Please Stay Aware in Bars/Restaurants

[Susie Q Roo]

I'm not sure why it is but I am hearing more reports than I ever have in my 4 years of living here of bill-padding in restaurants and bars. No, it doesn't happen in every place or every time or with every waiter but, in order to stop it happening, we all need to be aware and not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. Success is what keeps it happening.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a little notepad around and, while you still have the menu in hand, jot down the prices of the things you order. Don't be embarrassed to ask to see the menu again if a bill seems out of line. If an overly high bill isn't itemized, ask for one that is. ("Una lista con precios" should do it if they don't understand - OO-nah LEE-stah cone PRAY-see-ose) Keep your own tab for drinks you're ordering or, better still, pay for each drink as you order it. It's tougher to keep track of, the more you drink, and you become a much easier "mark," so that may be the best solution.

The primary thing is not to be too intimidated to say anything if something doesn't seem right. The cons who will do this are counting on that. Don't back down when they suddenly can't understand English anymore and don't be afraid to ask for the "jefe" (HEY-fey) if you're not getting answers.

HOWEVER... pleasepleaseplease don't just assume this is going to happen to you and rudely demand explanations from every waiter. MOST workers here aren't cheats and cons and thieves. The bad few shouldn't make it ugly for the rest of them. Assume the best, just be prepared for the worst and handle things quietly, peacefully, and respectfully. Sometimes a bad bill really IS just a mistake. Point it out and give them the opportunity to correct it without making accusations. Our reaction to the overcharging shouldn't be as shameful as the cheating is.

Just keep your eyes open and don't be a gullible tourist, if you can help it.

Oh, and while you've got that notebook open, take some good notes and write us a great trip report, okay?

[MartyC]

Thanks for the reminder Susie. I guess this kind of thing happens even in paradise.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by MartyC

Thanks for the reminder Susie. I guess this kind of thing happens even in paradise.

Does it say so in a bible?

[Nerak936]

I agree that this situation does indeed happen. And if you go to a beach club and make an agreement with the waiter that the chairs/umbrella are free since you plan to eat and drink there, don´t be surprised if he forgets (?) and tries to charge you an extra 100 p. for it (but I very nicely reminded him).

However, this week the opposite happened to me twice (the waiter forgot to include something that we had drunk or eaten).

And me, being the "oh my God, if I don´t make them aware, I´ll burn in hell" type, brought it to their attention.

[Michele]

This is a good reminder Susie. Here are some ways to prevent these accidents from happening:
1. Pay as you go. Not always possible and certainly not convenient but it does work.
2. Do not pay without receiving an itemized accounting. A proper bill is not always offered.
3. If your bill is not legible, ask that it be redone or read to you.
4. Check the the items and the amounts of each are correct.
5. Check the total. Waiters are not generally known for their math skills.
6. Verify if the tip has already been included.
7. Stay sober(ish) or at least appear sober. If a server IS going to take advantage, drunkedness makes it very easy to do. How will you know if your group had 17 or 22 beers or who everyone bought drinks for?
8. If you are in a group with several checks, be sure that none of the drinks/food have been "double-billed".
9. If all else fails and you can't come to a resolution with a server/bartender, do ask for el jefe (boss) or el gerente (manager).
10. Follow the same rules of behavior that you would in a restaurant/bar in your home town. "Nuff said there.

Chances are that you will not have a problem in most of the bars/restaurants/clubs that you visit. Have fun!!

[Big Fish]

Txs for the heads up - always a good reminder...

So we know that 'propina' is the tip and to always look to see if it is included or not. Where we have seen bills padded is when places try to add tax - "impuesto" and that there shouldn't be any, which has been removed when questioned by us on the odd occasion.

Suzie/Michelle (or anyone else in the know)....what do you know about the tax on restaurant/bar bills? Should it be charged or not? Recently, we noticed for example that Ajua is the ONLY place that is upfront and puts on their menus that tax will be added to the bill......(making a meal quite expensive really at the end of it all). Most, if not all other places we've eaten do not add impuesto, but are there certain types of establishments that we should expect to? We found it odd that Ajua does do it when others do not - as with everything else - inconsistency!!

[sctx]

I was extremely impressed by the accuracy of my bills at Zenzi..... even with many other people joining us thru the afternoon..... and they list each drink as a line items instead of just listing the type of drink and then adding hatch marks next to it...... first bill looked like this

agua
Don Julio
Corona
Don Julio
Superior
vino blanco
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio

I was quite sure it was mine

I did notice the waiter at bad Boyz running a tab for my table which started with a group of 4 of us.... when there were 15 people drinking there, I grabbed him, made him produce the bill, and paid out our drinks.... he asked about the rest and I told him 'no mi problemo'

[Rissask]

Good reminder Susie. Thanks, and you too Michelle.

We have had this happen quite a few times over the years, not only in Playa but elsewhere in Mexico. We noticed it was far more likely to happen with a group than when it is just the two of us (makes sense).

Very good to be wary of the possibility of this, and aware of what your running tab is. It certainly leaves a bad taste in your mouth when this happens (but it still has been a very small percentage of the time).

[Mogley]

One evening at the tequila barrel a gentleman was trying to impress a lady he had just met. Buying her drinks and anyone else around them drinks.
When the guy came around selling rose’s he bought all of them. Soon everyone in the bar was just saying put it on his tab. After a couple of hours of this, the girl took off with someone else and the guy asked for his bill. The bill was itemized, but it was also about ten feet long. We cruised down fifth and than back on our way home, the guy was still sitting there looking at the bill with a waiter on his shoulder. Seemed to have sobered up quite a bit. I guess the only moral is not to put yourself in the position to be taken advantage of.

[zelda]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

HOWEVER... pleasepleaseplease don't just assume this is going to happen to you and rudely demand explanations from every waiter. MOST workers here aren't cheats and cons and thieves. The bad few shouldn't make it ugly for the rest of them. Assume the best, just be prepared for the worst and handle things quietly, peacefully, and respectfully. Sometimes a bad bill really IS just a mistake. Point it out and give them the opportunity to correct it without making accusations. Our reaction to the overcharging shouldn't be as shameful as the cheating is.

A nice quote I heard once was "assume ignorance over malice". And by ignorance here, I mean the true definition meaning not knowing, or making a mistake... not the social definition meaning jerk.

Assuming malice often makes a bad situation even more inflamed. Assuming something was a mistake allows everyone a little grace in dealing with the mistake or even attempted malice. I think that even those few people who try to get a little extra on purpose are often pretty ashamed when they get caught.

[Michele]

Another quick tip:

Many times a server/bartender will ask if you want a double...meaning more alcohol. Do not take the bait. The only thing that will be doubled is the price.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by sctx

I was extremely impressed by the accuracy of my bills at Zenzi..... even with many other people joining us thru the afternoon..... and they list each drink as a line items instead of just listing the type of drink and then adding hatch marks next to it...... first bill looked like this

agua
Don Julio
Corona
Don Julio
Superior
vino blanco
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio
Don Julio

I was quite sure it was mine

I did notice the waiter at bad Boyz running a tab for my table which started with a group of 4 of us.... when there were 15 people drinking there, I grabbed him, made him produce the bill, and paid out our drinks.... he asked about the rest and I told him 'no mi problemo'

Actually, five Don Julio's were supposed to be on my tab. I just checked my 'entertainment expenses' invoices and they only charged me three that afternoon.
Therefore, and just for starters, I owe you a couple of Don Julios

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Actually, five Don Julio's were supposed to be on my tab. I just checked my 'entertainment expenses' invoices and they only charged me three that afternoon.
Therefore, and just for starters, I owe you a couple of Don Julios

silly portugeezer.... I moved those shots over to my tab

[Heather]

I keep reading this as "Please stay AWAKE in Bars/Restaurants"

[Kimber60445]

Great advise. We just got back from Cancun/Playa and we were a group of 7. We had to have them remove items we didn't order a couple of times from the bills.
Once we had a coupon for a free appetizer and it was not "free" as we got charged for it. We got charged for bottled waters and drinks we didn't drink another time as well.
At Senior Frogs, 3 of us just ordered a bottle of beer....well the waiter took it upon himself to bring us a bucket of beer (a couple for each of us versus 1) and opened the beers already and charged us -- and we only wanted 1 each. We should of just refused, but didn't -- our fault....they try to make money any way they can that is for sure, so you do have to be alert.
Kim