Bar overcharged, I got banned.. What would you do?

[hevnsnt]

Tell me what you would do at this point....

This weekend my group of friends and I tried a new bar, it was an Irish bar and we all liked it, except our waitress wasnt very good.. She was not terrible, but not very good. We had 7 people in our party, 6 of us showed up at the same time, and one more joined us later. At the end of the night, we got our tab and it was for 146.50 and another little note for 13 with some drinks that we didnt have. She had added that 13 to our bill. We did not have these drinks, and when we starting looking at our bill we found they had charged us a total of $60 worth of drinks that we did not drink. We told the waitress about the mistake and she told us that she would take care of it.. 20 mins later the "manager" (in quotes because I doubt he was) came out to talk to us about this. He basically said that we would be paying for this, because the waitress said that we had had these drinks. Basically he told us that we were lying about the whole thing.. After argueing about 30 mins about it he said fine, I will take it off. So he came back with our new bill and we paid it, leaving 10% for the waitress even after she told the manager that we were lying and we didnt get good service to begin with.. She came back saying that we owe 12 more dollars for her tip (she wanted 18%) and then I lost it. My friend who does not like confrentations payed the money but I went up to the "manager" and complained.. I asked for the owner who of course was not there, and so I went off, and a few f-bombs came out and now I am perm banned from the place.. I want to go back, but I want the "manager" and waitress to get whats coming to them.. What should I do?

 

[Hammer]

If you're 'banned', they can call the cops to remove you from private property. You should kiss that place good-bye for good.

 

[mithrandir2001]

Why would you want to go back to an establishment that cheats you and has poor service?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I say forget it and don't go back. If you insist on taking further action, you could contact the Better Business Bureau and/or your state Attorney General's office, but frankly these measures are unlikely to get your money back.

 

[BooneRebel]

<< Why would you want to go back to an establishment that cheats you and has poor service? >>

 

[MichaelD]

Bars and clubs w/bars in them make a living out of scamming people on a nightly basis. I know, I've worked in them before and have dated waitresses/female managers. The bigger your table/group, the better the odds of them overcharging you. Most of the time, a table full of drunk men won't bother to go over the bill line-by-line. Everyone just chucks a twenty (or whatever) into a pile in the middle of the table.

I wasn't there with you, but assuming you're telling the truth (maybe you honestly don't remember that round of tequilla shots...) your story is not that out of the ordinary.

There are literally hundreds of different scams that get pulled. The biggest and deadliest of them is the dreaded "overcharging your credit card" scam. Where your tab is $45.32 and they "accidently" put $145.32 on your card. Oops. Being that it was charged at a bar, good luck getting the CC company to believe you.

Another good scam is the "ever more expensive drink" scam. Your first Bourbon and Coke is $4.25. So are the second and third. Fourth one is $5.25 and it gets better from there. Ever notice how after a few drinks, you get your change back in singles instead of a ten and a few singles? That's b/c when you're drunk, you won't bother to actually COUNT your change. You just stuff it in your pocket, right? The bartender pays the till $4.25 and pockets the rest. Most big clubs don't care what the bartenders do as long as they don't cheat the club. They will not miss you or the whole $40 you drop there every Friday night; they have a line of people waiting to get in and spend money. You don't matter.

I ALWAYS count my change in front of the bartender/waitress. It pisses them off b/c right then at that instant, they know that you are "hip to the scams" and can't be taken. They hate that.

I would not go back to that establishment. You might get a can of whoopass opened all over you by the bouncers and then they'd tell the cops "we told them they were not to come back here, but they did and started this brawl!" You will lose that fight. Physically and legally. STay away and find somewhere else to drink. Trust me on this one.

 

[hevnsnt]

Well I liked the bar.. that is why I want to go back..

The reason we went over the tab line by line is because my fiance is an accountant.. and well you know how that goes..

 

[CraigRT]

<< Why would you want to go back to an establishment that cheats you and has poor service? >>



Pretty much...

 

[bcterps]

You liked being overcharged and treated like crap? Bars are a dime a dozen, you can find another good one without too much trouble. Hey, just for kicks, why dont you go back to that bar anyways? I'd like to see a new thread about how you got your ass kicked at a bar and how you really want to go back there again cause you liked it.

--Ben

 

[hevnsnt]

lol.. And I wasnt drunk.. We knew what we drank, and what we didnt.. I never have any problems paying for what I drank... I just could not believe that they forced the issue, and made us pay 18% for that waitress

 

[MichaelD]

<< Well I liked the bar.. that is why I want to go back..

The reason we went over the tab line by line is because my fiance is an accountant.. and well you know how that goes.. >>



I understand about liking a place. Good music, good looking people, etc. Unfortunately, you're in a no-win situation here. You could try to find the General Manger/Owner. Most of the time, these type places are owned by a corporation in another city, and/or they have many levels of management and levels of ownership. Finding a responsible person could take you forever.

Many of these establishments also serve as money-laundering fronts for the owners other enterprises, so if you try to find an owner, you'd search the business records and see something like this:

O'Shaugnessy's Bar, DBA (doing business as) LionKing Enterprises International. Manged by Boogaloo on You Management company, DBA: 876 Productions.

You get the idea. Plus, if you DO find the owner and he/she apologizes profusely and chews out the guy that dogged you...do you really think he's going to provide outstanding service the next time you come in? You'll get watered-down drinks, even poorer service than before and he'll have every bouncer/server in the place watching your every move. Don't go back there!

 

[mikebb]

<< Well I liked the bar.. that is why I want to go back.. >>



You still want to go back? Must not be many good bars around you.



<< She came back saying that we owe 12 more dollars for her tip (she wanted 18%) and then I lost it. My friend who does not like confrentations payed the money but I went up to the "manager" and complained.. I asked for the owner who of course was not there, and so I went off, and a few f-bombs came out and now I am perm banned from the place.. I want to go back, but I want the "manager" and waitress to get whats coming to them.. What should I do? >>



Your friend shouldn't have paid the waitress the tip she thought she "deserved". Scr#w her!! (I hate my friends who are like that, I'm always standing up for them)

The best way to give them what they've got coming is to make a call to the owner(make sure you talk to the owner), and politely tell him how you feel about the service there. Make sure you tell him/her that you previously enjoyed the bar but will not be returning because of how you were treated. Enough complaints and the waitress and manager will be gone. DON'T go back though as you only risk a confrontation that could leave you at least embarrassed and out more money, and at worst dealing with the cops over a tresspassing charge.

BTW, I never open a tab when I go to any bar that I haven't been to at least 10 times before. It leaves the door open to all kinds of scams. Pay as you go.

 

[pyonir]

<< lol.. And I wasnt drunk.. We knew what we drank, and what we didnt.. I never have any problems paying for what I drank... I just could not believe that they forced the issue, and made us pay 18% for that waitress >>


they charged you the 18% because there were over 6 people in your party. look at the bottom of the menu and i am sure it says that they add the gratuity onto the check for parties over 6.

 

[kranky]

Hate to look like I'm piling on, but geez... fighting to get back into a place where you got cheated, and crappy service to boot. I'd figure they did you a favor by banning you.

 

[ChinamanatNCSU]

kinda off the subject, but I hate it when establishments "make it easier" on you by going ahead and adding the gratuity in, regardless of the # of people. I mean, if the service is good, I'll tip well, but if not, it should be my choice what I decide to tip. I'm not going to give a 15-20% tip to someone who doesn't deserve it.

 

[Jzero]

<< kinda off the subject, but I hate it when establishments "make it easier" on you by going ahead and adding the gratuity in, regardless of the # of people. I mean, if the service is good, I'll tip well, but if not, it should be my choice what I decide to tip. I'm not going to give a 15-20% tip to someone who doesn't deserve it. >>


At one restaurant I went to, the actually said "18% gratuity will be added for parties of 6 or more. Please feel free to add or subtract from this if you feel it necessary..."

 

[ChinamanatNCSU]

<<

<< kinda off the subject, but I hate it when establishments "make it easier" on you by going ahead and adding the gratuity in, regardless of the # of people. I mean, if the service is good, I'll tip well, but if not, it should be my choice what I decide to tip. I'm not going to give a 15-20% tip to someone who doesn't deserve it. >>


At one restaurant I went to, the actually said "18% gratuity will be added for parties of 6 or more. Please feel free to add or subtract from this if you feel it necessary..." >>


Yeah I've seen more and more restaurants have that or let me add the gratuity myself when I pay with cc, but there's been a couple where they added 18% for TWO people, then had the gratuity line on the cc receipt too! I might understand if it was a really really swanky restaurant, but it was a normal establishment. I got the bill and was like wtf do they want me to pay twice the gratuity. Geez they better be flying in fresh ingredients or hand feeding me for that amount of gratuity

 

[cjchaps]

What legally gives bars and resteraunts the right to include an 18% gratuity with parties of 6 or more? Shouldn't that be against the law or something?

 

[Amused]

Never run a tab at a bar. You're getting drunk and can't keep track of your drinks, and you should never expect a bar waitress to do it for you.

Pay for each round, and tip each time. Not only does this keep track of your drink costs, but your first tips motivate the waitresses to provide fast service on subsequent rounds.

 

[Texmaster]

I worked as a waiter in high school and I can tell you in groups of 6 or more, adding gratuity is important. But 15% is the max.
18%? Thats nuts and as a waiter you NEVER pull a crap stunt like that asking for more tip.

And always listen to MichaelD

A lot of the stuiff he said about the bars I heard working as a waiter. Be mindful when you get the bill.

 

[Amused]

<< What legally gives bars and resteraunts the right to include an 18% gratuity with parties of 6 or more? Shouldn't that be against the law or something? >>



Nope, so long as you have the right to add or deduct from that at your will, it is legal.

Restaurants and bars have started doing this because cheap people are stiffing the waitstaff even though they received acceptable or better service. Anyone here remember the previous threads on tipping? If you still feel the need to be cheap and stiff the waiter, OR if your service sucked, ask that the tip be removed. They cannot MAKE you pay the gratuity.

Folks, when you see tips included in the bill for large parties, thank the idiots who don't believe in tipping the wait staff, or believe an average 15% tip is only for outstanding service, instead of competent service.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< What legally gives bars and resteraunts the right to include an 18% gratuity with parties of 6 or more? Shouldn't that be against the law or something? >>



Why would this be against the law? Caveat emptor. If you don't like the policy, take your party elsewhere.

 

[Jzero]

<< I got the bill and was like wtf do they want me to pay twice the gratuity. Geez they better be flying in fresh ingredients or hand feeding me for that amount of gratuity >>


FWIW, I've never seen a CC bill WITHOUT a tip line. Just b/c it's there doesn't mean you have to use it. I often leave a cash tip and put zero on the line on the CC tab.



<< What legally gives bars and resteraunts the right to include an 18% gratuity with parties of 6 or more? Shouldn't that be against the law or something? >>


It's a private restauarant. They can charge you whatever they want for whatever reason they want, pretty much.

 

[yakko]

<< Why would you want to go back to an establishment that cheats you and has poor service? >>

 

[Farbio]

as a server and a bartender, i can tell you that the problem you had was unacceptable, and did it happen in my bar, and you presented your case nicely, you have never been greeted by service like that from the manager/server. i know that myself and all of the other people working in the bar and pretty honest, and have yet to see someone actually add a bunch of drinks onto a bill for no good reason.
as far as a waitress demanding 18%, that's complete bullsh1t. first of all, even if it does say 18% gratuity is added to parties of 6 or more, that means the gratuity is added onto the bill before you have a chance to write it in, so her not doing it is her own damn fault and she should kick herself for being stupid. second, i have never been to a bar where they charge gratuity automatically, no matter how large your party. usually, in a bar, you do much better not charging a certain percentage.
and most of all, the waitress shouldn't bitch about getting anything. myself, and my fellow servers are often stiffed or left crappy tips, as well as the occaissonal walkout, which we have to pay out of our own pockets. such is life and the business which we choose to be in. if you don't like it, get out