speaking of tips: arrested for not paying

RACER X · 11-19-2009, 05:04 PM

news local-beat Couple Busted for Refusing to Pay Tip
Patrons claim service was so bad, they had to get napkins and silverware for themselves
By DAVID CHANG
Updated 12:20 PM EST, Thu, Nov 19, 2009

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.

First Published: Nov 18, 2009 9:44 PM EST

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...-70426052.html

CrazyKell · 11-19-2009, 05:08 PM

newsflash

101lifts2 · 11-19-2009, 05:10 PM

Well...the owner is a moron. The customer is king in a capitalisitc world. Now..over 16 bucks these people will never go there again and will most likely cause many many others to do the same.

I mean WTF is gratuity if it's forced on you? And wtf is the difference if 6 independant people come in or 6 at once? Another scam IMO.

Rider · 11-19-2009, 05:10 PM

Sounds like the restaurant manager is lying, if their food was comped their wouldn't have been a bill. If these people by some miracle get convicted, I will never eat at a restaurant that includes the tip in the bill for any reason.

CrazyKell · 11-19-2009, 05:14 PM

What happened to the other thread on this article?

HurricaneHeather · 11-19-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyKell

What happened to the other thread on this article?

It's in the black people not tipping thread.

Kaneman · 11-19-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

Sounds like the restaurant manager is lying, if their food was comped their wouldn't have been a bill. If these people by some miracle get convicted, I will never eat at a restaurant that includes the tip in the bill for any reason.

All restaurants include 15% gratuity in the bill for parties are larger. Time to upgrade that kitchen, lol.

shmike · 11-19-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaneman

All restaurants include 15% gratuity in the bill for parties are larger. Time to upgrade that kitchen, lol.

Yeah but you can have it removed.

A gratuity is just that, as in not compulsory.

Kaneman · 11-19-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmike

Yeah but you can have it removed.

A gratuity is just that, as in not compulsory.

Most of the time people don't even notice it...I never had any parties ask to remove it and have never asked myself so I dunno. Surely though if you told a manager your party got poor service they would immediately remove it. At most places anyway.

The 15% grat. is no scam, it goes straight to the server. Unless you got shitty service and they refused to remove it, then its a scam.

z06boy · 11-19-2009, 05:49 PM

Since they paid for the meal but not the tip that the owner would have just taken 15 % out and gave it to the server IF he really did offer to comp the meal.

Sounds like he may end up losing a lot more than 15% of their tab for prosecuting.

11-19-2009, 05:04 PM	#1
RACER X AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond, Tx Moto: '10 Tuono Factory Posts: 4,569	speaking of tips: arrested for not paying news local-beat Couple Busted for Refusing to Pay Tip Patrons claim service was so bad, they had to get napkins and silverware for themselves By DAVID CHANG Updated 12:20 PM EST, Thu, Nov 19, 2009 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. First Published: Nov 18, 2009 9:44 PM EST http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...-70426052.html __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY 2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD 2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD 2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.

11-19-2009, 05:10 PM	#3
101lifts2 WSB Champion Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Moto: 2009 Kawi ZX6R Posts: 5,570	Well...the owner is a moron. The customer is king in a capitalisitc world. Now..over 16 bucks these people will never go there again and will most likely cause many many others to do the same. I mean WTF is gratuity if it's forced on you? And wtf is the difference if 6 independant people come in or 6 at once? Another scam IMO. __________________ Train Hard Ron Paul - 2012 Mark of Excellence GM

11-19-2009, 05:08 PM	#2
CrazyKell Vrooom Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: 06 ZX6R Posts: 4,427	newsflash

11-19-2009, 05:10 PM	#4
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	Sounds like the restaurant manager is lying, if their food was comped their wouldn't have been a bill. If these people by some miracle get convicted, I will never eat at a restaurant that includes the tip in the bill for any reason.

11-19-2009, 05:14 PM	#5
CrazyKell Vrooom Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: 06 ZX6R Posts: 4,427	What happened to the other thread on this article?

11-19-2009, 05:49 PM	#10
z06boy Letzroll Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lake Norman area, NC Moto: 07 Red R1 & 07 Blue R6 Posts: 5,265	Since they paid for the meal but not the tip that the owner would have just taken 15 % out and gave it to the server IF he really did offer to comp the meal. Sounds like he may end up losing a lot more than 15% of their tab for prosecuting.