A $3,000 tip left for a waitress in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has become a total pain in the backside for staff at Alfredo's Cafe.
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 customer on social media, Alfredo's has decided to take the diner to court.
According to Best Life, managers were initially suspicious when Eric Smith tipped like there’s no tomorrow, despite only ordering a stromboli.
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But Smith’s payment went through, and Smith allegedly said he was leaving the payment as part of a social media movement called Tips for Jesus.
Lambert explained: "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."
However, the situation took a turn for the worse a few weeks later, according to Alfredo's Cafe manager Zachary Jacobson, who explained: “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."
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Alfredo's staff had hoped it was all just a big misunderstanding when they first reached out to Smith, having already paid Lambert the $3,000, which the restaurant has now lost.
Although Alfredo's started communicating with Smith on Facebook, the restaurant has now stopped returning messages, and will be taking him to court.
"It's just a little aggravating right now. It's been causing a lot of nonsense and drama," said Jacobson.
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"Unfortunately, we had to file charges through the magistrate's office because now we're just out of this money at this point. And he told us to sue him. so that's what we're going to end up doing, I guess."
He added that he hopes Alfredo's will come out on top in court, but noted that whatever happens, the situation has been tarnished for good.
"I hope that he owns up to his actions and comes forth and does pay this because you shouldn't have done this if this was the end result," he said.
UNILAD has approached Alfredo's Cafe for further comment.
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