Advice needed

bubble42-6

Hi,

I'm a long time reader, this is my first post as I haven't come across this situation before. I work in a restaurant and took a fake £20 note last weekend. My employer is demanding I pay back this money as it was my mistake. As there are no UV pens or a machine to detect fake notes am I liable for this money or is it the responsibility of my employer to provide the equipment?

I am really skint and it is a lot of money for us to find as oh may be losing his job soon. I've tried to argue my case but my boss isn't budging!

Any help would be gratefully received, thanks

anamenottaken

How is it certain that you accepted the fake note?
How was it determined the note was fake?
Do you have written particulars of your employment which state that employees are responsible in cases like this? If not, and without your agreement, I do not believe your employer can make this deduction from your pay.
How long have you worked there?

bubble42-6

Hi,

I was the only person on the bar at the time and it was a scottish note which I accepted that I took. I've been there nearly three years and it doesn't seem fair. My boss is taking it out of my credit card tips and it has to be paid back within the next month at the latest I didn't have a choice as I was told I had to pay it back and this is the only way I can pay it back.

I will look at my contract when I go into work tonight but from memory its very basic and doesn't mention anything about it. Thanks for the help.

Jenny007

Is the dispute that it was a Scottish note or that its a fake Scottish note?

Jarndyce

Jenny007 wrote: »

Is the dispute that it was a Scottish note or that its a fake Scottish note?

It doesn't matter.

Tips can be withheld for this reason - it is quite legal.

McKneff

Will you get this fake note to look at to make sure that it is indeed a fake

Your contract should be at your home, safely filed away. Not at work.

Lovelyjoolz

Jarndyce wrote: »

It doesn't matter.

Tips can be withheld for this reason - it is quite legal.

Surely not, if the note was just Scottish and not fake.

She shouldn't be penalised just because her boss is too ignorant to recognise that a Scottish note is acceptable currency.

OP - try to establish whether the note was fake and Scottish and not just Scottish. If its not a fake, your boss is an idiot.

bubble42-6

So it is legal for him to take my tips? I thought it was really unfair as I made a mistake and was my first mistake in nearly three years! The note is definately a fake I was just seeing if he had any rights to make me pay it back.

Lovelyjoolz

Do you get to keep the fake note? It would be only fair, seeing as you are effectively paying him for it. Might be useful to have an example of a fake as a comparison.

And get yourself a UV pen to help prevent this in the future. Tesco sells them in their stationery aisle.

Jarndyce

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Surely not, if the note was just Scottish and not fake.

She shouldn't be penalised just because her boss is too ignorant to recognise that a Scottish note is acceptable currency.

OP - try to establish whether the note was fake and Scottish and not just Scottish. If its not a fake, your boss is an idiot.

Credit card tips are the property of the employer, and can be withheld for any reason.

McKneff

Jarndyce wrote: »

Credit card tips are the property of the employer, and can be withheld for any reason.

This is why I always tip in cash to the staff.
The employer can deduct anything they want from the cc tips and call it an 'admin charge'