For years, my wealthy in-laws had a sneaky habit: inviting people to pricey dinners, ordering lavishly, then conveniently
“forgetting” their wallets—leaving others to pay. My husband and I were often the ones stuck with the check.
So when they invited my mom while we were out of town, I warned her. She smiled and said, “Don’t worry—I’ve got this.”
Sure enough, they pulled their usual stunt, slipping out after racking up a $1,500 bill. But my mom calmly ordered dessert
and asked to speak to the manager—who turned out to be a former student of hers. Together, they called each in-law and warned them:
return and pay, or the police would be involved. Shamed and scrambling, they rushed back, paid in full—plus a 25% “inconvenience fee.”
They never tried it again. Turns out, some lessons only stick when they hit your wallet.
