Charges have been dropped against a group of college students who, maintaining that the service they received was "lousy," refused to leave a tip in an eastern Pennsylvania restaurant last year.
Because they were a group of eight, the restaurant added an 18% gratuity to the check. The collegiate diners paid the bill but refused to leave the tip, with the result that the restaurant called the cops. The police took two of the group into custody and charged them with theft of services.
Upon review of the case, the District Attorney recommended that the charges be dropped, based largely on the simple notion that we all understand: Tips are optional. True, one should generally tip less, not zero, for poor service, but while the restaurant’s service may have been inadequate its response appears to have been excessive.
Because they were a group of eight, the restaurant added an 18% gratuity to the check. The collegiate diners paid the bill but refused to leave the tip, with the result that the restaurant called the cops. The police took two of the group into custody and charged them with theft of services.
Upon review of the case, the District Attorney recommended that the charges be dropped, based largely on the simple notion that we all understand: Tips are optional. True, one should generally tip less, not zero, for poor service, but while the restaurant’s service may have been inadequate its response appears to have been excessive.
