When her sister moved to the woman’s town, she invited her to a fancy restaurant for dinner.
However, the woman was taken by surprise when her sister disappeared without paying the bill. She shared her ordeal on the r/AITA subreddit, explaining how her sister and her boyfriend had recently moved to a nearby city, leading to more opportunities for them to spend time together.
Although she warned her sister about the restaurant’s high prices, they agreed to dine there. After dinner, the sister’s sudden disappearance prompts the woman to make good on her sister’s threat to involve the police. Subsequent events unfolded to reveal financial and family problems.
After moving to the city where she lived, the woman claimed that her sister invited her to a restaurant. The woman was stunned to find her sister had disappeared from the restaurant when it came time to pay the bill.
She posted her experience. She explained that her sister had moved to her town with her boyfriend.
“Recently, my sister and her boyfriend moved to a nearby city. Now that we can see each other more, I was excited. It’s close to the city center with lots of dining options, shopping, art galleries, etc. My husband and I have a particular fondness for elegant dining establishments. We don’t visit this restaurant often because dinner for two will cost you between $200 and $250.”
The woman informed her sister that the restaurant was fancy and that her sister had invited her. “My sister called me last week and asked us to have dinner at their restaurant last night.
We can go somewhere else – there are a lot of amazing places – and I warned her that it was an expensive place and to look at the menu first because they were overpriced. They still wanted to go, she said. We agreed because we hadn’t been there for a long time. Dinner was excellent.”
The woman informed her sister that the restaurant was fancy and that her sister had invited her. “My sister called me last week and asked us to have dinner at their restaurant last night. We can go somewhere else – there are a lot of amazing places – and I warned her that it was an expensive place and to look at the menu first because they were overpriced. They still wanted to go, she said. We agreed because we hadn’t been there for a long time. Dinner was excellent.”
She then threatened to give her information to the place so they could file a lawsuit if she didn’t show up within 30 minutes. She did not answer my question about what she meant by that. I texted her again but got no response, wondering if she really just saddled us with the bill. I immediately texted her that I never made a commitment to pay for them and return to the restaurant within 30 minutes or I would give the restaurant all her details and they would probably call the police.”
Then when her sister didn’t show up, she followed her instructions. “No response. After 30 minutes I texted/called but no response. So I kept my promise. I paid for my husband’s share and my share, gave the manager all the details of their share, and then left.”
The next day, her sister called to say that the restaurant had contacted her and that the police would be called to deal with the problem. “She contacted me the other day because she was worried that the restaurant had called her and demanded payment or they would call the police. Since she didn’t pay, I don’t find it shocking. She explained that it was because she had previously paid for our dinners together, which had a maximum of 60 dollars, she assumed I was charging a card.
“I said it was obviously different than other times we’ve had dinner (this was all four of us and A at a fancy restaurant) and I didn’t pay $450 and she had to cover her portion,” she added. further to clarify that she warned her about the establishment. She chose a seat and extended the invitation, I reminded her. Although she specifically insisted on coming to this restaurant, I asked if she would rather go somewhere else.”
She went on to say that before she called the police, her sister should go pay the bills. “I never promised to cover everyone’s expenses.
She went on to say that she assumed I was just going to pay, but when I asked the waiter for separate checks, she knew I wasn’t so she planned to leave and head to the bathroom. I advised her to just go in and pay and the matter would be settled as the restaurant had not yet called the police.”
“She didn’t want to do it because it would be too embarrassing and she asked me to cover it up,” she concluded.
Once again I told her to take care of it and I said no. I felt pressured to just pay the bill because our family was involved. If I allow the restaurant to call the police, will it be AITA?
It goes without saying that I will never pay for anything again.”
Reflecting on this unique and challenging experience, the woman demonstrated resilience and commitment to her own boundaries. The story raises broader questions about family expectations, responsibility, and communication. It emphasizes the importance of setting clear terms, especially in situations involving finances. While the incident may have been unpleasant, the woman’s decision not to succumb to pressure and stand her ground sends a strong message of personal responsibility. It encourages us to consider the nuances of interpersonal relationships, especially in families, and the need for open dialogue to avoid such troubling scenarios. Ultimately, this story serves as a cautionary tale that encourages individuals to push their limits and maintain transparent communication even in seemingly routine social interactions.