What really happens at a restaurant when the customer can't pay?

[lucybobo]

I've always heard the make you wash the dishes, but I doubt this is true. The customer would probably just be in everyone's way unless he happen to have kitchen experience. What do they really do? Anyone who has worked in a restaurant who can share stories?

[jnk]

1983 or there about, I found myself with a long time friend at Chez Panisse. We had an incredible meal and a bottle of wine and the bill for the two of us was about $100. Not bad really. Well the meal came to an end and the waiter brought the check, and I pulled out my credit card. "I'm sorry sir, but we don't accept credit cards, but you can pay by check". "That's okay" says I, "I'll pay with cash". "If you don't have a check with you, you can send us one when you get home". "No really, that's okay, I've got enough cash with me and I won't be back in N.Y. for another week". "No problem, send us a check when you get home". Well, you've got the idea, I had to fight to pay them. When I asked why they were so trusting, the waiter said, wow, you are a New Yorker, he also said that people who come to a restaurant like this don't stiff them. I paid cash.

[im_nomad]

this has happened to me a couple of times, once way too close to payday which meant a teeny tiny balance in my bank account....and the restaurant didn't take my type of credit card. I had also been "treating" several members of my family this night. Even the kids were emptying out their pockets, lol........oh boy. I always check ahead now.

Several years ago, my family and I were eating at one of those department store restaurants....cheap, but not so bad food... Another family of about 7-8 were seated nearby and once finished and the waitress asked them how their meal was, they immediatly launched into how it "wasn't fit to eat" etc, basically kicked up a big stink until the bill was comped. They literally had left like one or two fries on the plates, it really was ridiculous.......... Now it's a running joke in my family after we clean a plate..."that wasn't fit to eat" lol.

[Miss Needle]

I once purchased something at a restaurant for take-out. When I got around to paying, I realized that I left my wallet at work. They told me no problem and gave me the food and told me to pay another time.

[traumachef]

I know that this is an old thread, but as a chef from New York and now in Florida, I have a certain group of people who try to scam all the restaurants in an area for free food by complaining about the food. Once they have been discovered we post their picture in all the good restaurants around and throw them out before they order.I have dine and shined more than once, but making a living at scamming a restaurant or restaurants is a crime punishable by a severe tongue lashing and a swift kick in the backside and told never to come back. They move on to the next town very fast.

[Bryarsmom]

It happened to us at a little "all you can eat" place. They cheerfully accepted our personal check. Months later while making our way up front to pay we noticed they'd started accepting credit/debit cards. I know it greatly increased their business-most folks I know use their debit cards for everything these days.

[Scagnetti]

I have always had a mortal fear of going to a restaurant and when the check is proffered, realizing I don't have the means to pay. I mean I always check my wallet before I go into a restaurant. The mere thought of facing a wait person and telling them I can't pay and being looked at as a deadbeat, strikes fear in my heart.

[lrhr]

Back in the 80's I took two very good friends to a very expensive dinner at Box Tree in NY as a 'hostess gift' for staying in their guest room. I brought my wallet, but not my checkbook and not nearly enough cash to cover the almost $200 tab. I wish I had thought to ask the restaurant to trust me to come back, but my friend pulled out his checkbook and paid the bill and I reimbursed him later...of course, when you are treating you try NOT to let the guest know the total....so embarrassing. Who would expect such an expensive place to not take credit!? (I still think they should have mentioned it when taking the reservation!)

[Covert Ops]

This is actually kinda sad. . .A town near me has a large homeless problem, and one thing people will often do is go out for a big meal, order as much as possible (including alcohol) and then freely admit they have no means to pay.
They are prosecuted (I find out about this by reading the police reports) but their rationale is a) they're going to jail, so they have somewhere to sleep tonight, and b) they are going there on a full stomach after a wonderful meal.

[Dovid]

When I was in grad school, I remember two occasions when the power went out (weather-related) and most of my fellow patrons ran out without paying the tab. The one place was a pizza joint and the other a bar with typical bar food and a cover charge for the band. Both places must have lost big that night. I remember asking later if anyone came back to settle. Apparently, no one had. Maybe they weren't all rich kids, but this was like looting.

[boltnut55]

When I was much younger, my parents had a Chinese restaurants in Fisherman's Wharf. I think we only have one incident when a party of four (two younger men with two ladies who might have been their dates) ate, left a few dollars, and quickly walked out.

Forgeting our wallets... the first time was at Mel's Diner because it was cash only, so my husband walked to the B of A and used the ATM. The second time was at the House of Prime Rib! We get the check (our waiter was pretty green, BTW), my husband reaches for his wallet, and he realizes that he forgot it. I hardly ever bring my purse, so I had nothing to offer. The waiter said, "I'll speak with the manager. I've never had this happen before." The manager comes by and says that we can send him a check. We leave our home address, and two days later, we get a bill (like a statement), which we quickly paid!

[laurendlewis]

My first date with my now-husband was at a pizza place and he forgot his wallet..... luckily I could pay (unlike later dates at more expensive establishments!).

And luckily I continued to date him!

[honkman]

Public flogging. That normally takes care of any similar problems in the future.

[chef chicklet]

This is interesting.

When someone forgets their money or their credit card is declined and offers up another solution it is taken. A personal check, come back later and pay (leave a drivers license or cell phone) usually works without hard feelings. And it is usually pretty embarrassing for everyone.

Intentionally skipping out or dining and dashing, is treated as "theft" and they are arrested if they walk out and are caught.

A few weeks ago I helped a friend by serving dinners at her restaurant. She has a great little Mexican restaurant with good food at reasonable prices. She has a huge lease payment $7500 a month. Now try to make some money with the average dinner at $12.

So when a guy I served did walk out without paying, I followed him out the door. He had obviously been drinking somewhere else prior and I noticed it when I served him.
While he walked, I walked behind him and said "Sir you owe for the meal please come back" I repeated that several times and he refused me. I then said "If you get in a car, I guarantee, you will get a DUI." Several attempts to get him back, he finally turned around and apologized to me. I said fine but lets go back and look at your bill so you know exactly your charges. Yes and I know all the bad things that could of happened.

At the door of the restaurant the police were waiting for him. He got lucky that time, my friend the owner only wanted him to lpay the bill, leave her restaurant and never come back. It is theft and you can go to jail.
As far as the other patrons were concerned, they were told there was no charge for the entertainment.

All kidding aside, why should we be ok with allowing them to walk out, and we as a customer or an employee shrug and say "oh well."
I am loyal to my friend, and I promised to help her that night. And it is my belief that if you allow people to steal you are as wrong as they are. And what does it teach the others who are watching?
It says, it's ok to steal.

I feel for the restaurant owners and the servers that are made to pay for the meal that was stolen.

[Gio]

Happened years ago: On the road, stopped for dinner, get bill, search handbag for wallet, find checkbook. OOPS! Restaurants do not take checks. Explain to waiter, plead with manager....who graciously accepts check. Can you spell embarrassed?

[bananna slug]

This has happened to me twice. The first time, when I was in college, was particularly bad because I didn't know they didn't take credit cards. Very much surprised because it was a fairly nice Chinese restaurant and I was on a date. The bill with wine was proably $65.00. The woman in charge that night was the owner's wife (who was likely in her 70s) was amused by and very kind about the situation. She teasingly made me "cross my heart" that I would come back. She didn't ask for anything else other than that and helped me make sure my date (now wife) didn't have any idea there was a problem. Relieved, I made sure I was there the following morning before lunch with the money. She said she knew I would be back.

The other time was a few years ago. I forgot my wallet at my office and went to lunch at a sandwich shop. Total order was probably $14.00 or so. Didn't realize I had only $2.00 in cash and no credit cards until I was rung up. Sheepishly explained the situation and before the woman at the counter could say anything, the guy behind me in line paid, telling me to leave my two bucks in the tip jar. I offered to send him the money and he said no, just do something nice for someone else. I'll never forget that.

[hotoynoodle]

about to pay my check one night, i realized my wallet had been stolen. in the restaurant. the owner comped our bill.

one new year's eve, two girls early 20s, had a very expensive dinner and were pretty tipsy. both of their credit cards were declined. they both attempted to go to an atm, but we made one of them stay put. back and forth, call their banks, neither could get any cash. it took 2 hours and she finally called her father from out of state (at 2:30 in the morning) and he gave me his cc# over the phone. i was furious these girls were so clueless.

[jgg13]

This reminds me of something I once saw. Was at a restaurant in Denver, eating on a fenced in patio. There was a group who had their bill come, and they had the money (which had to have been a good amount, it was a sizeable group) in the little folder thing. Well, there was a commotion - some guy who was walking by (they were on the edge of the patio) reached over and grabbed the money and took off.

After the commotion died down, it turned out they were *still* being held responsible for paying the bill. At the end of the day, that seems "fair" as it isn't the restaurant's fault that their money was stolen, but OTOH, security of the patrons *does* seem to be the responsibility of the owners, so who knows.

[Veggo]

About 35 years ago: all night diner, wallet was in the car. Standard college attire was golf shirt, faded jeans, nicely polished Bass Weejuns, no socks. Portly, affable balding guy at register evaluating my risk of flight. "Leave one of your shoes here."

[fudisgud]

I remember seeing a t.v. program in the 80s about a restaurant that had a box full of watches that people had left behind from as far back as the 60s and 70s as collateral for a meal they couldn't pay for.

[John Manzo]

Unless decades of TV sitcoms have led me astray, you are forced to wash dishes, with hilarious results. And you learn a valuable lesson.

And WHOOPS, my witty reply would have been wittier is you hadn't already mentioned this urban legend in your OP, sorry about that!

[Ted in Central NJ]

Back around 1982, my SO and I went to a recently opened restaurant, and among the reasons why we wanted to go there was the reality that I was almost out of cash (both in hand and in my local account) and because this restaurant's ad in the newspaper stated that they took Visa credit cards.

We had a decent meal, and were presented with the check. I proferred my credit card, only to be greeted with the words, "Sorry, we don't accept credit cards". My response was something along the lines of, "Well, then YOU have a problem because your ad in the newspaper states that you accept Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, and I don't have the cash".

The waiter disappeared for perhaps 15 minutes, and I observed him conferring with the manager. Upon his return, he accepted my credit card, processed the transaction, and we were on our way. I never did figure out exactly what was going on in that restaurant, and I never did return to that place.

[excuse me miss]

the phrase "dine and dash" is for people who actually run out on the bill. different restaurants have different policies- some restaurants will make the server pay for the bill. (there are also cases where the person doesn't sign their credit card slip, then they dispute the charge, and the server ends up having to pay for it!)

if someone is caught trying to dine and dash- sometimes the restaurant will call the police- but sometimes not. what are the police going to do? the restaurant looses the money anyway- and the trouble of waiting for the police and holding the person isn't really worth it.

if it's really a mistake- forgot your wallet- and you promise to return- they'd probably let you go. if it is a place where i'd have to pay for your bill if you don't come back i'd probably ask you to leave something as a "deposit".

[piccola]

It's happened to me at neighborhood restaurants before, because that's when I'm most likely to forget my wallet at home or not carry cash. In places where I'm a regular, they've trusted me to come back. Otherwise, I leave my cell phone or another possession as collateral while I go fetch money.

[rebs]

i've always heard it called "chew and screw"...

[heathermb]

I waited tables in college and the way the restaurant handled "cash-out" at the end of the shift for each server resulted in us covering any bills that weren't paid - it basically came out of our tips. If the unpaid check was paid at a later date the money wasn't necessarily given to the server - only if they happened to be there when the payment came in. It never happened to me, fortunately, but I did have friends who were burned in this way.

[jeanmarieok]

I hate to hear that servers are penalized when people don't pay.

[coll]

The restaurant will trust you if they know it's an honest mistake. It happens.
But we had a couple that came in three times and gave us bad checks each time. The cashier recognized them and ran outside to get their license plate. I went to the police station the next day, and afterwards the detective who investigated came in to thank me, as the couple were already wanted for welfare fraud, so he decided to stake them out: while covertly following them, he also got them on about 15 traffic violations (speeding, running stop signs, etc) and finally arrested them at the mall. He said he was ready to retire but this was one of the arrests he would remember, it was very satisfying. Some people you just don't want to return!

[Bite Me]

I've been caught without enough cash at a cash-only neighborhood place. I wrote down my name and the amount for them, which they put next to the cash register; I brought it the next day, plus the tip.

[hannaone]

When I was a rest owner this happened every once in awhile. I always trusted the person to come back and in thirteen years was only burnt once.
As far as getting some kind of information/positive ID - it depended on the vibes I got from the customer.

My favorite came back later incident didn't involve paying for a meal though - I received a letter from a lady who had eaten at my rest over a year earlier, apologizing for not leaving a tip. Also in the envelope was eleven one dollar bills, a ten dollar tip with one dollar interest.

[smartie]

how sweet.

I had a an couple in who ate lunch, the woman told the server she was going to the bathroom, then the husband went too, neither of them returned and they hadn't paid. We never knew if this was a ploy or they were too old to remember if they had paid yet.

[excuse me miss]

that sounds like a ploy. i've seen it done many times.

[julesrules]

Yup sounds like a classic "dine and dash" scam.

[soupkitten]

saw a couple try that in whole foods the other day-- probably $250 in groceries in the cart. . .

[Bob W]

AKA "chew and screw"

[diva360]

I'm one of those who went to the breakfast taco place up the street and ordered one. I whipped out my credit card and the woman said five dollar minimum. I didn't have cash, so she said come back later. But then again, she'd seen me a few times. I paid the next day. But the taco was only about two dollars.

[hannaone]

I've found that given a chance most people are honest. Unfortunately the few who aren't make it tough on the rest.

[Sister Sue]

There was a thread on this topic a few months ago.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/31865...

[jturtle]

When I was a server I have had to deny patrons credit cards and sometimes that is all they had to pay. Generally, one member of their party will go run to a bank or a different member of the party will pay It really doesn't happen that often. The times when I did see it were usually when people were traveling and the credit card company put a hold on their account due to the "strange" charges.

This has happened to me but not in a restaurant per se...Maybe at a certain large coffee chain. A few times early in the morning on a weekend I have grabbed the wrong purse, the one without the wallet, and since they often take your order before you pay gotten to the front of the line only to realize, oops no wallet. Generally, they just waive me off or I promise to return later that day or the next to pay. I think that because it is a sincere mistake and I want to return later with the money. Although, this same coffee shop is also not allowed to take $100 dollar bills and will waive you off if you try to pay with one and just give you your coffee.

[boltnut55]

Regarding the tourists, what sometimes happens is that the hotel puts a hold on the credit card, and if the customer is close to the limit, then it becomes a problem.

[swsidejim]

I was surprised by the ammount of people who do not check to see if a restaurant is cash only, or accepts a certain type of credit card before dining. If I am going to a new restaurant, and I am in doubt I either call first and ask the credit cards they accept, look for the sitckers on the door, or ask the waiter before ordering. I do this because not everyone accepts Amex, and I would be pretty embarassed to go to a cash only place without any on me.

With the above said I figure a restaurant if they can see the diner without funds is sincere, and has either forgotten a wallet, or has the wrong payment method, they will work with you and get some personal info from you to insure you return to pay the check.

[ccbweb]

The key thing there is "in doubt." If its a less expensive restaurant serving burgers, pizza, tacos, curries etc, then I always check. But there are times when I've been totally caught off guard by places that have a wine list and where the meals easily run to $60 or $70 for two people and are cash only. For such a place, even though I've run into them, it never occurs to me to check about whether they accept cash only. I keep an extra check in the car so that I can at least offer that.

[ajs228]

I'm surprised when I come across restaurants that are cash only. I know many people who carry no cash, or very little, and pay for everything by card. It's one thing if it's a hot dog cart, but any sit down restaurant should accept plastic these days.

[boltnut55]

Usually small ethnic restaurants won't take charge cards or will have a minimum (which I keep thinking is illegal but I can't find the reference to it).

[soupkitten]

it isn't illegal. keep in mind that the restaurant needs to pay a monthly processing fee plus a percentage of the tabs-- so a smaller rest may not be able to afford the 2% or 3.5% of its sales that it gives up by processing credit cards-- it needs that cash to stay open, serving food. same goes for the hot dog vendor.

the restaurant gets paid 100% on a tab of $100 when it's covered in cash or check, but when a credit card is used the restaurant may only get paid $95, so there is an incentive for a place to take cash only to avoid charging all its patrons more per entree to cover the loss from credit card transactions.

same concept of the gas station giving you 10 cents off per gallon if you pay in cash or check rather than by credit card.

[jlawrence01]

>>Usually small ethnic restaurants won't take charge cards or will have a minimum (which I keep thinking is illegal but I can't find the reference to it).<<

It is NOT illegal **BUT** it violates the merchant agreement with the bank which processes their VISA/MC cards. All agreements that I have ever seen state that you cannot charge cardholders a higher price to use their card or require a minimum purchase.

In practice, it is rarely enforced ... at this time.

Credit card fees - like utility costs, rent, and food costs - is part of the cost of doing business.

[excuse me miss]

yeah- when i was a teenager i worked as a cashier at a dollar store, and i frequently had to deal with customers who would come to pay only to find out (and get angry that) we were "cash only". we would explain than in order to keep merchandise cost so low (everything was $1) we had to cut costs wherever possible. as i remember many of them would stay angry as if that was completely unreasonable and unacceptable.

many restos in my city only take cash or credit- no debit/interac. i found that strange but there really aren't many people requesting to pay by debit- so i suppose it makes sense.

[xanadude]

processing as debit would be harder--how would you get the PIN, etc. I suppose it's doable with a handheld pin pad (or a few), but... it's not normal.

[morwen]

I don't have a charge card, only debit backed by visa and I use it everywhere visa is accepted. Restaurants don't ask me for my PIN, they run it just like a charge and I have to sign a slip.

I also just noticed that the two restaurants in my town that only take cash now have small ATMS near the cash register. I assume this way the restos avoid all fees and the customer can pay directly for the convenience of using plastic

[soupkitten]

i agree that min purchase rules are pretty dumb-- the restaurant pays the same percentage anyway, but if they also have a min/max transaction fee, the restaurant gets hosed when a customer puts a cup of coffee on a credit card, so the restaurant jacks up the prices on everything as a result and has the min purchase policy to discourage this. i blame the credit card company fees, not the independent small business.

i was talking about small restaurants choosing not to accept charge cards AT ALL, which is within the business owner's rights, since credit cards are private, not legal tender. yes some places may lose those corporate lunchers, or the big wedding party, because they don't take visa, but there are all sorts of small restaurants that aren't going for that type of business anyway, & you can't dictate that they *must* take credit cards.

[jgg13]

The min purchase rules aren't just dumb, they're not even allowed to have them. You can report places that do this to VISA/MC (depending on which you're trying to use).

In practice, not much (if anything) will likely happen, but you never know.

[Scrapironchef]

Credit card fees are an avoidable cost of doing business though. Many merchant agreements have stepped fee schedules so smaller transactions can be a net loss.

While all agreements you have seen may not allow a minimum, I'd like to see a bank go after some mom & pop who doesn' t go along.

[Barbecue Joe]

In the eyes of the law it isn't illegal. But most credit card agreements with the merchant clearly state that you may not set a minimum price for the use of the card. While it is ok to offer a cash discount.

[jgg13]

A friend of mine is one of those people and it is *very* annoying as he never has enough cash when we go places. There are a lot of hole in the walls (at least around these parts) that are cash only.

[stellamystar]

I have the same situation with cashless friends. I just interfere with "I need to stop by the ATM, do you?" And that usually takes care of itself.

[jgg13]

Except wtih this particular guy, cajoling never helped. I'd even say, "I don't know that XYZ takes plastic" and he'd say "of course they do!" and sure enough, I was right.

I never understood why keeping a couple of $20s in one's pocket was suc ha huge burden, but he always talked about not wanting to be weighed down.

[stellamystar]

Jgg13 - Me thinks your friend is enjoying the bail outs. ? Just possible. It is beyond annoying to me - especially in the ATM age where getting cash is so simple.

[hill food]

but conversely if it's a place that does accept plastic and you're going dutch treat and they have cash and you have plastic, it's a fee-free cash advance for you...

(knew someone in grad school who played that game so well that out of a table of 10 for drinks, the last 3 or 4 usu. ended up drinking for free)

[boltnut55]

Anytime I've carried a lot of cash, I've used it much quicker, so I always carry just a few dollars. I don't have my friends bail me out though. I just don't buy on impulse.

[Glencora]

I sat at the table feeling foolish, while my boyfriend went to a nearby ATM. It was a cash only place, too.

[Velma]

Same story for me. I sat and waited while hubby ran to the ATM machine. I don't rely on him anymore-I make sure I have my wallet with me.

[Davwud]

I think most of us have had that happen.

DT

[Davwud]

Can't pay or won't pay??

Can't pay is most likely "I forgot my wallet." So you take down a drivers license and have them return the next day with appropirate payment.

Won't pay. Cops.

DT

[Grubbjunkie]

How do you take a license # if they forgot their wallet?

[Davwud]

That is one hell of a good question!!!

LOL
DT

[david sprague]

i can't speak from a restaurant owner/worker's perspective, but have been on the other end -- as a customer -- twice. the first time was about 15 or so years ago, it was a ridiculously snowy night and the restaurant was in the far far west village in manhattan -- and they accepted cash only, which i didn't realize. they simply took my phone number and information and accepted my promise that i would return with cash -- which i did, the next day.

about a year ago, i had a similar experience -- but forgot my wallet altogether. the manager of the place (a different place, obviously) took my cell phone number and trusted me to return, which, again, i did the next day.

not the most scintillating tales, i realize, but it seems like a lot of places are reasonably trusting....

[aelph]

I imagine the restaurant has the customer arrested.

[Bite Me]

Not if they want the customer to come back! The other customers don't need to see the police come in -- also not good for business. And, why waste everyone's time and resources, including the cops, to arrest a guy for something that is probably less than $100.

[jlawrence01]

It depends.

If someone goes up to the cashier and realizes that they don't have the money to pay, usually, the person will leave a credit card or their name and phone number. In that case, the restaurant owner will generally ask them to come back and pay for the meal later. The would have that happen about one a week, especially among elderly and younger customer. And they would generally come back (and be embarrassed.

On the other hand, if the customer runs out without paying, most restaurant owners WILL call the local police. Most police departments (outside of the large cities) will get involved and take the report and generally will talk with the people.

And then there was my favorite story. I was working as a carhop 20+ years ago at a family restaurant. Someone had a carryout order. As soon as I handed the guy the food, he peeled out and spead out of the parking lot without paying ... and ran right into the local police department cruiser. Guy was charged with reckless driving, resisting arrest, and petty theft. What an expensive dinner!

[amandaqtpie]

heehaw! This happens everyday.