Vehicle history expert Cartell.ie reports on news from the UK that a car dealer (Audi Watford) paid more than they bargained for when they offered a customer a meal out for inconvenience caused while collecting a new car. Reports say the vehicle, an Audi A3 convertible, was damaged while still in the showroom. Customer, Siobhan Yap was offered a meal to compensate her for the inconvenience. Ms. Yap took up the dealer on the offer and choose to dine at  Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

Aside from the meal four glasses of champagne, two bottles of wine, six cocktails and a sloe gin are reported to have been ordered. While, initially, the dealer is reported as conceding to pay half the bill, this was subsequently reduced to contributing £250. The restaurant bill came to £714.61. One newspaper reports that Ms. Yap took her mother to the restaurant and ate, among other items, small tasting dishes including one la truffe noire at £35, two St Jacques scallop dishes at £29 each and two la volaille risottos at £21 each.

Ms. Yap is reported as saying:

 I asked for a courtesy car in the first instance which they said they did not have. They only gave me one because I kicked up a fuss with the MD. I received a sum of £250 but I have had no further contact with them. The statement that they offered me half is incorrect.”