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MMD: Should I pay the bill?

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Should I pay the bill for bad food?
A few months ago in Paris I ate with my familyin a little Italian restaurant, and the food was quite bad. I paid the bill and was told the payment was declined, so could I re-enter the PIN. With no receipt to prove this, I said I'd check my bank statement and send the money if they were right. They reluctantly agreed. The next day most of us fell ill due to the bad food. Back in the UK, I saw the transaction had not gone through. Should I pay even though the food was bad?
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I think Petaldust is right, and it's not your fault that the system declined your payment (it was a French system, it was probably on strike
If you felt ill afterwards, then I wouldn't pay. Perhaps they haven't pushed it because other customers on the same day had the same illness that you and your family had and would have to refund anyway?
I haven't eaten in Chinatown since.
You gave your word, so you pay.
If your word means nothing and you have no moral worth then I guess you would avoid paying.
It was, however, as stated, a few months ago - and I am guessing that the restaurant are not able to trace you (the OP), as you don't suggest that you are being chased for payment. Probably, if this IS the case, the restaurant have written-off the bill, hence their reluctance in agreeing to the gesture of faith - so you would probably get away with not sending the money for the full bill.
HOWEVER - if the question is more one of conscience - and I was the OP, I would most likely send money to cover half of the bill, with a covering letter explaining that you and your co-diners were ill following the meal (with any proof, if you have it). That way, the restaurant have probably covered their basic costs, but not made much (if any) profit from the meal that may or may not have made you ill, and your conscience can be clearer than if you had not paid at all.
Bonne chance! :cool:
R xx
I appreciate the meal may not have been up to standard but it would have been fairer to discuss this with them when you were there.
The other option would be to get in touch and explain that you were not happy and think some of your group was ill as a result and say you will pay some of the bill - maybe half, but not all as you were not happy with it.
That's such a shame - I'm sorry your birthday dinner was so spoiled.
A portion of Monty Python - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QoA44c23A&NR=1
x
If the owner said the transaction was declined why did you not believe him? did you have reason to think he was making it up so that he could take payment twice? Obviously no point in the owner doing this as you would simply claim it back from your bank.
In my business (plumbing) , it has got so bad with dishonest customers that I no longer invoice and will not leave without full payment. As they say " In god we trust - everyone else pays cash".
That is also btw the moral/ethical position. We are all enjoined to apply professional standards to our work and compensate where negligence is evident.
You should write and explain that you and several of your friends (enumerate them, time of entry, eating, payment, no names necessary) went down with food poisoning the following day. 'I believe I am legally justified in witholding payment, as it is apparent that you have been grossly negligent.' No reference needed to the payment that didn't go through - that's their business.
You'll hear nothing further.
Don't sue them - waste of time, even if you were to win.
You could send a copy of your letter to the restaurant's local council's Food Health and Safety/Environmental Services Division - but frankly, they usually can't be bothered, although of course in the interests of their taxpayers they should be.
Be thankful no one among your group actually died of food poisoning - it has been known.