Should these restaurant patrons have been charged with theft for refusing

M

Mimi

New member
to pay the 18% gratuity? I have mixed feelings about this, but I understand why the bartender considered it theft too, particularly if the patrons knew in advance that a gratuity (call it commission, call it service charge, call it whatever you want)_would apply. I mean, we're not talking about charity here, we are talking about a working person getting paid for their work. After receiving the service and consuming the product, they decide not to pay the gratuity? Why not say they don't want to pay for the food since the food took so long to arrive? Why single out the gratuity? Or were those young people just looking for an excuse to be cheap?
Here's the link:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Time-In-Prison--70426052.html?yhp=1
PressureSpot--My entire class? What are you talking about?
PressureSpot--My entire class? What are you talking about?
 
well apparently the gratuity was mandatory whether the service was good or not and im sure the couple knew that going in. seems a waste of time to arrest anyone though since even if it goes to court they will probably be told to pay the fine and end up with some type of probation anyway
 
That's the pitfall of having a job so heavily based around tips. They're not mandatory (automatically added to the bill) in most places, and there is no law regarding tips. I think it's wrong to leave without giving a tip, but I don't know if I'd call it theft. Certainly not legally, anyway.
 
Those "young people" probably didn't have the money to ante up the gratuity...I saw it all of the time when I waited tables and bartended in college. Is it theft? Unfortunately not. But it IS bullshyt.
 
Back
Top