Money Moral Dilemma: Should we have paid for restaurant owner's birthday meal?

Fitzmichael

Her staff get their pay from her, maybe not much if as an employer she's as bad as she is a friend.
I don't know why people are so stupid as to think they HAVE to tip a small class of those who are paid to do a job for them. Why don't you tip the bus-driver or the employee who helps you in a store etc? If you know, rather than think, they are especially badly paid, then subsidising their mean employer is illogical: if nobody tipped, nobody would do the job for the wage on offer. If you're really concerned, you should lobby your MP to stop the way employers in this sector fiddle the way they calculate the minimum wage. They could legislate that restaurants etc had to state on the front of the menu how much per hour their lowest paid staff received. Of course, if they had to be properly paid, your restaurant meals would cost more, but probably no more than you pay including a 15% tip.

Fitzmichael

My last comment was in answer to Nada666;65584966 - "Why are people moaning about the service charge? Why should the waiters and cooks not receive their usual remuneration?"

Nada666

But the fact that waiters are treated differently from other workers is irrelevant and not the point - of course waiters should be paid a full whack and there should be no tipping. But, in Britain, in restaurants that is the case - the staff are paid (and income-taxed) as such.

What bemused was that an innocent (probably) party was the last straw and they should suffer for the guests' indignity - a few people were posting they would pay the bill but wouldn't be leaving a tip. The misunderstanding is not the underpaid staff's fault.

sandrawoo

I would say there had been a misunderstanding but you must have chosen regardless of cost because you thought you would not have to pay as you had been twice before- the service charge was out of order.

schd

Sorry, don't agree with any of you.

You should never be afraid to tell people they have upset or hurt you and why. There is nothing worse than somebody clearly having a problem with something you have said or done, and they don't tell you what it is, you just get the cold silent treatment, or they avoid you, or refuse future invitations, which is what appears to be the general advice here.

You owe it to your friend, and yourself, to politely tell her perhaps in a letter that she has upset you, and why. Personally, I think you have every right to be upset and it's never too late to tell somebody. In fact, it's often better after time has passed, so that you can be sure you are being reasonable in the way you see it, rather than shooting from the hip at the time.

Why are we always so afraid of honesty???

Any

Nada666 wrote: »

But the fact that waiters are treated differently from other workers is irrelevant and not the point - of course waiters should be paid a full whack and there should be no tipping. But, in Britain, in restaurants that is the case - the staff are paid (and income-taxed) as such.

What bemused was that an innocent (probably) party was the last straw and they should suffer for the guests' indignity - a few people were posting they would pay the bill but wouldn't be leaving a tip. The misunderstanding is not the underpaid staff's fault.

An extra charge is NEVER right, but many restaurants choose to add it for a large party of people, although you can ask for it to be removed.
I for one completely do not accept extra charges for nothing on top of my bill, someone deciding how much to tip a staff (on service I have already paid for, tip is OPTIONAL) is just soooo wrong and I avoid restaurants that do so.

No one, no one has a right to ask extra money for a service they already priced up for you and you accepted the price (ie choosing meal from the menu, you accept the prices on there).

In this case, it was a cheek of a highest order to add an extra payment automatically after they have been invited, brought a present and then charged full whack unexpectedly. That just adds an insult to injury.

AdRock

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

It's only money and surely friendship is more important !!!

It's not "only money" if you haven't got any to spare...especially £150

blueflinders_2

I wouldn't even want to be her friend any more! How rude.

happyinflorida

OMG - I can't believe she did this! How disgraceful and rude.

I take it she accepted your birthday gift of the expensive bottle of champagne? I'd send her a bill for it - just to show her two can play at that game!

She's no friend at all - money grabbing B.I.T.C.H

Have no more to do with her at all.

WastingMyTime

Invite her to dinner at your place and charge her 150 quid and 20% service charge, after all it's private dinning.

She's no friend. Her agenda was to fill the restaurant full of paying guests in order boost her profits.

Oh yes, ask for your bottle back as she may charge corkage.