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

ginger_chocolate

I'd be really surprised if anyone got the sack, or even in serious trouble for a single mistake of this nature (if it's happened several times that's a different matter, but if that's the case then someone else will point out the issue soner or later anyway). Go in or phone, own up and offer to pay what you owe - you could even say "It was really busy and she was otherwise handling it really well, so I wouldn't want her to get into any trouble." 

pasti33

Ask yourself would you have told her if you had paid cash. If you gave her £20 note & instead of a £10 note in the £12.50 change  she gave you a £20 note would you have told her? The fact you feel the need to ask in this forum its clearly playing on your mind. 
As others have said I would either message them on Facebook if they have a page or go in to tell them. 
They would appreciate the honesty & it will ease your conscience. They my even say not to worry about it depending on the business, if they say they cannot do anything put the money in the tip jar or charity box. 
If it was your young son or daughter who would you feel? It could have been her first job while at uni or college.

AstonSimon

You say that you paid by contactless. Last time I needed a refund, I was told that they couldn't process it without my PIN. I don't know if that rule has changed, or whether it varies from retailer to retailer, but I wonder if it's a bank error? Have you still got the receipt? If so, you can check it. If not, you could try asking the bank if they made a mistake in the first instance.

Clare_Price

The young assistant you are trying to protect will probably already be in trouble as she may have made the same mistake with other customers. This is a small local business that is serving your community. Go back, explain the error and pay for your food. If you are worried about the young assistant you can describe how busy she was and how although flustered provided good service. 

lakesider52

The café is not "effectively £15 down." Their loss is the £7.50 refund plus the cost of the sandwich ingredients and labour to make it. Accuracy is important!

mrpunk50

lakesider52 said:

The café is not "effectively £15 down." Their loss is the £7.50 refund plus the cost of the sandwich ingredients and labour to make it. Accuracy is important!

They lost a £7.50 sale plus another £7.50 refunded, so they are £15 short of where they should have been after this transaction.

The part missing from your calculation is the mark-up for profit, which is not an optional bonus if you are trying to run a business.

keithyno.1

primrose_penguin said:

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.

The original post doesn't state the gender of the cafe employee involved, it just refers to the "young assistant." So you're on very dangerous ground there in these delicate times, as it could be claimed you automatically assumed the employee was female because a mistake had been made. Not saying it myself, just warning you of the heap of opprobrium that could easily come flying your way. Take cover now!

crmism

Human nature is such that the mistakes we make are likely to rise with the amount of pressure we work under, so it isn't unusual for someone who might well have limited experience to err when they're busy and customers are queueing up. In such a case, any half-decent employer will accept the assistant's blunder as part and parcel of normal business and, instead of making a mountain out of a molehill, would simply give her more training than she's probably had and provide her with encouragement rather than a ticking off. Replacing staff is a cost in time and money any employer would rather be without.

CressageChatty

Do unto others, in other words go back and tell them there has been a glitch in their system and give them their money back, then you can walk away feeling good and next time you visit you can hold your head high 

adamhearn

Go back to the place and pay them. I don't know exactly what your concern is wrt the assistant but it's not exactly relevant is it.