When paying a restaurant bill with cash, should I put down the money or wait for the staff first?
Posted by Fearless_Order_5526@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 115 comments
Hi! We arrived yesterday to Scotland for a 10-days car trip and we went to a restaurant to have dinner.
Once we finished and plates were being retired, we asked for the bill and it was rapidly presented. The waitress left.
I checked it, and it was around 47£. We only have 50£ banknotes, so I put one over the bill tray and waited for the waitress to return to collect it.
However, the waitress didn't return, so I signalled her again after done time. She came, took the tray with the bill and the money and said that she would bring the difference back. We say that there was no need, thanked them and left.
My questions are:
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Is normal to have to signal the staff again once you already have the bill and are ready to pay?
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Should we have waited to put down the cash on the tray until the waitress was back, not leaving it on display on the table for so long?
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Could it be related to the amount of the tip?
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In case we want to pay with a credit card, should we also put it down on the tray? Or how we indicate that we would use one?
Thank you!
keithmk@reddit
Not really an answer to the question but I would just like to point out that the pound symbol (£) is always written before the number. e.g. £50
Fearless_Order_5526@reddit (OP)
Noted!!
SilverellaUK@reddit
Also, we don't use £50 notes very much. Don't be surprised if they are queried.
Sudden-Requirement40@reddit
Or just not accepted. Although it is technically legal tender because they aren't common like 50euro small business are not keen on them.
j1mb0b@reddit
Legal tender claxon
PM_ME_BUTTERED_SOSIJ@reddit
Just seems like a bit of slow service.
Although if I am reading you correctly, you are only carrying £50 notes? They annoy people, and you'd want to change it for smaller notes
Fearless_Order_5526@reddit (OP)
We will change the asap. But the money changer back in our country only had those. Thank you!
Sudden-Requirement40@reddit
Generally you can sit at your table post bill unless the place is rammed. You can linger for 10/15/20minutes if you want most places it's not like the US who are looking to turn that table ASAP. You can leave it on the table or hand it over on your way past the till if you prefer to see it get where it's going.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
People very rarely use cash these days - so in my experience they are waiting for you to check the bill and signal you want the payment machine.
If I pay cash I just leave it and go.
Debsrugs@reddit
Totally disagree, many small independent businesses prefer cash, as they get charged for the use of the card machine. Cash is King.
greentreesonlyplease@reddit
Can concur. I'm a self employed window cleaner, and after doing bank transfer, it was a nightmare to get people to pay on time. Now cash only, and we get paid straight away for the most part, meaning I get a proper wage at the week.
Sad-Teacher-1170@reddit
Dunno why you're down voted so much. I love fairly rurally and loads of shops and cafe's have signs asking for cash if possible
daneview@reddit
Card machine charges are pretty negligible compared to having to sort cash and organise getting it to a bank in business hours, especially if you're not in a town centre.
The only real reason to want cash is to keep some off the books
timfountain4444@reddit
They also get charged to deposit money....
Miss-Hell@reddit
They also get charged to get change!
Lasersheep@reddit
When I see a business only taking cash, I expect a lot of it won’t go anywhere near a bank account!
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
There is this !
Puzzled-Group-6347@reddit
Yeah depositing money on a commercial scale. You could be paying 0.7% to deposit cash and 0.2% for debit card transactions (and refusing AMEX).
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Sorry thsts irrelevant to my comment.
I don't really care what any business wants.
I prefer to use my phone.
MJsThriller@reddit
"cAsH iS kInG i.m RoNnIe pIcKeRiNg"
ot1smile@reddit
The only genuine reason to prefer cash is to avoid tax by not declaring the income. It costs us more in bank fees and man hours to process cash than cards, although admittedly turnover affects how good a deal you can get on your card processing. We’ve kept cash as a payment option for the customer’s convenience alone.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
They didn't say businesses preferred card but that card is used more
St2Crank@reddit
As long as you’re not buying something for a quid you’re fine. They’ll naturally get lower notes as change soon enough.
Towels-Travels@reddit
Ok so a few things:
The majority of staff wouldn’t expect a tip. If there is one, they’ll see it as a bonus. Sometimes you’ll see a jar at a counter but it doesn’t matter if you don’t tip really.
It’s quite common in smaller places that they bring the bill to the table but you take your bill to the counter to pay. Mainly because they don’t want to go back and forth with cash etc.
Alternatively a little trick is when asking for the bill, have a card in hand. That means they are more likely to just bring a card reader over.
If you do pay at the table, you can tell by just watching what others do then yes, perfectly normal to ask them to come over.
Fearless_Order_5526@reddit (OP)
I thought it was customary to leave around 10% of the bill as a tip, and maybe the waitress was expecting some additional cash to cover it.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
It is. I have no idea why people are telling you it's not.
Dic_Penderyn@reddit
Because money is tight for many these days, especially in the less affluent parts of the country like where the OP is.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
What's that got to do with the customary 10%? Very unlikely that the waitress was waiting for it or expecting it, but it is the customary gratuity.
TroubleMyte@reddit
There's no customary 10% tip in the UK?
As the guy above said, the UK doesn't tip
PerkeNdencen@reddit
We do. It's not the same tipping culture as in the US, but there is one nonetheless. Especially compared to Italy, for example.
TroubleMyte@reddit
I don't know what part of the UK you're from, but I have never once in my life been compelled to tip 10% (or anything really) and I have never ever heard anything about this.
I just checked the Ask a Brit sub and casualuk because I thought I must be out of the loop or going mad haha, but everyone always answers the "Hey is it customary to tip in the UK" questio with a resounding "Nope"
So I think this might be a you thing.
As far as it being 10%? That's weirdly specific for a rule that most people in the UK clearly aren't aware of.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
I'm from the north.
You wouldn't be compelled, it's just the done thing if you've been for a sit down meal.
Are you sure you don't need to step beyond reddit for this one?
MerlinOfRed@reddit
It's not a location thing though, it's an age thing.
My grandparents will always tip quite generously. My parents will usually leave something. People my age (30s) will leave something if it's good service, but default to not tipping. People younger than me are even less likely to tip.
It doesn't help that the lines are so blurred now between grabbing a coffee to having a sit down meal. Where is the line where tipping starts?
PerkeNdencen@reddit
Maybe, but I know plenty of 30 somethings who would be mortified not to leave a tip (unless it was truly dreadful service). Maybe the dividing line is if you have ever worked in hospitality? That was one of very few available jobs for teenagers at one point, meaning more older people probably have than younger people. Just a thought.
Is it? I don't think I've ever become confused about which one of these two things I am doing.
Spudbanger@reddit
It's routine to tip in London restaurants, both fancy and cheap.
Long_Creme2996@reddit
We aren’t talking about London though, completely different to the rest of the uk tbh.
daneview@reddit
Ok, it's customary in Essex restauraunts too
PerkeNdencen@reddit
I've never lived in London. I and everyone I have ever eaten out with tip 10%. I don't know what the hell is happening here.
ImpressNice299@reddit
Nobody is “compelled”. It’s just standard etiquette.
UK Reddit has convinced itself that the UK doesn’t tip because it’s something they can bash the Americans with.
ALittleNightMusing@reddit
Agreed. Every time I've been out to eat with friends or colleagues in England, Wales, London, with northerners, southerners, anyone - everyone tips 10% without question. No it's not compulsory, but it is customary and good etiquette. If someone didn't, I would raise a mental eyebrow.
daneview@reddit
I was absolutely brought up with 10% being a normal tip in a restauraunt.
If the service is shit I wouldn't leave it, but if it's fine or better I'd always leave 10%
ImpressNice299@reddit
It’s a Redditism, born from the idea that we’re superior to Americans because we don’t do tips. It’s also nonsense of course.
Spudbanger@reddit
Agree.
wtfftw1042@reddit
you check if the bill says service included and if it does then that is the tip. if not and you would leave 10-15% as a tip (or just round it up like how we tip taxis).
Loads of people on reddit say they don't tip but tipping in restaurants is entirely normal. Service charges in pubs which don't run table service are creeping in and these are a pisstake. enjoy your stay!
daneview@reddit
10% is the standard meal tip at restaurants i was brought up with, but as mentioned, a lot of places add a service charge now. If that's the case I wouldn't tip on top (although, if like in you're case I doubt I'd wait for a few quid in change)
Little_Ad1473@reddit
We don't tip, but if there's an 18 year old serving your table and you wanna add a couple of quid to their holiday fund, then it will be appreciated.
Featherymorons@reddit
Whilst there’s no expectation, it is customary to leave around 10% as a tip, but do check the bill - a lot of places these days have a charge towards the bottom of the bill labelled ‘service’ - that’s basically a 10% tip and if it’s been included as part of the bill, you don’t need to tip at all. Also, if you’re not happy with the service, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for this to be removed from your bill.
tallestpond5446@reddit
It's not that reasonable. Ask anyone who's ever worked in hospitality what they think of people who ask to remove the service charge.
Remember it goes to the chefs and the bar staff and not just the waiter who was a bit shit
damebabyz56@reddit
We don't have an expectation to tip here, although if the service was good, it's nice to be appreciated. We don't do percentages here either, so if your bill is £47 leaving the extra £3 will still be a nice thought. Sometimes, there will be a jar on the bar,if so,I usually put any change i have in there as it gets shared equally with all staff. Oh, and I do that even if I'm not eating and have just gone for a drink. My mum worked bar for years, and every penny is appreciated.
ImpressNice299@reddit
It is, but Reddit will deny it all day long.
Squoooge@reddit
Any place that's nice enough to make you think about tipping will usually have 12% service charge on a evening service. Check your bill. Law states it must go to the staff. No need to tip more than that. But you obviously can if you want to/it's been amazing.
At lunch, or in smaller places just "keep the change" will do. If you want to be really loved tip your server a chocolate bar or some sweets. I do that sometimes and it's always appreciated more than a tip of higher value
RandyMarsh_88@reddit
Do you really think your waiter appreciates chocolate, over cash of a higher value? Which would you prefer?
Squoooge@reddit
Having worked in hospitality for over 10 years, a packet of sweets during a busy shift when my energy is lacking is actually preferable to a couple of quid. It's a really nice pick up.
It's just a nice gesture and it is appreciated by some, obviously if you are incapable of reading people don't bother though.
RandyMarsh_88@reddit
Far enough. To each, their own!
metalshadow@reddit
If you want to leave a tip 10% is a good amount, but not expected every time you eat out. A lot of places put a service charge on now anyway
MarvinArbit@reddit
No, in the UK there is no expectation for a tip. Anything left as a tip of any size is seen as a bonus.
InternationalBoss768@reddit
Maybe if businesses paid a proper wage it wouldn't be a problem. And! This thing about a tip included on the bill, and the pricing? Why should I pay a predetermined surcharge on a service and goods they provide?
timfountain4444@reddit
SataySue@reddit
There's no need to tip, but no problem if you want to. I'm not sure why people are getting so upset about this. Yes, it's a ridiculous situation in the US with tipping, but in the UK, if the person serving me is very good I'm happy to leave a few quid as an extra thank you.
timfountain4444@reddit
And you don't see the problem with the slippery slope?
SataySue@reddit
Hardly a slippery slope, I've done it for decades
timfountain4444@reddit
If people start doing something on a regular basis, then it becomes normalized. That's the slippery slope. FYI I lived in the US for 25 years and the tipping craze was nowhere near as bad when I first moved there....
SataySue@reddit
It's not an issue here in the UK. It's not obligatory or expected, it's up to the customer.
TroubleMyte@reddit
Haha "tips are a US disease" - this is so true! People seem to be trying to normalise some sort of new tipping culture in the UK all of a sudden, its really weird
PerkeNdencen@reddit
No, no, no. It's not all of a sudden and it's absolutely not new, and it's nothing whatsoever like US tipping culture. Believe me. I lived in both places.
Either_Reality3687@reddit
This is kind of normal you could have asked for the bill and then decided to add other things to your total after.
ChallengingKumquat@reddit
The waitress was not giving you the cold shoulder because she wanted a bigger tip, no. A tip is not expected, but is nice for her nevertheless. In a very posh restaurant or for a big party, it's more expected.
Some things you can try when you want to pay: - Call over the waitress and tell her you want to pay - Pack up and stand up by your table, looking around - Pack up and go over to the bar (if you're in a pub) or someone near a cash register, and tell them you want to pay - Leave cash on the table and walk out
As others have said, go and change your £50 notes at a post office or bank, for £5 £10 or £20. Fifties very rarely used, meaning that staff in shops are not used to seeing them, so may not know what they look like, and therefore they may have to call a manager to verify if the £50 note is genuine. Some shops outright refuse to accept them for this reason. This is further exacerbated by the recent change in what the £50 looks like, meaning that even more people haven't seen the new ones.
Oshabeestie@reddit
I don’t usually like leaving a lot of money on the table and walking out in case someone nearby takes it. I would either signal the waitress or take the bill and the cash to the bar and pay it. If you have a service charge on the bill you can ask for it to be removed and leave a cash tip ( if you feel a tip is deserved) directly to the waiting staff or leave on the table.
AuroraDF@reddit
If I'm not expecting change I leave the cash on the table and go.
If I am paying by card, I lay the card on the table beside the bill and wait for them to bring the machine to the table.
If they're not bringing the bill, or the card machine, fast enough and I need to leave, I stand up and act like I'm about to leave and have my companions do the same. They'll come.
I always tip, unless the service was bad. Usually 12.5% - 15%, always at least 10%.
NotSmarterThanA8YO@reddit
Yes. Sometimes to an infuriating degree! Wait staff often dematerialise when it comes to actually paying, sometimes you have to get up and head toward the door for them to reappear...
The rest is you over-thinking, it was just mediocre service, nothing more or less.
Fearless_Order_5526@reddit (OP)
I was pretty sure I was overthinking it :D
However, when abroad I always prefer to make sure I'm not inadvertently making some cultural mistakes, if possible.
JimmySquarefoot@reddit
Also just to point out - there is not really any sort of tipping culture in the UK.
We generally don't tip.
Sometimes places will add on a tip to the bill, and you can pay it if you want to, but there is no expectation to tip. So nobody would ever be judging you whatsoever when it comes to tipping.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
Yes there is. You're thinking of Italy! It's about 10% give or take.
JimmySquarefoot@reddit
Nope. We don't tip.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
yes we bloody do
JimmySquarefoot@reddit
Speak for yourself mate. There is unequivocally no tipping culture in the UK- it isn't expected, nor is it even common outside of large cities.
It's OK to be wrong
SataySue@reddit
I've never been out for dinner with anyone, husband, family, friends or work colleagues, who haven't tipped waiting staff (unless the service was shit)
PerkeNdencen@reddit
Exactly I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe here
Intelligent_Draw_557@reddit
Wonder if it's a Gen Zed thing?
Always leave something for the waiting staff, usually a couple of quid, unless the service is awful. 10% is decent, but in this case, 3 quid of a 47 pound bill isn't too bad.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
yeah maybe.
my rule of thumb is 10%, but I wouldn't feel guilty about leaving 3 for a 47 bill.
Intelligent_Draw_557@reddit
My outlook also.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
I'm not wrong, I've lived here for nearly 25 years. It's okay not to tip, but the idea that we don't tip or there is no tipping culture? That's not true at all.
https://www.exploringbritain.co.uk/blog/uk-tipping-culture-leave-tip-much
JimmySquarefoot@reddit
You're just wrong, and the lived experience of every other Brit on this thread and probably this sub will speak otherwise.
Also that blog article means nothing lmao 🤣
No tipping culture. No expectation to tip. In fact, I'd go si far as to say we're quite against tipping and see it as a shitty American custom that's trying to infect the way we do business here.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
Downvoting because you disagree is a bit childish.
It's not an import at all. Tipping in restaurants has been going on a long time in the UK. America's tipping culture is completely different again (I've lived there, too).
It's not enough, or evidence in general just has no effect on you?
JimmySquarefoot@reddit
OK buddy. Die on this hill if you want to lol
vinylemulator@reddit
Definitely not a cultural mistake! You overthought the situation, you immediately blamed yourself for someone else’s error and you grumble about poor service to yourself. Mate, you’re practically British!
NotSmarterThanA8YO@reddit
We all feel awkward and unsure what to do at this point.. let us know if you work it out!
Alexander-Wright@reddit
I've generally found that just getting up and walking towards the door makes the staff suddenly really interested in taking my money.
Odd, that.
BobbieMcFee@reddit
I have taken to walking towards the door in exaggerated slow motion (after a wait!). My thinking is that if I get there at 20% speed, then they didn't need money all that much. So far I've not had a free meal.
BingoBandit25@reddit
As others have said, you'll probably want to change those £50s for smaller notes asap. A lot of shops don't like £50 notes as they use up all their till float giving you change, and you'll also be a high target for thieves if they see you handing them out.
It won't always be easy to change them in a bank or post office for free, or at least in my local post office they want you to pay money into a bank account and then use your card to withdraw smaller amounts. A way around it is to buy something small like a snack or drink at a supermarket self-checkout machine, you'll get smaller notes in the change.
vinylemulator@reddit
Good advice if they’re staying entirely in Scotland, but if they’re venturing south of the border later in the trip then maybe just swap what they will need in Scotland and keep some of the Bank of England good stuff in reserve.
For OP’s benefit: Scotland and England have different banknotes. They are all worth the same and should in theory be usable anywhere. In practice Bank of England notes (which will be the £50 notes you have today) are usable anywhere including in Scotland. Scottish banknotes (which are confusingly issued by three different banks) should generally be usable in England but sometimes people can be sniffy about taking them.
Also why did you bring cash?? You should have a backup means of payment because a lot of places won’t take cash at all now.
Fearless_Order_5526@reddit (OP)
We brought cash because we were advised to do it by some friends who visited Scotland a couple years ago.
And of course we have backups, in the form of debit and credit cards from different banks.
But, as at the moment we have this cash, we want to spend it before going back. We will not have any use for them after our trip.
I_will_never_reply@reddit
No, no Brit could live with the possibility someone stole it and they were thought of as a bad person. This only happens in movies or where you're a frequent customer or it's a very homely type place
Fluffythebunnyx@reddit
Lots of places either straight up don't take £50 notes or it will be a massive pain to try to pay with them as they are more wary about them being fake or unfamiliar with them so they're not sure what they're looking for as opposed to the hundreds of other notes they see every day.
JustUseAnything@reddit
We will accept £50 notes if you need to pay over £50 or you can use two if it’s over £100, but that’s your lot. You can’t pay for anything under £40 with one.
ratscabs@reddit
I’ve always left my cash or card in the little tray or tucked in the bill folder thing as a signal that I’m ready to pay, but since I’ve been paying using my phone it’s more awkward somehow. Do you try and tuck your phone in there instead? Dunno.
Either way, I’ve noticed it’s become increasingly common that when you ask for the bill, they’ll bring it along with the card reader and stand there waiting for you pay. I used to get flummoxed and pressurised into doing so without properly checking the bill, but have now grown a spine and will tell them ‘could you just give me a minute, please?’ Very unBritish.
Lonely-Job484@reddit
I'd continue to put the card in if it's easier to open your purse/wallet than to awkwardly try to communicate it via hand signals/words/interpretive dance.
The second a convenience feature becomes inconvenient, just revert to the 'original'. Very few card providers in the consumer market *only* provide a virtual card. .
ratscabs@reddit
Very true… the trouble is, because I basically never use cash or a physical card any more, I’m increasingly likely to forget to take my wallet when I leave the house (although I do realise I do still need it as a fallback).
No_Celebration_8801@reddit
Put it down and wave it with a smile. Simple
Hot-Box1054@reddit
. I always do that. Many of the staff are overworked and tend to take a while to get back to your table. So I usually signal them if they take too long to remind them to take it. I don’t want to leave out of fear of them assuming we didn’t pay.
. Doesn’t really make a difference. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I usually leave the money hidden under the receipt if the bill doesn’t come in one of those booklet things.
. That has nothing to do with it whatsoever.
. In the past I would always signal to the waiter/waitress that I want to pay with my card. I look over and wave my card slightly to indicate it.
Illustrious_Study_30@reddit
It's perfectly normal, once you have the bill to signal you're ready to pay. It's considered a bit rude to stand over someone with their wallet open and while they're deciding how to pay, so they walk away. They'll come back eventually, but it's ok to smile and say you're ready
ImpressNice299@reddit
Restaurant culture in the UK is a lot more laid back than some other countries. They don’t try to clear the tables quickly. They’ll take payment when they get around to it.
If you don’t want to wait, it’s perfectly fine to signal a member of staff and ask them to take the payment.
radj1234@reddit
I don’t understand all the people saying we don’t tip. We do. It’s added on bills as well in a lot of places and I don’t know when anyone would query that.
It’s not the same as America where it’s expected because of lower wages and people would be angry with no tips but wait staff in the UK are still not amazingly well paid. I don’t know when I’ve ever been out to eat and not left a tip
qualityvote2@reddit
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crosscourt76@reddit
If you don't need the change, then stand up, hand the tray with the bill and cash to the waitress or the cashier or the restaurant manager, and walk out. No need to waste your time waiting for her to return and no risk of the money being stolen by someone else.
Dranask@reddit
I catch the waiter’s eye and wave the tray the bill came on, or my card if I intend to use that.
PerkeNdencen@reddit
I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but In Northern England, it's customary to put the money down and leave if you're not wanting change.
WillBots@reddit
A lot of people getting distracted here...
Put the money with the bill and leave. Job done. I've always done it everywhere in the UK before I moved to exclusively using card payments, you know, about 20 years ago.
If you switch to card payments, when they drop the bill off either wave a phone or card at them or say you want to pay by card and they will bring the machine to you.
InternationalClock18@reddit
I think you'll need to get used to service being a bit more "relaxed" than you're used to as they're not working for tips.
GooseyDuckDuck@reddit
The confusion may be that virtually no one pays in cash anymore, so they were likely waiting on you to signal them to bring the card terminal.
That or they were just a bit slow.
LondonLeather@reddit
I had this in Antwerp the meal was not as good as a previous visit, but we had the bill and left cash including a 20% tip. We were chased down the road, and they didn't look on the table.
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
I just leave it under the bill tray thingy and leave.
wholesomechunk@reddit
A few weeks ago we put the cash and tip with the bill on the table at lunchtime and left, no one about. Chased down the road, ‘Your payment your payment’ some dude was yelling, dude was chasing us down the street (but we were walking). The place was nearly empty.
SnooRegrets8068@reddit
Yeh few times we used the slowly getting ready to leave thing as a way to get them to come check about paying since nothing was happening and we couldn't get anyone's attention
Putrid_Lawfulness_73@reddit
If they are being slow bringing the bill, just start to leave. They’ll come running over. At worst, just stop at the desk and say you want to pay.
If you have the bill it’s perfectly acceptable to leave the cash on the table and walk.