If your restaurant bill turns out to be less than what is should be...

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  1. BlissfulWriter profile image71
    BlissfulWriterposted 11 years ago

    If your restaurant bill turns out to be less than what is should be...

    would you tell your server of the mistake?

  2. cebutouristspot profile image71
    cebutouristspotposted 11 years ago

    I try to be honest specially if the service I get is great and the food is great.  smile  Already happen to me.

    But and this is a big but.  If the service is crappy and the food is bad then I would not bother smile Also had happen already.

    1. profile image53
      graceinusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So, what you are saying is this, in the end their paying for your honesty.

    2. cebutouristspot profile image71
      cebutouristspotposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well. Why would you point out their mistake in the bill when they treat you like crap? 

      Honestly I had even at one time contest the bill. smile Since the food taste like crap and is not cook right

    3. SidKemp profile image73
      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Cebu, my short answer to your why: 2 wrongs don't make a right. I'd pay my bill because it is the right thing to do. I'd contest my bill because it is right not to pay for lousy food. But to be dishonest to get what I think is fair is, for me, cheat

    4. cebutouristspot profile image71
      cebutouristspotposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well it is because for me its not cheating.  The price you are paying for your food include service.  If you dont get the service you deserve then you are the one getting ripped off. 

      I apologize if you guys thing that I am cruel but it is just me

    5. SidKemp profile image73
      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Cebu - I'm not here to judge you or anyone. We each get by in our own way. I was just answering your question, "Why would you . . ." with my honest answer, "Here's why I would . . ." I'm glad we're different: that's what makes the world go round!

    6. cebutouristspot profile image71
      cebutouristspotposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I Know Sidkemp. I myself is a very good tipper but as I said I believe the price of food you pay in a restaurant include the price of service smile

    7. SidKemp profile image73
      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Cebu, for your clear statement of your position. I really appreciate it. This discussion is stimulating an idea for a new hub!

  3. My Esoteric profile image84
    My Esotericposted 11 years ago

    I go with @cebutouristspot as well as my mood; sometimes honesty wins out even if service and food don't deserve the price that would have been charged.

  4. DDE profile image47
    DDEposted 11 years ago

    I would be honest in any way,  stopping by the next time would much easier and I would  feel free of guilt too.

    1. kenneth avery profile image80
      kenneth averyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I gladly agree with you.

  5. profile image0
    Vickiwposted 11 years ago

    Yes. I would be worried that she might be supporting a family, and could have it taken out of her pay check. I would feel terrible.

    1. kenneth avery profile image80
      kenneth averyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are a rare lady.

  6. davidlivermore profile image82
    davidlivermoreposted 11 years ago

    I point it out.  I try to be honest.

    Same goes for any other place as well.  Once I went to Toys R Us, and bought two of the same game (one for me, one for my partner).  The person only charged me for one.  I could have walked away, but I didn't.  He was very relieved that I came back to pay for the second game, and a little shocked.

    1. tsmog profile image86
      tsmogposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just kidding, did he win the bet or lose the bet with his buddy that you would return?

    2. kenneth avery profile image80
      kenneth averyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I respect your attitude.

  7. SidKemp profile image73
    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    I don't always check my bill. But if I caught the error, I'd be honest. Always!

    There are three reasons for this. One is, it's just my nature. I don't think it's better or anything, but I've just always been this way.

    The other is that I've known enough waiters to know that all errors come out of their pockets. And, at the restaurants with stricter management, it can be a real hit on the waiter's or waitresses reputation, too. So the error is a lot more costly for them than many people realize.

    The third is that there is real joy to watch someone surprised by honesty. Maybe it gives people a little faith in the world.

  8. profile image67
    Jmiller17posted 11 years ago

    This happened to me the other day and it was a significant difference, nearly $15.00. If its that big of a difference, i couldn't just walk away, so i told the waitress, if it was only a couple of dollars, i not even sure i would have noticed and probably would have paid that ticket.

  9. ReneeDC1979 profile image60
    ReneeDC1979posted 11 years ago

    yes -cause if i didn't i would feel like i was stealing

  10. tsadjatko profile image73
    tsadjatkoposted 11 years ago

    I asked "the man on the street" this question - here is the answer:
    Do you mean if a restaurant gets stiffed on a portion of a customer's bill the Government doesn't cover it? Restaurants don't get subsidized for this?  That is terrible. Electric cars are subsidized, windmills are subsidized, solar panels are government subsidized - how did restaurants fall through the cracks? Does Michele know about this? So you mean now I have to actually calculate my bill at a restaurant myself? - yeah, like they taught me that in school. What is this world coming to? I thought Obama would insure the government to take care of all our problems, Why should I pay for the restaurant's mistake? - isn't that what government is for?

    1. Mitch Alan profile image81
      Mitch Alanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Haha...beautiful answer!

    2. Dont Taze Me Bro profile image59
      Dont Taze Me Broposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Beauty is in the mind of the beholder, but yeah beautiful answer! lol

    3. montylyn profile image61
      montylynposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for making such an awesome point....maybe others would see it different now and bring it up to the waitress....hugs....Linda

  11. barbat79 profile image63
    barbat79posted 11 years ago

    Yes!  The server may be billed for the difference and also would affect their tip. 
    Servers are generally not paid much as an hourly rate, so the difference could make a huge difference in their pay.

  12. profile image53
    graceinusposted 11 years ago

    Assuming I am aware of the err I would without any doubt  bring it to their attention and ask for a corrected bill. I would pay it in FULL. Why? because it's the RIGHT thing to do. No if , No and, No but.

  13. LauraD093 profile image71
    LauraD093posted 11 years ago

    I've worked in food service and if a mistake was made often the wait-staff have to pay out of their own pockets. Knowing this I would call attention to the mistake. people are human mistakes are made. I figure if I ate it -I owe for it.

  14. profile image0
    lesliebyarsposted 11 years ago

    Yes I would because I want to be honest but also I wouldn't want the server to get fired.

  15. kenneth avery profile image80
    kenneth averyposted 11 years ago

    Yes. I love to sleep nights. And by me not telling my server, that one somehow insignificant action, will cause someone, maybe the waiter, to be cheated out of his or her hard-earned tip. In short, I just want to do what's right.

  16. ytsenoh profile image59
    ytsenohposted 11 years ago

    I would absolutely inform the server based on my personal level of integrity.  Also, if you chose not to, it would lessen her ability to earn more in her tip, which is where she (or he) makes most of their earnings.

  17. Mitch Alan profile image81
    Mitch Alanposted 11 years ago

    I would and I have. I've also gotten home and realized that an item from a shopping trip wasn't paid for and have returned to pay. A business is in business to make money and if I don't pay, then I am stealing. It doesn't matter the size of the business, as in this case, size doesn't matter. As to the waiter/waitress, they should not be stiffed on the tip for their service or be stuck with a bill that is rightfully mine.

  18. ChitrangadaSharan profile image93
    ChitrangadaSharanposted 11 years ago

    Of course, I would tell the server. It has happened a few times and by being honest, you do good to yourself as well as to others.

  19. Deborah Demander profile image85
    Deborah Demanderposted 11 years ago

    I try to do the right thing in every situation. You never know when a mistake could cause injury to someone, whether it be financial, or with their job, or whatever. If I can avoid being deceitful, I generally do.
    Karma is real my friend, and always remembers.
    Namaste

  20. profile image0
    Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

    I would always report any mistakes. My wife and I were were at a Pizza Buffet place and instead of being charged $10.10, I was charged $1.10. I went to the counter to tell the clerk and someone did not push enough buttons. She was going to refund the 10 cents and then run the bill again. I told her not to bother, just run it over, which she did. I also left a tip. Sometimes mistakes will get by you. The grocery store we used makes many. We usually catch them before leaving the parking lot but not always. If it is significant,we go back. If it is not, we figure those errors that were in our favor balance out to those not in our favor. Usually, we are overcharged because he scan code does not match the posted sign.

  21. duffsmom profile image61
    duffsmomposted 11 years ago

    Absolutely.  Businesses struggle to make ends meet and I wouldn't feel comfortable not mentioning if I noticed the mistake.  Honesty is a decision and not always an easy one, but I can't save a few pennies at the expense of someone else - when I know what the right thing to do is.

  22. BlissfulWriter profile image71
    BlissfulWriterposted 11 years ago

    Looks like the majority of opinion is to tell the truth.  I'm in agreement with that as well.

  23. montylyn profile image61
    montylynposted 11 years ago

    I would also because I have a daughter who works in a restaurant and wouldn't want it done to her either ...so yes ....huggies, Linda

  24. Iammattdoran profile image94
    Iammattdoranposted 11 years ago

    If it was a big bill of like 10 items and 1 item was missing then no, I probably wouldn't say anything.  I was in a restaurant recently where I only had 2 beers (I was watching a soccer game) and one dish from the menu.  When I asked for the bill it came with only one beer.  I quickly corrected them,  But I probably only did this as I was sure that they'd see the mistake and they'd know that I knew they'd made a mistake.  if there's enough items that I can plead ignorance and confusion then I'll try it.  But at the same time it depends on the establishment.  If it's my fave local indie then I'll likely point out the error.  If it's a big chain then I'll keep quiet and plead ignorance.

  25. Hendrika profile image66
    Hendrikaposted 11 years ago

    It has happened to me and I drew the attention to it and had the bill corrected. I suppose I am too honest for my own good

 
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