Restaurants: How to avoid paying the 10%+ serivce charge: Save £££'s every year!

Edna_Bucket_2

bj-sailaway wrote:

Well, I've never known a Beefeater or Out and About be shut down, but if your a regular non-tipper you will automatically get your drink spat in, or your steak dropped on the floor before it's cooked - have even known the chef !!!!!! on a steak when it was returned, then put it back on the grill!!!!! A very successful branch it was too!

Yep - always wise also to avoid the "chef's special sauce"... :D

treacle

DSmiffy wrote:

Can I just clarify.... is a service charge on a restaurant bill optional and always optional or are there cases where you are expected to pay it or face a right rumpus?

I'm happy to deduct the service charge from the bill and give a direct tip to the waiter who served me if this is the case.
Anyone?

As a Trading Standards Officer I am able to shed some light on this matter! The relevant legislation is THE PRICE MARKING (FOOD AND DRINK SERVICES) ORDER 2003.

This provides detailed guidance about the pricing of food and drink but essentially all prices must be unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible to the consumer. In addition any minimum or service charge levied separately must be indicated at least as prominently as the prices of the food to which they relate.

Some restaurants charge a minimum charge or a cover charge. In addition, some restaurants do not include a charge for service in their prices and so will add on a separate charge as a percentage of the total bill. This is usually between 10 to 12.5% of the total bill. Where restaurants make these charges they must indicate them alongside the prices of the food and drink and make sure they are prominent so that you can see them before you order.

In some cases, restaurants suggest an optional service charge that you can pay if you are happy with the service. Again, they should make this clear before you buy. Restaurants must not add the amount for an ‘optional’ service charge into the total of the bill. This is misleading as it relies on the consumer to notice this has been added and the consumer has to subtract it from the total if they do not want to pay it.

So if you have been notified of a compulsory service charge before ordering you have entered into a contract to pay accordingly. If the service was not up to scratch then you could argue breach of contract as the service was not carried out with reasonable care and skill.

An optional service is exactly that - optional! But it must be clear from the menu what charges they are making.

Hope this helps!

Horasio

Places that put the service on and say you can deduct it if you are not happy are using emotional blackmail.

They are banking on you not wanting to spoil your meal by arguing about it - I will not eat at places that do this.

I tip if I feel they have earned it and don't tip at all if they put a hidden cover charge on. I was going to tip very generously at a place today until I saw a cover charge which was far less than the tip they were going to receive.

I feel they charge enough for food without being ripped off for service charges.

Biggles

There's nothing new about a service charge. I remember having an argument with a waiter about one in the 60s.

The fact is, if it appears on the menu it isn't 'optional', it's part of the price you are agreeing to pay.

Having said that, more than once I've refused to pay it after bad service. The fact that the waiter accepted my refusal is an indication of how bad they knew the service was!

SimonJ80

The service would have to be very, very bad for you to get a second date if you refused to pay the tip on the first date! :rotfl:

Do you resist the 'social pressure' to buy your other half a birthday present?

CarolynH

elisebutt65 wrote: »

She is paying tax in her wages - but why should she pay tax on her tips?

Because it's income. And the tax is 'Income tax'. It's not just wages that are taxable, rental income (unless under the specific tax free scheme), interest on savings, etc, etc, etc are all taxable.

Troubled_Joe

This thread reminds me of the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs set in the cafe.