Looking like a tightwad

LegacyUser

I was out for dinner with a couple of work colleagues last night. When it came time to pay the bill one of the others did the sums and said it was x amount each. As I didn't have any cash on me I took their cash and paid the bill on my laser card. I left €3 on the table as a tip. Now I realise that the amount calculated included a tip of about €2 per person and I only put €3 on the table (e.g I pocketed the other €3 that should have been left as a tip). Now I'm worried that the others I had dinner with will think I am a total miser and that I was on the make or something.

Am I being paranoid here? If I'm not being paranoid what can I do to rectify my mistake?

RedXIV

A little bit yes mate

When all's said and done, you paid your share, €3 isn't going to make or break anyone really. If it makes you feel so bad, just tip generously next time your out? Also, if you go out for a night of drinks, buy the first round. Proven sign of a generous person

Leeby

Lortin wrote: »

I was out for dinner with a couple of work colleagues last night. When it came time to pay the bill one of the others did the sums and said it was x amount each. As I didn't have any cash on me I took their cash and paid the bill on my laser card. I left €3 on the table as a tip. Now I realise that the amount calculated included a tip of about €2 per person and I only put €3 on the table (e.g I pocketed the other €3 that should have been left as a tip). Now I'm worried that the others I had dinner with will think I am a total miser and that I was on the make or something.

Am I being paranoid here? If I'm not being paranoid what can I do to rectify my mistake?

Wait, I'm not sure I understand.

Do you mean that for example say there was five of you and and the bill was €90 so it came to €18 each so everyone put in €20 to cover the tip. So then when you paid on the card, you didn't include the tip, thus pocketing everyones extra €2? (by accident obviously!)

Sure I doubt anyone would know if you included the tip on the card or not (they probably would've said something at the time if they thought you'd taken all their tip and left the staff with €3), but I'm sure the poor staff were pissed off at their €3 tip! Is the restaurant near your work? Would you ever be walking by it with any of the colleagues that were there? If so, just next time you're walking by with one of them, ask them to wait for a second so you can pop in and give the staff the money, and then explain what happened in a jokey manner.

Leeby

RedXIV wrote: »

A little bit yes mate

When all's said and done, you paid your share, €3 isn't going to make or break anyone really. If it makes you feel so bad, just tip generously next time your out? Also, if you go out for a night of drinks, buy the first round. Proven sign of a generous person

If I'm reading it right, he didn't pay his share, he accidently took the tip that everyone else left, and then only gave a tip of €3, so he essentially earned money out of it!

RedXIV

he put €3 down and said he kept the other €3. that implies if it was a 2 euro tip each, there was 3 of them, a €6 tip. he made €3

Trinity

Give your colleagues back €1 each, say what happened.

I'm sure they will laugh it off and tell you not to be silly

mikemac

Next time you are out, buy the first round. All will be forgiven

Gumbyman

Next time you're out do the exact same thing again. Joke that it is a credit card fee. They will think you're weird, not a tightwad.

LoanShark

Its No Big Deal but Next time you are out, Make sure you get first round in..
Also, Had I been in same situation i would have said it straight that I didnt have cash and told them what I was gonna put it on the card at least then it would have removed any confusion.

spurious

A real miser would have started the 'I only had a small starter and he had a steak and you had a brandy and I just had a coke - I think that means I pay €6.43 less than all of you' act - such people are embarrassing to be around and are to be avoided.

I doubt your friends paid any heed.

RichieLawlor

This has to be a level

Miss Fluff

I think you are worrying over nothing and it would seem strange if you bring it up. As someone pointed out, just make sure to get the first round in next time you are out with them.

Captain Ginger

I got a good laugh out of this (not laughing at you) because this is the same sort of thing that would happen me and I'd be the first one here posting and worrying about it all.

Don't worry man, I'm sure no one noticed and if they did I'm sure one of them would of mentioned it polititly if they cared.

As everyone else said, get the first round of drinks in next time and you will be a hero.

jdivision

spurious wrote: »

A real miser would have started the 'I only had a small starter and he had a steak and you had a brandy and I just had a coke - I think that means I pay €6.43 less than all of you' act - such people are embarrassing to be around and are to be avoided.

+1, god it's horrible when that happens. I visibly cringe. I can understand if say some people weren't drinking but otherwise get over it. We were in a big group one night out and three people said that they'd looked after paying their own bill and then wouldn't tell us for ages what they'd put in until we patiently explained that we were splitting the rest of the bill. Turned out they'd left a e5 tip between them having bought mains, desserts and a good few drinks. Tight as...

Irishpimpdude

Miss Fluff wrote: »

I think you are worrying over nothing and it would seem strange if you bring it up. As someone pointed out, just make sure to get the first round in next time you are out with them.

It wouldnt be strange there is a causal way to bring things up...

LegacyUser

The amount was something like €22 each (incl. tip) so actual bill came to €20 and the €2 was for the tip. In my dimness I didn't realize that they were including a tip so I pocketed the cash they gave me and then put €3 down. I half expected they would put a few bob down on the table for a tip too but they didn't - I just thought they were being scabby, it was only when I was in the car on the way home that I realized I had done them out of their tip. Cringe!!