Is it true that they make you wash the dishes if you can't pay for the meal you ate in a restaurant?

Question

just seen two commercials with the same concept and i grew up believing it too...has this ever happened?

Answer 1

There's one surefire way to find out.....

Answer 2

Good question.  I don't think so anymore.  Instead, you could be arrested, and charged with the misdemeanor of "defrauding an innkeeper".

Answer 3

No you don't wash them in the restaurant. You wash them in county jail when they arrest you for not paying your tab.

Answer 4

Well, I like to carry my check card, and I've been scared that it would be declined at a restaurant. I can't imagine they'd arrest me for that. They'd call the police if you ran off, but for not having the money on accident there? I doubt it.

Answer 5

A guy here went to stripclub(florida)and ran up 500 dollar bill and all credit cards declined and he went to jail for grand theft.(total may have been more than 500 cant remember he ordered tons of champagne)this past month.

Answer 6

That's how it is at my moms house, but we eat fast food allot so you do the math.

Answer 7

As someone else said like the 1950's and previous this was actually true.  My grandparents used to take us out to eat and when we were done say 'ok, who has money?' to all the grandkids and when we said we don't have money our grandparents would say 'ok now you will have to go in the back and wash dishes'.  They were kidding but they were talking about something that used to happen when they were young.  Now they would probably take your ID and give you some time to come back with the money, and if you didn't come back they would probably press charges on you.  Also they will probably blacklist you from the restaurant.

Answer 8

no they just do that to scare u no wif u dont have any money then just dont go i hope this email is helpful at all i wish the best of luck

Answer 9

That has never happened at any restaurant I have worked at. We have never called the police or had anyone arrested, despite what people say. Imagine being hauled off because you can't pay for your steak.

What we do is photocopy your ID & Credit/Debit Card if you have them. And make you sign a waiver to pay the bill plus tip. We give you 3 days to return with payment. If you have not returned by then, we charge said card on file for the amount.

One guy tried to protest the charge but we had his signature and there was nothing he could do.

If you don't have a credit/debit card, we allow you to use our phones to call someone who can pay for you or hold something for collateral until you return with the means to pay.

Answer 10

They will call the police.

Answer 11

Yeah. Back in the 50's.  Eat and don't pay now and you're going to jail.  Times have changed and so has insurance stipulations.  A customer cannot go and wash dishes to pay for a meal.  A restaurant that allowed that would not only be liable for any injury but would have folks lining up for free meals 24/7 and expect to wash dishes to pay for it.  Imagine that.

Answer 12

no, what they do is call the police, and they haul your asss to jail.

Answer 13

no,what if you hurt yourself or someone else,you or they could sue.what do they do with the existing dishwasher, you would be in the way,not to mention how slow you would be,and how can they ensure you did a good job,in a sanitary way,what if you didn't wash something properly and made some else sick.

most places would call police to at least document it,but you would be surprised how fast some money appears when the police are involved.

as for taking credit card info for later,why not just pay with card NOW.Honor system in this day and age doesn't work.

bottom line they just want their money.not dish help