A group of friends and I went to the IHOP in Decatur, IL. We have considered ourselves "regular" customers and go there on average of anywhere from 1-3 times per week. We usually go late in the evening as that is how our schedules allow for us to go.

On August 20, 2010, there were 7 of us on our group. We met up at IHOP and walked through the door, knowing full well that we would be able to use our debit cards to pay our individual bills once our meal was finished. There were no signs on the door stating that there was anything wrong with their credit card machine, as there have been problems in the past. So we always try to pay attention to that when we come in.

Between the seven of us, we ordered our food and informed the waitress that there would be 3 separate checks and told her who was on which check. We received excellent service from our waitress throughout the course of our meal. Then she brought us our checks and I immediately handed her my VISA debit card. She looked apologetic and stated that she was sorry, but the credit card machine wasn't working and hadn't been working since she came on her shift that evening. We came in to their establishment shortly after 10:00 p.m. that evening. I had cash and placed a $20 bill in my folder and handed it to her. But the other people with the group did not have cash on them. One couple asked if they could write a check and proceeded to go out to their vehicle to get their checkbook. The waitress told them that she would go and ask the manager.

Another gentleman with our group was upset about it and when the manager came to the table, it was clear that she was angry that we asked her to come out to the table. She told the gentleman that was upset that he could either pay with cash or go to an ATM machine to get cash to pay his bill. He stated that he did not bank in that area and felt that we were not informed of their credit card machine not working before we ordered our food and felt that he should have been allowed to at least write a check. The manager kept getting more and more angry and began to raise her voice.

We had been at that restaurant for nearly an hour and a half by the time we got our tickets and when the manager came out, she stated that the machine had "just gone down" and she called the waitress a liar who initially told us that the machine had been down since she came on the shift that evening. She repeated to the gentleman about the fact that he could either pay with cash or go out to an ATM to get cash. She went on to say that if we were at a grocery store and the credit card machines went down, they would do the same thing. But the gentleman said that he would leave the groceries and leave the store. With IHOP, we didn't have that option. We were told after we had already eaten. He stated that if they have the VISA/Mastercard logo on the door, they have to honor that or any other method of payment that the customer was able to pay with at the moment.

The manager went on to say that she would be glad when the waiter that usually waits on us was back because she knew that "he appreciates your crap." That particular waiter has been off for several weeks for personal reasons. Then the gentleman said that she didn't have to say that and he didn't have to listen to how she was talking to him and said that he would call corporate and complain. Then she raised her voice even louder to the point that the entire restaurant was now able to hear her and said, "I can say anything I want! I am Katrina Theus and you can go ahead and call corporate! I don't give a fuck!" She proceeded to apologize to a couple who were sitting in a booth near where we were at as they were getting up to walk out.

We all sat there stunned and didn't know quite what to do. There was a commotion amongst the wait staff and a few minutes later, she came back with a long receipt and waived it in the gentleman's face and said that she "zeroed" out the entire bill of $72 so he wouldn't have to worry about paying it and proceeded to tell us that we could leave. I was given my $20 bill back by the waitress who appeared to be close to tears at the time.

Our group of people who were patronizing that particular IHOP establishment are Christian individuals and we tried to get the matter resolved as peacefully as possible. There were young teenagers in our group who were subjected to both her attitude and her language, which was, quite frankly, unacceptable for a manager. I would hope that someone from upper management will see this and get the message to the right person... I will, in the meantime, attempt to find a number to call where I can speak to someone who can address this issue before someone else is verbally abused by this woman.

Suffice it to say, we will not be returning to that establishment, which is too bad because we have enjoyed the service there in the past. This time was just too much!