Couple Arrested for not Paying Tip!

Oh, wow that is crazy, and if I were this couple, I definitely would not be returning to that restaurant or recommend anyone to go to this restaurant. I can't believe that even the cops arrested these people for something as petty as this. This is a waste of time, it was a waste of time. This restaurant will lose they're customers I believe because of this.

Tips are not compulsory! It is not required by law and it is the choice of the customer whether to give or not! Why would they give tips if they dislike the service? Why would be they arrested, would they be given an official receipt if they pay the tip? Are the establishments declaring the tips they receive for tax payments? NO! That is ridiculous! I am not going to patronize such restaurants...

OMG! that is the craziest thing I have every heard. I can't believe that this is happening, how can someone be arrested for not leaving a tip? For that matter how can a resturant charge someone for not leaving a tip? I have never heard about something like this, I would never go to this resturant that's for sure. WOW.

That is just awful. Not only was the restaurant wrong for calling the police on the couple for not paying something that is totally optional, but also for the police who actual did the arrest. I know if I was in that area after reading this article. I know I would never go to that restaurant, just for fear of being arrested for something stupid. Will definitely make me thing the next time I have poor service and don't want to leave a tip.

I think that it is up to the customer whether they want to tip the staff or not and therefore the restaurant should not say it is policy to charge a tip for parties over a certain number. Whenever I look at a menu I always check for a service charge, and if there is one in place I will leave. I don't want to be forced to tip anyone. At the same time, why should the manager offer a complimentary meal. If it is the restaurants policy there will be notices up or on the menu saying so. So therefore they should not have eat there.

the biggest thing about this restaurant is that its gonna have a very bad image in front of the public (citizens of the town) and though the restaurant have a very poor service its gonna have a very bad condition in such consequences

Wasn’t tipping voluntary? Since when do restaurants have a policy of ‘charging’ a tip? I’m sure that’s illegal apart from the bad publicity. Sometime I really wonder why people do things that they do? I mean I find no logic behind getting a customer arrested for not leaving a tip!

While researching my response to this, I found this article: http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/11/13/Lifestyle/A.Night.On.The.Town-3830677.shtml Here are a couple of quotes from the 11/13/2009 piece: "We've definitely had a change in food since we opened," said Jennifer Hollinger, Lehigh Pub bartender. "We used to focus on our dinner menu a lot more, but now we cater more towards late night for college kids." ... As far as the Lehigh Pub goes, Hollinger does not think there is any competition among the bars in the area because places such as Leon's and the Funhouse have a "totally different atmosphere." (end of quotes) I would like to reserve judgment until I read a response from the business about the incident. My first impression is that the students (the couple who were arrested are college students) should have complained to the manager before or during their meal. I would think the bartender should have called the manager first before calling the police. And if the bartender was the manager, I hope that one realizes how much publicity the business is getting getting. If they don't want to serve meals then they shouldn't be offered. And I agree with another person's response on one of the news reports. A "gratuity" is a gift. If the charge is mandatory, it should have been called a "service charge."

That story was outrageous I can't believe they actually arrested them for not paying a tip. Give me a break a tip should be based on how good the service was and if it was as bad as they said I wouldn't have left one either as they didn't deserve another dime from me. I have been on the other side and I don't care how crazy it gets you take care of your customers. I may not have been able to check on them every 10 minutes but I always made sure they had what they needed when the were being served their dinner!! I don't think that is a restaurant I would ever eat at and I am sure that they will be losing a lot of business over this.

Oh my God!this news is really appalling and ridiculous, why that restaurant imposed mandatory tip?I think a tip is based on the convenience of the customers and should not be imposed hardly on the customers. That ridiculous restaurant should never be patronized and should be banned. I am glad here in our country giving tips is not a common practiced, in fact waiters/waitresses and some food establishments who received tips from customers are somewhat shocked and surprised with that kindness gestures that they don't know what to do but thanks with gratitude.

The good news is, this restaurant is getting really, really bad press over this as the story has hit the major media outlets. Under the circumstances it would have been in their best interest to forgo the tip especially since they knew their service was poor.

I have always personally felt that tipping was for when the waiter/waitress did more than their duty. I have never felt obligated to leave one and when the service is poor I don't even think about putting any change on the table.