Featured Image Credit: WNEP
Topics: US News
Shola Lee
A GoFundMe launched to raise money for a restaurant's legal fees has been shut down.
The GoFundMe was started by Paul McMaster to help Alfredo's Cafe, Pennsylvania, with funds as they sued a customer, Eric Smith, that failed to make good on a $3,000 tip.
However, the support page has since been taken down, with Alfredo's explaining why.
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For those not familiar with the incident, a couple of months ago, waitress Mariana Lambert was bowled over when she saw that thousands of dollars in service had been added to a $13 bill, but things quickly turned sour when the tipper asked for the dosh back.
After a heated back and forth between the restaurant and the customer on social media, Alfredo's has decided to take the customer to court.
Smith was said to have left the hefty tip as part of the social media movement called Tips for Jesus, which started back in 2013 and sees anonymous diners tip large amounts to try and help others.
However, what initially seemed like a sweet gesture soon soured, with Lambert saying that she was still 'in shock' from the whole incident.
"It really meant a lot to me because everyone's going through stuff. It really touched my heart. I still can't believe it. I'm still in shock."
Alfredo's Cafe manager Zachary Jacobson, further elaborated: “A little over a month ago, we received something in the mail that Eric was disputing the charge for the tip that he left.”
He added: "We thought somebody was actually trying to do a good thing. And then now we are, what, three months later? Not even, and there's nothing. There's nothing to show for it at this point."
While Alfredo's started communicating with Smith on Facebook, the restaurant has now stopped returning messages and will be taking him to court.
A GoFundMe was then launched by Paul McMaster to help the restaurant cover its legal costs and was gaining traction.
That is until the donation page was 'cancelled', with the page for the GoFundMe stating that 'Alfredo's declin[ed] the funds'.
Below the page now reads: "This fundraiser is no longer accepting donations. If you are the organiser, beneficiary, a team member or donor."
When UNILAD asked why the GoFundMe was taken down, Alfredo's explained: "We did not start a GoFundMe. We hope to recoup our money through the Court system. It was set up without our knowledge."
UNILAD has reached out to GoFundMe for comment.
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