Best way to avoid over spending when out for a meal with family

victory

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victory

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*Louise*

^^So nice when people are honest.

So many problems are caused by the people trying to get away with not paying their share. I don't mind paying my share and a little extra on top, but there's a limit - I certinly wouldn't be splitting a bill equally with someone who had lobster while I had pasta lol.;)

jellyhead

boliston wrote: »

I think a party 4 is the absolute max to realistically split a bill, anymore than that and it would be separate bills always!

Recently had a works evening meal with about 12 people and it took a good half hour to work out the splits and it was still about a fiver short, it was really embarrassing as well as they had added on a 12.5% tip (about £60) and of course no one had remembered to add anything on for this. I paid the £5 shortfall out of my own pocket (I was going to leave a £5 tip anyway so no bothered) but there was NO way I was going to pay for the entire party's tips as well, so the waiter did not seem pleased!

If they automatically !!! on a 12.5% tip I wouldn't tip much over that, to be honest. Last time that happened (rainforest cafe in London) the bill was £68 -odd and i just left £70 in notes. I think the 12.5% tip is enough ...

boliston

It's pretty annoying when they actually add the tip to the bill - a lot of places seem to have the policy for larger groups especially.

victory

Is it the law then you have to leave a tip? What if you don't?

Pollycat

jellyhead wrote: »

If they automatically !!! on a 12.5% tip I wouldn't tip much over that, to be honest. Last time that happened (rainforest cafe in London) the bill was £68 -odd and i just left £70 in notes. I think the 12.5% tip is enough ...

I dislike service charges and if I'd had poor food and bad service, I would ask that the service charge be removed (I'd have also complained prior to the bill being brought so it wasn't a shock to them).

If a restaurant adds a service charge, I do not tip.

I prefer to choose the amount of tip I leave and even when paying by credit card, I leave a cash tip (rather than adding it onto the c/c bill) as I think (maybe mistakenly) that it stands more chance of getting to the people who deserve it rather than the management or owners.

The OP has been posting on other threads since she's had all these responses - pity she's not so far come back and told us how she handled the situation that she originally asked advice on.

Pee

I think I must have been really lucky as although I've heard people discuss this before, I've never had any problems myself. It must be said I tend to eat out with people I really like, or it is a gesture from me as a thank you for something so I ask them and make it clear that I'm paying. Maybe it's because I'm neither very frugal or very extravagant, so paying for my own or splitting the bill would both be fairly similiar...