The restaurant business is not an easy one. You have to ensure that your guests get the best experience of their lives to keep them coming back to you, and you have to ensure the highest level of service, quality, cleanliness and so much more. Issuing uniforms to staff such as Chef hats to kitchen staff and aprons etc, as well as investing in effective cleaning equipment are ways of ensuring a sanitary and hygienic environment. Restauranteurs spend a lot of time and money to ensure that they operate a good business, but with all the attention they pay to creating a quality restaurant and operation, they will still come across customers who will find a fault and refuse to pay the bill.
Customer issues are inevitable, however much you make an effort not to have them, and some of the more legitimate reasons customers give to not pay their restaurant bill are:
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Food quality – One reason a customer may refuse to pay their bill is when the food quality is not up to their expectation or when the food served to them doesn’t match the description on the menu. In such an instance, if the restaurant is at fault, then it is best to offer them a new dish (the right one this time).
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Service – If the service they received was slow, inefficient and unfriendly, then a customer may refuse to settle their bill. When someone dines at a restaurant, they expect the highest quality service and a pleasant atmosphere. In addition, if the customer was subject to harassment which are racial or sexual in nature, then of course they have every right not to pay for such a terrible experience.
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Harm to a person or personal belongings – If a waiter spills hot soup or anything else on a customer causing injury, or spills something that causes damage to their personal belongings, these will result in an unpaid bill.
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Long wait times – If a customer is kept waiting a long time between his courses, then they will refuse to settle the bill. Customers expect a quick and efficient service when in a restaurant.
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Accidents and hazards – Whether man made or natural, a disaster or accident will definitely result in an unpaid bill. For example, a part of the roof collapsing, cyclone etc.
