Friendly's Restaurant Informative - Waitress gave herself a tip

Posted by justcuz3993 on 2008-02-19:

I've always wondered, when that happens, what can be done about it? It would be hard to prove that a tip wasn't left. I'm interested in hearing what others have to say. I hope you at least called the restaurant and let the management know, she's probably done this to other customers too.

Posted by FoggyOne on 2008-02-20:

Didn't you sign the credit card receipt that had the tip on it?

Posted by tnchuck100 on 2008-02-20:

If you still have your receipt send a copy to your credit card company and dispute the charge.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-02-20:

Wow, that was pretty sneaky of her. I would call the restaurant and speak to a manager. Maybe they can provide the original receipt that shows you drew a line through the tip section of the receipt. If not call your bank or credit card company and see if it's at all possible to get that 4.00 reversed from the charge. For future reference, and this is what I do when we leave a tip for good service and bad, write on the tip line CASH ON TABLE.

Posted by Mrs. V on 2008-02-20:

That 'CASH ON TABLE' is a wonderful idea Prin!

Posted by Stew.old on 2008-02-20:

justcuz -- Excellent point... In the last year this has happened to me about 4 or 5 times. Never enough money (I'm not a principal guy) for me to take action ya know 2 or 3 dollars here or there. What can ya do.

Excellent suggestion Principissa!!! (BA) Day after day you continue to impress.

Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-20:

i vote for allowing waitresses to cheat .
Halliburton can cheat, exxon can cheat, BOA can cheat, Citi bank can cheat ,politicians can cheat(see election fraud ), wallstreet cheats , the U.S military cheats , walmart cheats- why discriminate against the poor little waitresses?

Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-20:

I write the same thing, "Cash on table or Tip on table" and then draw a line through it. Or in the rare cases I don't leave a tip, I write the word ZERO instead of 0. (Add an digit in front of that anyone?)

Posted by superbowl on 2008-02-20:

Remember to bring the total down to the bottom line also. If you put a line thru the tip you need to remember to fill in the TOTAL line or they can change it to anything they want.

Posted by flipper on 2008-02-20:

I did draw a line where it said "tip" and did total it. I emailed the restaurant (have not heard back) and am going to call MasterCard in just a few minutes. Yesterday when we ate out, I wrote "NO" on the tip line (we left the money on the table).

Fascismsux: I don't cheat on others, so why should I be cheated on? Do unto others......

Posted by superbowl on 2008-02-20:

Very good Flipper, it was more of a general comment.

Posted by old fart on 2008-02-20:

I don't know if writing "no" on the receipt is a good idea... if printed it can be made to look like a 1 and 0..

Posted by Stew.old on 2008-02-20:

Does anybody know what the merchants do with those receipts? Does anybody in the loop outside the merchant ever look at the receipts? A lot of places don't even require a signature anymore. Just curious.

Posted by bargod on 2008-02-20:

Make sure management a the restuarant know what she is doing or else she will continue to do it to other people. I worked at a restaurant were a waiter was fired for doing the very same thing. Someone eventually complained and he was let go.

Posted by sunshine619 on 2008-02-20:

I know its only 4 bucks but it would piss me off too. And really? the waitress must be pretty pathetic if she is willing to steal for only $4, as stated by someone else, you probably weren't her first. I waited in high school and despite what you write its up to the waitress to punch the tip and total into the credit card machine, so really she could put whatever she likes. Most people probably wouldnt even notice.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-02-20:

That is a good question Stew, I wonder that myself. Do they just throw them out? Do they have to be sent to accounting?

Posted by ejack053824 on 2008-02-20:

Personally..I would go an confront the waitress with the manager present. This is theft and forging of a document (if indeed the waitress filled in the tip afterwards on the receipt). Course I wouldn't call the police over $4.00 but someone would be standing tall explaining to me why this happened.

Posted by flipper on 2008-02-20:

Old Fart: Thank you, you are right. From now on I'll write "No tip".

I called MasterCard and they are giving me credit for the $4.00.

I am usually not vindictive, but I hope the waitress gets fired.

A lot of people don't really look at their credit card statements, just pay them. Since $4.00 is a small amount, she could easily have gotten away with this.

Posted by Lidman on 2008-02-20:

flipper, I don't blame you one bit!
I had a waitress tell me to do that a long time ago because some people were doing the same thing you are talking about.
I always leave cash (if I think it was good service) so they won't get stiffed by there boss and the stinking IRS as well but it is MY CHOICE how much and if any at all.

Good review (VH)

Posted by chris513 on 2008-02-20:

I doubt this is the first time this waitress has done this...at 4 bucks a pop, how much do you think she has ripped people off for, total? I would definitely want to speak w/ the manager at this location...if you have your copy of the receipt, I would also have that when I spoke to a manager.

Posted by Crown Jules on 2008-02-20:

Just out of curiosity, how many people were in your party? Some restaurants automatically add a gratuity to the bill for groups larger than about six. Also, are you sure the $4.00 was a tip? Perhaps the total of the bill (without a tip) was just keyed in wrong.

Posted by spiderman2 on 2008-02-20:

Stew -- stores should keep the receipts. If you dispute a charge on your card, your processor will contact the business and ask for a copy of the transaction. If you cannot provide the signed merchant copy they will reverse the charge no questions asked. I'm not sure of the length of time the receipt needs to be kept, but we just had to produce one from a year ago.

To the OP: good luck. I would contact the manager of the restaurant via phone or in person and dispute the charge with my credit card company.

Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-20:

this post reminds me of that ol bibilibical saying
" strain on a knat and swallow a camel" Who said that ?

Posted by CrystalSword on 2008-02-20:

We've always preferred to leave a tip on the table for the wait staff....witnessed a bus boy helping himself to tips once and we told the waitress and she confronted him then and there....she was teasing her father the day before about not leaving her a tip and he said he left a $5 tip. Needless to say this young man no longer works there and her tips about tripled, so he was really ripping her off.

When I told the waitress, I also handed her our tip to her, said I didn't trust the busboy becuase he was putting some in one pocket and a little in another pocket and giving her out of the "little" pocket.

I will keep in mind about writing that on the receipt from now on, I rarely tip with my card.

Posted by repressed on 2008-09-14:

i had the opportunity to be employed at friendlys in williamsburg, va and the district manager Jae Ward remembered working with my dad decades ago all that being said my opinion has been drastically changed. the mismanagement of cleo donald cleveland and michael is horrible. the attitude of those managers and the actions is atrocious. the employees are stereotyped and treated with bias and have to deal with sexually suggestive comments and attitude. one waitress dad even confronted donald mid shift about his actions and comments. donald also brags of his corporate history and record with friendlys. micheal and cleveland spend more time fast fixing and microwaving food products arguing and joking with each other then concentrating on kitchen duties. the scheduling of short staffed evening shift includes waitresses brought in from richmond, not enough employees to have a greeter, fountain worker and servers. although there are two truck deliveries every week the restaurant somehow cant keep gloves, bread, lettuce, sauces, dressing, cheese, chicken, peppers, cole slaw and other such mandated items. breaks are few and far between and definitely dont ask to get one if you're not offered. it became a problem for me to inquire about a 5 minute smoke break when i was working from 5-6p until 2-3a. the managers had no problem volunteering me to give employees rides home or to do the tasks others wouldnt. the district manager Jae Ward who eventually i was able to contact was no help because i couldnt make an appt time that was convenient for him and the hr manager. needless to say my 3 child family wont be going to friendlys in williamsburg, va.

Posted by chellebelle on 2008-10-15:

As a server that works at a Friendly's, I know that we must enter the total the customer leaves on their credit card slip, not the tip amount. In addition, if a customer leaves a server a tip that is over 20%, then a manager on duty must verify it by swiping their card through before the transation is approved. So, if your waitress left herself a 30% tip then the manager knew about it and is the one responsible for explaing the "theft" if you will. I would first call the restuarant and speak to the General Manager, if they are not available, ask for the MOD and explain your complaint. Then inform them that you are disputing the charge through your credit card company by sending in the other copy of the slip. Friendly's provides three things when you pay with a credit card: the slip that you fill out and sign that they keep as payment, an identical slip that you fill out for your records, and a detailed receipt of your purchases.

Posted by Bellarubia18 on 2009-01-29:

You should give waitresses at Friendlys the benefit of the doubt. They don't make that much money and the food isn't expensive anyway. You have no idea what else was going on that day...what if someone had just died and she was having a bad day or something. It's poor form to make a point of not tipping a waitress at Friendlys!

Posted by Eddie on 2012-08-29:

this type of thing pisses me off, i have been serving tables for ten years of my life (obviously, im doing a good job...) and i hate hearing stories like this. i want to assure you, that not all waitstaff is like this horrible girl you had. i work extremely hard for my money, even to the point of going above and beyond. for someone in my industry to do this to a guest is ludicrous at best... im so sorry you had this experience...