I don’t need the answer fast. I heard a story about a girl who met a guy on a dating website. The guy said ‘we should go to this really expensive restaurant’ where he ends up ordering a lot of expensive food. Towards the end of the date he says he has to go to the bathroom, and instead of doing that he leaves and she is stuck with the bill.
Is doing that illegal in any way? Can you show up at a restaurant with another person(s) then skip out on the bill just so long as at least one person from your party is still at the restaurant?
Off hand, it sounds more like a civil matter than a criminal matter; the party stood up could maybe sue to recover the cost of the half the meal. A most, maybe a misdemeanor fraud charge.
It’s called “Theft of Service” where I live, or colloquially, “dine & dash”.
However, in this case, there’s no theft (as far as the restaurant is concerned), because she paid the bill.
I suppose she could contact the police, and tell them he stole from her, by sticking her with the bill. But my guess is they’d tell her it was a civil matter. Maybe she could sue him in small claims court.
Personally, I’d find him and slash his tires (j/k).
Alternatively, she could go out of her way to let everyone know just exactly what kind of man he is.
While the OP isn’t an earth-shaking legal question, we prefer that legal/medical questions be put in IMHO, where any [del]putz[/del] poster can respond.
You pay for your half then report him to the police. Obviously. Bluff and tell the owner you don’t have the money for both meals but you’re happy to report his details to the police.
The police will call his mobile and have a nice talk. He’ll be down to pay in no time.
I believe that everyone who sits at a restaurant table is “jointly and severally” responsible for the bill, according to the interpretations of petit larceny and bilking an innkeeper laws.
Would it make any difference if the diners had specifically requested separate checks when placing their order? (Of course, if the checks hadn’t yet been brought out when the escapee left, it would mean the restaurant could claim that both meals were on the same check.)
Why is it only bad if the guy does it? I’ve never heard of a situation in my life where the girl is expected to pay for the date. Some people do agree verbally to go Dutch or whatever, but without discussion, everybody always assumes the guy will pay.
My opinion is she would only be liable for half the bill. If I found myself in that situation I’d leave money for half and leave the guys contact information. Its bad enough to get skipped out on a date having to then deal with an angry manager is something id just avoid.
If it was a restaurant I frequent I’d feel differently but it sounds like she wouldn’t normally go there.
Speaking as a bar/restaurant veteran, if somebody walks a tab and somebody else from their party is still in the building, I do my best to make them pay it–otherwise I have to. I don’t know the legality of it, nor do I care. You ate half of it. Somebody better pay for it, and it ain’t gonna be me. (Yes, I have paid walked tabs.)
One of the best.