Were we right to walk out?

[Deleted User]

No, I'm sorry you weren't right. When I went to a cheapo restaurant recently, it was understaffed, I had to go up to the waitress and ask if we wanted something (she wasn't too good either) and then I went and asked for the bill. We paid and left.

I wouldn't be as heavy handed as some of the people on here, but you ate the food, you didn't send it back, so it must have been edible.., ok you were sick of waiting, but nothing stopping you paying now. Just a quick phone call.

Then you don't go back.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

H
I'm not rising to the bait.

Not paying for food eaten ( regardless of how long waited/ poor service) = theft

Read my post. I waited twenty minutes without food. I got up and walked. The hotel did not charge for my drink that evening, their discretion.
As for walking, I once had a meal in a pub in Cornwall, where at the bar was a small sign saying they did not take cards of any sort, but had a cash machine that paid a maximum of £30, with a £3 charge! There were a number of customers, who when wanting to pay with a card, were then told they could not. A lot of heated customers flatly refused to use their cash machine, and the local gendarmerie turned up. All the customers left, without giving their names and addresses as the Gendarmerie suggested that the publican was at fault. Different scenario, but the same in reality.
As for the sign at the bar, it was in fine ball print, and not highly visible. This was in 2009!

Silver-Surfer_2

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Read my post. I waited twenty minutes without food. I got up and walked. The hotel did not charge for my drink that evening, their discretion.
As for walking, I once had a meal in a pub in Cornwall, where at the bar was a small sign saying they did not take cards of any sort, but had a cash machine that paid a maximum of £30, with a £3 charge! There were a number of customers, who when wanting to pay with a card, were then told they could not. A lot of heated customers flatly refused to use their cash machine, and the local gendarmerie turned up. All the customers left, without giving their names and addresses as the Gendarmerie suggested that the publican was at fault. Different scenario, but the same in reality.
As for the sign at the bar, it was in fine ball print, and not highly visible. This was in 2009!

Well they were wrong as its down to the customer to ensure they have means to paid before they consume the food.

ThumbRemote

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

H
I'm not rising to the bait.

Not paying for food eaten ( regardless of how long waited/ poor service) = theft

How long would you wait?

If you were waiting to pay and they didn't come to take your payment after 20 minutes would you leave? What about after an hour?

Would you wait there overnight? By your logic, if you wouldn't then you'd be a thief.

You cannot force them to come and process your payment.

TonyMMM

You were free to leave , however that doesn't mean that you don't still owe the payment.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Well they were wrong as its down to the customer to ensure they have means to paid before they consume the food.

The customers all had the means to pay, a card. They refused to use the cash machine to pay. There was no clear indication that the pub did not take a card, apart from a small hand written sign stuck facing the bar.
It was the Gendarmerie who explained to the barman that it was not the first time the establishment had created a row over payment. hence the suggestion of the officer of the law.

neilmcl

ThumbRemote wrote: »

How long would you wait?

If you were waiting to pay and they didn't come to take your payment after 20 minutes would you leave? What about after an hour?

Would you wait there overnight? By your logic, if you wouldn't then you'd be a thief.

You cannot force them to come and process your payment.

It would have been fairly straightforward to approach the staff and either ask for/demand to speak to the manager or state that your intention was to leave immediately and it's up to them to take payment or you''ll deal with it at a later date. Judging by the OP's posts it doesn't seem they've attempted either.

daytona0

ThumbRemote wrote: »

How long would you wait?

If you were waiting to pay and they didn't come to take your payment after 20 minutes would you leave? What about after an hour?

Would you wait there overnight? By your logic, if you wouldn't then you'd be a thief.

You cannot force them to come and process your payment.

Why are people so venomous towards some person who believes, rightly or wrongly, that OP has stolen food/drink items because they walked out without paying and (until the family member going back was mentioned) seemed to imply that they were excluded from paying?

I don't understand the people on this forum sometimes! OP is the only person in the wrong, so have a go at them!! That gettingtheresometime has never done what OP has done (to our knowledge), and they may have some practical ways of solving the waiting around issue (opening their mouth, collaring a staff member, handing over cash and walking out, handing your address/leaving a note).

Quite why BoP is beyond criticism is also beyond me, but that's another matter.

Silver-Surfer_2

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

The customers all had the means to pay, a card. They refused to use the cash machine to pay. There was no clear indication that the pub did not take a card, apart from a small hand written sign stuck facing the bar.
It was the Gendarmerie who explained to the barman that it was not the first time the establishment had created a row over payment. hence the suggestion of the officer of the law.

Who on that occasion was wrong.

marliepanda

neilmcl wrote: »

It would have been fairly straightforward to approach the staff and either ask for/demand to speak to the manager or state that your intention was to leave immediately and it's up to them to take payment or you''ll deal with it at a later date. Judging by the OP's posts it doesn't seem they've attempted either.

I've been to Chiquitos (who I'm assuming this is) a few times and they do often seem very busy.

I solved this 'wait' by walking up to the till (my local one has two till areas) with my card and someone took my payment within minutes. I have never sat for 55 minutes waiting for someone to take my payment! Ridiculous notion!

You don't have to sit and wait for someone to take your payment. OP clearly just thought they were entitled to a freebie. How unusual!