Furious staff LOCK family inside restaurant for refusing to pay tip after bad service
A Houston family were locked inside a restaurant and the police were called after they refused to pay the tip.
Out for dinner with friends and family, Jasmine Marks claimed that the service at La Fisherman was not of the quality that deserved the mandatory 17 percent gratuity in the bill.
That is the amount the restaurant adds to parties of more than five diners, but Mark's complaint was that the staff were rude, their drinks were not refilled and mistakes were made on their orders.
Speaking to the manager at the end of the meal, Marks was astounded as the restaurant demanded they pay the full 17 percent and eventually called the police reported Click2houston.com.
'We asked her, could the gratuity be removed?' said Marks.
'Could we give our own tip?
'If you're not satisfied with the service, you shouldn't have to pay gratuity.'
Explaining that restaurant policy was inflexible, the manager locked the door and phoned local law enforcement.
'She was like, 'You have an unsettled bill and ya'll can't leave until you pay it,' said Marks.
'We paid our bill for what we ate, we paid the bill.'
Only questioning why the 17 percent was mandatory when it was a tip for service, Mark's tried to reason with the manager of La Fisherman.
'She said, 'That's fine. If you don't want to pay the gratuity we have the police outside,' said Marks.
'I asked the police officer twice, maybe three times, is it against the law if we don't pay the gratuity and he never gave me a straight answer.'
Speaking to Houston's local KPRC Local 2, the on-duty manager at the restaurant said that they don't have a problem with customers not giving a tip, but they have called the police before.
The issue alerted Houston's Better Business Bureau who have announced that they are examining the complaint.
'Consumers need to understand the policy going in,' said Dan Parson, President of the BBB.
'I mean every sign walking in the door. What credit cards do you accept, not accept? What are your hours? Seventeen percent gratuity for the six of you? If you don't like it, leave.'
'They call it the hospitality business, I know you love food, but you got to love the people who eat the food.'
Now I do realize that in some places, such as overseas, that the tip is part of the bill and I extremely dislike that. I know during the time I spent overseas it was more common a practice than here in the states.
I know that the waiting staff isn't rich, that's why they are doing that job. I do expect for them to earn that money and I don't mind giving it but it is always my choice. I tend to be as generous as my wallet allows. This is carrying it a bit too far. I don't sign a contract to eat at any restaurant. I am not obligated to pay a tip unless I feel it is deserved.
I can not but help wondering just how well this restaurant is doing in the terms of staying in business. Under such treatment that comes right down to duress, would you go back again? I wouldn't. That would be the first and last time I graced that establishment with my business.
Maybe I'm an odd ball here but straight up, my dollar is a vote in what I believe in. I tend very much to do my business that way. I come into your store with an idea of what I need and you help me out with something that really fills the bill on what I am seeking, I'm going to be back again. Bet on it.
But treat me like these folk got treated and it is the last time you'll ever see me. Not only that but I will make sure if I hear someone considering going to such a place to tell them of my experience, good or bad. It's called word of mouth. It's the kind of advertisement that a business would kill for because it can't be bought.
Furious staff LOCK family inside restaurant...
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