Is this considered stealing?

[workinprogress8]

Okay, here’s the situation:

After eating a delightful meal out, I notice when I get home that they undercharged me for something. Is not going back to report the error stealing?

 

[Tom]

work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:

After eating a delightful meal out, I notice when I get home that they undercharged me for something. Is not going back to report the error stealing?

Are we talking about $.25 or $25.00? If you’re worried about less than a dollar, I doubt it makes much difference, so, for me, I would not consider it a sin. If it really bothered me I’d go back to the restaurant and settle. If it’s over $1.00 I’d probably go back since the server will probably be the one to have to pay if it’s caught. I usually check prior to leaving, I have found errors and had them corrected. Easy solution for the next time; tip well enough that it doesn’t make any difference if the server needs to pay.

 

[jrabs]

I think it was a test from God to see what you would do. Or a gift from the devil to see what you would do. Did you pass? Nothing in this world is free.

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Perhaps if you decide to correct it, do so secretly. That is, rather than going up and telling them of the error, which is like saying, “look at me and how honest I am!”, perhaps leave an extra tip or just happen to drop the money in a conspicuous place with an anonymous note.

Scott

 

[Mary2004]

Scott Waddell:

Perhaps if you decide to correct it, do so secretly. That is, rather than going up and telling them of the error, which is like saying, “look at me and how honest I am!”, perhaps leave an extra tip or just happen to drop the money in a conspicuous place with an anonymous note.

Scott

That’s a good idea, Scott, blabbing about it might get the waiter fired.
Under five bucks I don’t worry about money either way, btw.

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

I don’t know how old your kids are (if you have any) but if you do, what a great opportunity to demonstrate putting honesty above convenience.

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[jrabs]

Mary2004:

Under five bucks I don’t worry about money either way, btw.

Huh? So are you saying that $5 is your cut off point in classifying money they is not rightly yours as stealing? Anything under that is , well, what? A handout?
Why is this any different to the store clerk handing you back $4.00 too much? Is that OK because it’s under $5, your cutoff?

Did I miss something?

 

[RichT]

If you don’t go back, you are taking advantage of another’s mistake. Yes, that is stealing. That food server will probably have to pay the difference out of their own pocket.

 

[workinprogress8]

Thanks for all your responses, but maybe I should clarify, it was only .40 something cents and it was fast food style. So then is it still considered stealing? And furthermore, do I need to go to confession over .40?

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:

Thanks for all your responses, but maybe I should clarify, it was only .40 something cents and it was fast food style. So then is it still considered stealing? And furthermore, do I need to go to confession over .40?

Personally, I’d either take it back as an example to my kids or put it in the poor box at church.

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[wisdom_3_5]

The same thing happened to me once. I was at a store (major chain store, not a mom & pop place) with my two kids & not really paying attention to the total. When I got home I realized that I had been undercharged. My conscience was pricked. After much debate (in my head) I decided to go back to the store and fix the mistake. What a wonderful experience it was to have the clerk smile at me in disbelief that I had come back to give him money! I don’t remember what I said, but I made sure he knew I was a christian. There are things more satisfying than money :yup:.

 

[Amber101]

You didn’t intentionally steal the money, so no, it is not stealing in that sense. But it could be argued that you are benefiting from another’s mistake. Though 40 cents is hardly worth going back to the restaurant in my opinion.

It seems to be bothering you so I guess if I were you I would either take the receipt with you and give them the money back or I would put the money in the collection box for the poor.

 

[Tom]

work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:

Thanks for all your responses, but maybe I should clarify, it was only .40 something cents and it was fast food style. So then is it still considered stealing? And furthermore, do I need to go to confession over .40?

Take that $.40, add a dollar to it and buy a homeless person a hamburger…

 

[MrS]

Three times in less than two years I have had a bank teller give me too much $150, $50, then $100. Tempting!

I returned it all… I don’t want to think I need something that bad. And one time the branch manager sent me flowers. My wife raised an eyebrow :ehh: on that one until I told her what had happened.

 

[RichT]

Whether it’s .40 cents or $40.00 it’s still the same principal. How about the next time you go to that fast food place you simply hand the cashier the 40 cents and tell them it was the extra change they gave you the last time you were there.

 

[dominosNbiscuts]

work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:

Thanks for all your responses, but maybe I should clarify, it was only .40 something cents and it was fast food style. So then is it still considered stealing? And furthermore, do I need to go to confession over .40?

The question isn’t: ‘Is it stealing?’. The real question is: ‘Knowing that you are a follower of Jesus, which is going to give you more peace?’.

I’m reminded of the old song:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

​

God bless each of us as we seek to follow Jesus!

 

[Princess_Abby]

i think we have to keep in mind what constitutes grave matter. we do not have to go to confession for venial sins, as they do not sever our relationship with God.

is failing to return 40 cents mortally sinful in a fast food context? i don’t believe so.

 

[bapcathluth]

It is heart-warming to read all these posts from honest people. I was raised to be very honest, and I agree that if it bothers you, you should return it. Since I am so careless, I probably wouldn’t even notice forty extra cents I am sorry to say.

Last year my children found a ten and five dollar bill in the parking lot of Target. Rather than just keep it, we turned it in to the info. desk until we finished shopping to see if anyone would come in and claim it. I figured nobody would, but I wanted my children to learn about honesty.

 

[dominosNbiscuts]

Princess_Abby:

i think we have to keep in mind what constitutes grave matter. we do not have to go to confession for venial sins, as they do not sever our relationship with God.

is failing to return 40 cents mortally sinful in a fast food context? i don’t believe so.

Am I to understand that the official CCC approved position with regard to stealing what you would consider a trivial amount of money in a fast food resturant is ‘Go for it - our relationship with God will remain intact’? How convenient!

 

[gaib]

Suppose you are trying to buy a house and in order to qualify for the loan you get an easy appraiser to appraise the potential place for 25% above its true market value.

Then you arrange with the seller to inflate the price to that 25% over value and make a ‘paper’ transaction in that 25% overage.

Now because of this you appear in a stronger financial position than you truly are in and therefore qualify for the mortgage.

(Short order: Bank is lending to you based on a false assumption that the house is worth X-dollars and buyer has put Y-dollars down - when in reality the house is worth about 0.75X and you have put $0 down)

Also recall - that the buyer make good on all his/her payments and thereby doesn’t go into default.

Is this stealing / sinful???