gets busted!

[Recon133]

Damn, can't get the video to work

[Ops NCO]

It's an interesting legal catch-22.

1. On the one hand, you know if you have a party above a certain size, that the gratuity will be "automatically" added. This seems to make it a part of the contractual agreement (albeit implicit) you make when you take a large group to a place. However....

2. The gratuity that is added is specifically for the rendering of the service. Since the service was not rendered (or was certainly rendered at a level far below what is commonly acceptable), does that mean the restaurant didn't abide by it's contractual obligation, and thus render the gratuity unenforceable?

Only the attorneys would win in this case.

But....just out of spite, I'd probably find me a low-life attorney who wants to make a name for himself...and have him sue the restaurant on my behalf for the "emotional distress" of being arrested. I'm having sleeping issues and sexual dysfunction just thinking about it.

I'd sue them for $100 million dollars and watch them squirm.

[VoTrooper99]

It's an interesting legal catch-22.

1. On the one hand, you know if you have a party above a certain size, that the gratuity will be "automatically" added. This seems to make it a part of the contractual agreement (albeit implicit) you make when you take a large group to a place. However....

2. The gratuity that is added is specifically for the rendering of the service. Since the service was not rendered (or was certainly rendered at a level far below what is commonly acceptable), does that mean the restaurant didn't abide by it's contractual obligation, and thus render the gratuity unenforceable?

Only the attorneys would win in this case.

But....just out of spite, I'd probably find me a low-life attorney who wants to make a name for himself...and have him sue the restaurant on my behalf for the "emotional distress" of being arrested. I'm having sleeping issues and sexual dysfunction just thinking about it.

I'd sue them for $100 million dollars and watch them squirm.

It strikes me as a contact law issue, not a criminal issue. Therefore it is civil and not a police matter. That's why I'm surprised at the arrest being made.

Most places have something on the menu or a sign up near the hostess stand regarding the mandatory tip.

[abnbull]

The whole concept of a "mandatory tip" really pisses me off.

Having worked in the restaurant and bar business I know what it is like to get stiffed. But the incentive of making a good tip made me work harder. Just like it should.

Mandatory gratuities just let the server off the hook.

[zanshin]

"And I was like... and it was like, and they, like, were all, like..."

He should have kept her home, rented a movie, and given her something to shut her pie-hole that didn't cost $73 and a ride to jail. The chick obviously runs the relationship. Bet he's in ROTC and dreams of being S4 to a Finance unit.

I don't like manadatory gratuities, but if it's posted, it's the price of eating there. "Bars with food" places aren't set up to only earn $12 a head for 6 people taking up space for a couple hours and drinking Pepsi on a busy Friday night. They expect a higher rate of return, and aren't happy with low-rent customers. A mandatory gratuity and a bitchy customer means no matter how hard you work, you're only getting the minimum, and 15% percent of a low-ball bill for two hours of service cuts into your pocket. That's typically why such customers get ignored after a while.

[skeet5413]

Got to realize that these waiters and waitresses do not make a lot of money hourly but it is made in tips so let's give them a break and give up a little tip. It won't hurt I'm sure. Of course some people like to or even go out of there way to be an asshole at a restraunt and then they in turn get substandard service.

[Dark Star]

I don't tip if it's shitty service. If someone needs a tip in addition to their hourly wage in order to survive, go get a better jobs or the necessary education to get a better job.

I've run into too many 30 year slugs waiting tables to give a fuck about them.