Money Moral Dilemma: Should we return to the restaurant to pay after being evacuated from it?

Nit_arm_J

Put yourself in their shoes. Business is bad enough and waiters do depend on their boss for a job. By not paying anything puts business and jobs under strain. It also depends on what is your level of social conscience. If it’s low, don’t go back and count it as ‘getting away with it.’ If any higher than low, would you asking in the first place?

Vectis

Why wouldn't you pay for what you ate or drank?

You're actually asking if it's alright to walk off and not pay for a meal?

I thought this site was about money-saving, not theft.

There's a world of difference between cutting your costs, getting freebies etc and walking away without even offering to pay.

Ok, there was a fire alarm, so what? What other excuses would you use for not paying? I assume if there was any sort of distraction whilst having your meal you'd use it as an excuse to walk away without paying?

debtfreenow555

I would have still paid, but left a not so good review, poor service for what i am paying for in my opinion, especially not finishing my meal that I paid for

HIA

This happened to four of us when eating dinner in a city hotel, not only were we evacuated into the car park but so was the wedding reception taking place in the ballroom.  Never paid and have always felt a bit guilty.

swiftsarelush

I don't even understand how this is a dilemma.  Why wouldn't you pay your bill?

MrsUpset

I would never live with my conscience if I didn't offer to pay something.

Rosa_Damascena

Similar happened to me in Nottingham, a good 15 years ago.

The evacuation was down to a fire alarm and the priority was of course the decant. We waited around for a bit thinking that we would be invited back in (most alarms being precautionary) but were instead told that this was unknown quantity and to enjoy our day. Our drinks had arrived but not the food, so it didn't have quite the same moral dimension as this dilemma. 

Buttercup7251

The decision you make is entirely up to you.  I know if I didn’t go back to pay for what I’d had it would weigh heavily on my mind. That’s just me I’d be interested to know what you decided.

CHRISTy7

Definitely return and pay.  This is their living. Worse case scenario payback will hit you ion the worse possible manner .

DigSunPap

I think it would have been fair if the restaurant had acknowledged the inconvenience, and for those whose meals were ruined they could offer them a significant discount either on this meal or the next one there.