Service

[jjandellis]

OK gonna sound really provincial and nitty here...

Been for a meal in The Smoke tonight. Bill comes and includes service charge. 12.5%

I normally tip about 10%, but the presumptuousness of this p*ssed me off a little...especially as I wasn't thrilled with the service. It wasn't awful, but it was very average.

I can't recall seeing this before...whats the legalities of it all?

Should I be allowed to remove it and tip as I see fit?

[scotty2hatty]

Happened to me in a place in London too, the service had been very minimal so as we were paying cash we just deducted it and gave our own, smaller, tip.

Not sure how legal it was.

[celtic]

Becoming more and more common. Seems wrong to me.

[AndrewT]

Service charge is entirely optional.

12.5% is super standard though - even the Conglomerated Union of Scottish and Yorkshire Misers is shaking their heads at your financial carefulness.

[Woodsey]

Annoying, but unfortunately getting more common especially in nicer restaurants, never told them to GTFO yet though.....

[Swordpoker]

My folks used to have a restaurant. We never had a service charge but many restaurant owner friends did.

Service charge is not the same as tipping! I wish restaurants were more transparent about this. The restaurant owners can legally keep the money. When this is done it is often justified by saying it covers breakages or goes towards staff wages. Same goes for leaving a tip on a debit/credit card. Leaving cash is the most likely way for the staff to get it.

[RED-DOG]

I would pay the service charge but deduct my attendance fee.

[FUN4FRASER]

It really winds me up though it seems to be more prevalent in The South...London , Oxford ,Dorset etc though I think its fair to say there are more "nicer restaurants" than up here in The North

If the service is good I always tip 10-15% anyway  but when presented with a bill that has an additional service charge I tend to take exception . I ask for it to be removed , sometimes getting an interview from the manager in the process , and will leave no tip normally muttering words like " we wont come here again"

Tom is right we should charge them an attendance fee

[Redsgirl]

My folks used to have a restaurant. We never had a service charge but many restaurant owner friends did.

Service charge is not the same as tipping! I wish restaurants were more transparent about this. The restaurant owners can legally keep the money. When this is done it is often justified by saying it covers breakages or goes towards staff wages. Same goes for leaving a tip on a debit/credit card. Leaving cash is the most likely way for the staff to get it.

Quite shocked at this! Why call it a service charge if it's not for the service?
Saying it's towards wages is terrible, the customer shouldn't be paying the their staff.
It's not like have your plate brought to you is an optional extra, anyway. If it is I'd be quite happy to go into the kitchen and dish my own up!

[Kev B]

In some Vegas eateries they surcharge 18% for parties of 8 or more. WTF is that all about? Why should it make any difference, you are after all bringing more money into the place.

[Ironside]

I thought service charge was common although not in places I goto often. If its for wages then that should be on price of meal rather than a hidden extra as some people will goto a place as its cheaper then find out its not massive con

[paulhouk03]

pretty sure you don't have to pay it.

but it seems standard in the more expensive restaurants now.

 I was once in a bar in hk I was out and bought a bottle of tequila and got charged service charge. all he did was get the bottle and handed it to me. they tried to charge me 20£ for this "service"

[Woodsey]

In some Vegas eateries they surcharge 18% for parties of 8 or more. WTF is that all about? Why should it make any difference, you are after all bringing more money into the place.

That is very common in the US for groups.

[ripple11]

Not only do you not have to pay it....you legally dont have to pay the full bill if you dont think the meal experience was worth it.
You can pay what you think is a fair price....leave your name and address..... and they can bring a civil action against you for the difference if they want!

[kinboshi]

Surely if the restaurant wanted to charge an additional 12.5% on top of the price of the food and drinks, the simplest solution is to increase all their prices by....12.5%?