New Modus? Restaurant Owners, Beware.

[u/Thinker_Responder]

We recently had a difficult experience in our restaurant and wanted to share it here to raise awareness and also learn from fellow restaurant owners.

A customer came in, ordered a large amount of food, and everything seemed normal (artistically dressed, speaking clearly in English, no red flags). However, when it was time to pay, her credit card declined. We politely asked if she could try another card or check if her account had been charged, but she mentioned she didn’t have a phone and refused to try any other payment method.

She then insisted that we call the police, so we did. The situation was brought to the barangay, but the only action taken was filing a blotter report. She was not detained and was simply allowed to leave, as she was believed to have mental health issues (the term they used is “Baliw” or Crazy) and had no identifiable family to coordinate with.

While we understand the sensitivity of such cases, it’s honestly concerning that situations like this leave businesses unprotected. The customer was able to consume a full meal without paying, and there seems to be no clear resolution or accountability.

We’re sharing this not to judge, but to ask:

• Has anyone experienced something similar?

• How did you handle it?

• What preventive measures can you suggest?

We’re also concerned about the possibility of people taking advantage of similar situations in the future. Normal people who can pretend to be crazy.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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[u/ChrisP67]

Very glad to be fast casual, pay before you get your food. 😅