Two college students are taking their fight to court after refusing to pay tip for lousy service. Leslie Pope and John Wagner were hanging out at the Lehigh Pub in Bethelem last month with a half-dozen of their friends.
The service they received at the Lehigh Pub was so bad they had to find their own forks and napkins while their waitress went out for a cigarette break. In addition, they had go out of their way and ask the bartender for refills, and wait over an hour for salad and some chicken wings.
“You can’t give us terrible, terrible service and expect a tip,” said Leslie Pope.
Despite the terrible service they received, it clearly states on the Lehigh Pub menus: “18% gratuity added to check of parties of 6 or more.”
The tip they were asked to pay was $16.35.
Both parties are expected in court next month to resolve the dispute.
There was a poll on the Philly.com website asking:
Does bad service give customers the right to withhold a mandatory tip?
- 86.1% said YES (1557 votes)
- 10.6% said NO (192 votes)
- 3.3% said NOT SURE (59 votes)
Results as of November 19th, 2009 at 10AM (PST).
- 88.9% said YES (14450 votes)
- 8.9% said NO (1454 votes)
- 2.1% said NOT SURE (349 votes)
Results as of November 19th, 2009 at 2:29PM (PST).
I think exceptions should be made in these rare circumstances. If a business cannot provide reasonable service, I see no reason why the customer should be forced to pay any tip especially considering how both these students had to pull teeth to get any.
I hope these college students win.
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