Couple Busted For Refusing to Pay Tip

Steelboy84 · 11-19-2009, 08:13 PM

By DAVID CHANG
Updated 12:20 PM EST, Thu, Nov 19, 2009

Patrons claim service was so bad, they had to get napkins and silverware for themselves.

If you’re frustrated by poor service at a restaurant, think twice before you decide to not tip. You may be in for a bit more than just a dirty look from the waiter.

"Nobody, nobody wants to be forced to pay a tip or be arrested for terrible service," Leslie Pope said when her happy hour ended in handcuffs.

Pope and John Wagner were hauled away by police and charged with theft for not paying the mandatory 18 percent gratuity totaling $16 after eating at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends.

Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself.

“At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back,” Pope said.

After the $73 bill came, the group paid for food, drinks, and tax but refused to pay the tip. After explaining the bad service to the bartender in charge, Pope claimed he took their money and called police. The couple was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car.

“I understand that, you know, we didn’t pay the gratuity, but it was a gratuity, it wasn’t something that was required,” said Wagner.

The owner admitted that the group waited unusually long for their food, but said the pub was extremely busy that night. He said managers offered to comp the food, a claim the couple denies ever happened.

“Obviously we would have liked for the patron and the establishment to have worked this out without getting the police involved,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics.

Police charged them with theft since the gratuity was part of the actual bill. However, it is doubtful that the charges will hold up in front of a judge. The couple is scheduled to appear in court next month.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...052.html?yhp=1

TheWarDen86 · 11-19-2009, 08:15 PM

That is some BS right there.

Steelboy84 · 11-19-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWarDen86

That is some BS right there.

I know right?

Since when is a tip "mandatory"?

TheWarDen86 · 11-19-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelboy84

I know right?

Since when is a tip "mandatory"?

Some places do include the tip into the bill automatically. But I never considered what would happen if the service was terrible. That really makes me angry. Tell you what though, that place just got some baaaad publicity..., and I hope it hurts business.

Nadroj 20 · 11-19-2009, 08:44 PM

This is very stupid, like The Warden said i hope it hurts their business

MasterOfPuppets · 11-19-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWarDen86

Some places do include the tip into the bill automatically. But I never considered what would happen if the service was terrible. That really makes me angry. Tell you what though, that place just got some baaaad publicity..., and I hope it hurts business.

i always thought the whole tipping thing is ridiculious anyway. i mean pay the damn people the minimum wage and just raise your freakin prices ... i ate at uno's a few weeks ago ...about 5 minutes after our food came the waitress made a special trip to our table just to tell us her shift was over in 5 minutes. my brother was like...ummmm ok have a good one ...so i had to do a translation - i'd like my tip now ..

Nadroj 20 · 11-19-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

i always thought the whole tipping thing is ridiculious anyway. i mean pay the damn people the minimum wage and just raise your freakin prices ... i ate at uno's a few weeks ago ...about 5 minutes after our food came the waitress made a special trip to our table just to tell us her shift was over in 5 minutes. my brother was like...ummmm ok have a good one ...so i had to do a translation - i'd like my tip now ..

Lol i would have done what your brother did....did you pay her the tip then?

MasterOfPuppets · 11-19-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nadroj 20

Lol i would have done what your brother did....did you pay her the tip then?

yeah ... if i wouldn't have been there, he probably wouldn't have.. he's being a dick like that...

Nadroj 20 · 11-19-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

yeah ... if i wouldn't have been there, he probably wouldn't have.. he's being a dick like that...

TheWarDen86 · 11-19-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

i always thought the whole tipping thing is ridiculious anyway. i mean pay the damn people the minimum wage and just raise your freakin prices ... i ate at uno's a few weeks ago ...about 5 minutes after our food came the waitress made a special trip to our table just to tell us her shift was over in 5 minutes. my brother was like...ummmm ok have a good one ...so i had to do a translation - i'd like my tip now ..

That would have annoyed me. I'm a generous tipper and you really have to be an ass to screw it up, but if you DO screw up I might react something like this:

11-19-2009, 08:13 PM	#1
Steelboy84 Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,962 Gender: Male Member Number: 13983 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Couple Busted For Refusing to Pay Tip By DAVID CHANG Updated 12:20 PM EST, Thu, Nov 19, 2009 Patrons claim service was so bad, they had to get napkins and silverware for themselves. If you’re frustrated by poor service at a restaurant, think twice before you decide to not tip. You may be in for a bit more than just a dirty look from the waiter. "Nobody, nobody wants to be forced to pay a tip or be arrested for terrible service," Leslie Pope said when her happy hour ended in handcuffs. Pope and John Wagner were hauled away by police and charged with theft for not paying the mandatory 18 percent gratuity totaling $16 after eating at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends. Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself. “At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back,” Pope said. After the $73 bill came, the group paid for food, drinks, and tax but refused to pay the tip. After explaining the bad service to the bartender in charge, Pope claimed he took their money and called police. The couple was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car. “I understand that, you know, we didn’t pay the gratuity, but it was a gratuity, it wasn’t something that was required,” said Wagner. The owner admitted that the group waited unusually long for their food, but said the pub was extremely busy that night. He said managers offered to comp the food, a claim the couple denies ever happened. “Obviously we would have liked for the patron and the establishment to have worked this out without getting the police involved,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics. Police charged them with theft since the gratuity was part of the actual bill. However, it is doubtful that the charges will hold up in front of a judge. The couple is scheduled to appear in court next month. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...052.html?yhp=1

11-19-2009, 08:15 PM	#2
TheWarDen86 BewbmeisterExtraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,263 Gender: Male Member Number: 1932 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Couple Busted For Refusing to Pay Tip That is some BS right there. __________________ "Roughing the Brady - 15 yard penalty: Automatic first down."

11-19-2009, 08:44 PM	#5
Nadroj 20 Team President Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,027 Gender: Male Member Number: 14045 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Couple Busted For Refusing to Pay Tip This is very stupid, like The Warden said i hope it hurts their business

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