Money Moral Dilemma: I got paid to eat lunch, but should I own up?

primrose_penguin

I would go in and say you have only just noticed when you saw your bank account that you had had a refund instead of being charged the £7.50 for sandwiches and either give them £15 cash, or ask them to take the money on your card. If it is not the same young lady who served you that you speak to, explain to them that it was really busy and you don't want to get the young lady into trouble as she was very rushed at the time. Like you say it would be a shame to a small local cafe to lose this money, and you would feel happier returning for your lunch in the future having paid what you owe. After all if they had overcharged you you would expect them to repay you. I wouldn't be surprised if they already know as there would be a query about a refund when they cashed up.

Bigfra46

Say nothing, its tough trying to get a job  during the pandemic,if you go in and point out this mistake then the server could lose their job if they have a strict owner. When owner looks at statement he will see a 7.50 refund, with so many transactions he prob wont remember and think anything is wrong.

mrpunk50

Hadenoughofitall said:

Anyone charging £7.50 for a couple of sandwiches deserves to be turned over.

Unless we are back in the 1970s or a tesco meal deal... I would say £3.75 for a sandwich in a cafe is great value.

Like others, I would probably contact them and offer to settle the bill, especially if it's a local business that you want to support. 

MalMonroe

Hadenoughofitall said:

Anyone charging £7.50 for a couple of sandwiches deserves to be turned over.

I think you are a little bit out of touch about how much sandwiches are these days. . . you only have to look at Pret a Manger, for example. Absolutely ludicrous. But that doesn't mean that this business should suffer!

MalMonroe

No, please go back and explain. Doesn't matter whether or not anyone will get into trouble. You have had free sandwiches and someone else is out of pocket. A business that is probably struggling to survive. You know what to do. Otherwise you would not have asked the question. Honesty is always the best policy and you'll feel better for owning up. Just tell the truth, no need to start making stories up. Your explanation is satisfactory. Think how you'd feel if someone had done a similar thing to you.

MalMonroe

WolverineSW11 said:

Mmmm, if the 'sandwich shop' is one of those that avoid paying UK tax, then do nothing ( they avoid paying 10's of thousands of pounds in tax, so £15 is 'nothing' to them), if on the other hand it was a one man band place that really does need to survive, then go back and ask to speak with the shop manager and explain the situation. You may get a free drink (that will save them money and gain you your loyalty to their place) for being honest.

As a certain game show host used to say 'The choice is yours' .

This is one of the first conundrums on here that has warranted me responding.

Well that's a bit mean. Doesn't really matter if it's a millionaire who owns the business or a poor person. Fact of the matter is that the OP had a free lunch. As we all know, there's no such thing. Honesty is the best policy, always, whether it means you get a free drink at the end of it or not. 

liselle

Oh my goodness this dilemma reminds me of when a very sympathetic young policeman let me off a speeding ticket as I was upset about something.Felt like writing to the Police Station to commend him but thought I’d better not!
Oh yes you definitely need to let the cafe know.She may have been refunding everybody of course...As others have mentioned, you could say that your card was problematic that day.

REJP

Tell the manager.
It could be due to a glitch with the card reader and cause the business to lose money.
I don’t see how such an error can get the assistant in trouble if all transactions are digital.  If it is a mixed cash and card till there is a possibility of a dishonest assistant pressing the “Void transaction “ button and pocketing money.
 It does happen.  Which is why you see the manager.
How long would it take you to go back to the shop if the error took £15 from your account?

Gervais3232

Do support your local sandwich shop. I’m sure they will appreciate your honesty. If it’s possible to speak and explain the situation to the person who made the mistake that would be a nice gesture. 

£7.50 for two sandwiches - not really that expensive, plus you know how much before you buy. Everything has definitely gone up. 

ripongrammargirl

£7.50 for two sandwiches? Bargain.
Why would anybody get into trouble? This is not dishonest staff pocketing cash, it’s another tech problem. If everything went through ok but then got refunded on card statement, then the business needs to be told as how many other cards have refunded the costs to customers (and how many others would not pay their dues or even ask for advice on here?!!). 

Seems their tech is malfunctioning and needs looking at. 

Pay what you owe otherwise it’s theft. Shouldn’t really need to ask on here. If it was them owing you money you would want it back.
Nobody will get into trouble; annoying gadgets will be checked for glitches; you will not have committed theft. 

Anywhere that sells sandwiches for this price needs to be saved from going under in this awful world we live in now.