Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Cutomer did not pay full bill at restaurant

[ian fincher]

Jurisdiction

Louisiana

I am a server in Baton Rouge, LA. Today I had a customer give me a card to pay with, and i swiped it, brought the bill back with the credit card slips (the slips you put how much you want to tip), asked them if they needed anything else and then them "thank y'all, have a great evening." After they left I collected the bill and they had taken both the credit card slips, so I thought they just didn't tip me. Then I go to the computer to close out the table's check, and I realize the card was only authorized for $29 because there was only $29 left on the card, and the bill was $42, so they left without paying $13. My manager says since I brought the bill back without saying anything was wrong they had a right to leave and it wasn't stealing. Is he right or was it stealing?

 

[Betty3]

They may not have realized they only had $29.00 left on the card. If the mgr. says let it go, there isn't much you can do about it.

 

[adjusterjack]

My manager says since I brought the bill back without saying anything was wrong they had a right to leave and it wasn't stealing. Is he right or was it stealing?

Be thankful your manager didn't make you pay the $13.

Let it go.

Pay more attention to this stuff from now on.

 

[Highwayman]

He's not looking to make an issue of it he just wants to know if it would be considered a theft.

It's not an easy question to answer. Certainly, when you discovered the issue it should have been brought to the attention of the party involved. As it stands now there is really no way to know.

If they intentionally shorted the payment then it would in all likelihood be considered a theft, Otherwise, it's doubtful.