What do you do?

I am interested in thoughts from both sides of this situation; those in the industry and those who enjoy retaurants.

What should be done when a guest recieves the charge slips (2 copies, one for the guest and one for the restaurant) for their signature and then leaves with both? If you are able to approach the guest before they depart or somehow get their name for a phone call, I can not think of a positive way of handling this situation which thankfully does not happen often. The worst part is that without the signed charge receipt, the server recieves $0 for their efforts.

I once put the signed copy in my purse and left the customer copy of the receipt on the table; it wasn't intentional I was with 3 girlfriends being a chatty cathy and wasn't paying attention. We had walked outside the restaurant and fortunately for the server I was still standing there talking. I thought nothing of it when she came outside and told me what I had done; in fact if anyone was embarrassed, it was me.

I would say don't take offense to going after the right slip. I would guess that most people do this more as an oversight or from lack of paying attention than anything else.

This would be great article for the LEO -- hint, hint

I always write it off to bad luck,
but i don't think many customers realize the importance of this event and only once in a while do they call or come back in to let you know
(although i believe they are likely to call if we were to overcharge their account by mistake)

shawn

Wait - please clarify something.

Neal asks what happens if a customer leaves with BOTH copies. Jean speaks of taking the signed merchant copy, but leaving the unsigned customer copy.

Is there a problem if I accidentally sign the copy labeled "customer," and leave that copy, and take with me the merchant copy? I've done that hundreds of times, I'm sure.

Do restaurants still make servers pay for a customer that 'runs out' without paying? Is that against the law? Or do servers pay it so they don't get written up and terminated? I hope the collections for servers in that situation were always legitimate.
Also, very often we do not get a bill for our meal or bar expenses. We're given a total. My husband and I tally it in our head and if it seems about right, we don't ask for proof. But we probably shouldn't do that because it could encourage bad behavior. (I worked front of the house for 12 years. My husband back of the house, bartendar, and manager, 20+ years.)

Wait - please clarify something.

Neal asks what happens if a customer leaves with BOTH copies. Jean speaks of taking the signed merchant copy, but leaving the unsigned customer copy.

Is there a problem if I accidentally sign the copy labeled "customer," and leave that copy, and take with me the merchant copy? I've done that hundreds of times, I'm sure.

Brad -

No, that is not a problem; at least for us. Either signed copy is proof of your presence which is what the restaurant should want; just in case the guest should refute the charge with their bank. Once your card is swiped for the charge amount to start the process, the restaurant will process the charge information for the check amount. So, no matter which copy or no copy, the restaurant is "whole"; it is the server who can not add a gratuity without a copy since who knows what the guest intended to leave.

Do restaurants still make servers pay for a customer that 'runs out' without paying? Is that against the law? Or do servers pay it so they don't get written up and terminated? I hope the collections for servers in that situation were always legitimate.
Also, very often we do not get a bill for our meal or bar expenses. We're given a total. My husband and I tally it in our head and if it seems about right, we don't ask for proof. But we probably shouldn't do that because it could encourage bad behavior. (I worked front of the house for 12 years. My husband back of the house, bartendar, and manager, 20+ years.)

Ellen -

We would never make the server pay. Being new to Kentucky on the cash house side of the business, I really do not know what the law is, but I trust my staff to do their best and so far we have not had a "run out".

As far as not getting a cost breakdown of your dining experience, I would guess that they are doing everything by hand. In that case, I would always ask for a breakdown. Even the best make math mistakes.

I highly doubt one could legally make the server pay. And one certainly couldn't do so morally.

But as Neal said, it is a moot point. Once you run the card through, the transaction is complete. The only reason to keep the signed copy is:
1. In the case of a dispute
2. So the server can get a tip...

So basically, the establishment loses nothing, the server loses a tip. I've run businesses for about 7 years now, and I don't think I've ever had anyone dispute a charge. (but it is nice to have the paperwork just in case of a mistake of some kind)

Cheers,

Nimbus