10% service charge

bestyman

Hi all,

We have been out for a really nice meal tonight but was charged 10% service. In fairness it did state this on the menu.

The service was really good but we did not leave a tip. I asked the waiter about the charge and he said that it was not optional as clearly stated. I told him that I would usually leave a tip but did not want to pay a tip twice. ( I would usally leave a few pounds if service very good, Im not a big fan of tipping )

So , my question is, does the service charge replace the tip and why doesn`t the restaurant simply put up the price of the food if it wants 10% more?

Cheers

Mankysteve

I hate places that charge a service charge Ill deside if the service has been good enough not them,I wont leave a tip if a service charge is included, but normally leave a tip at restaurants if the service has been decent.

GlasweJen

It depends, we'll tip for good service and pay a service charge at our local restaurant but the service charge only gets added for parties of 10 or more so there's a lot of work going in to co-ordinate meals coming out at the same time, lots of glasses to keep an eye on etc.

deanos

GlasweJen wrote: »

It depends, we'll tip for good service and pay a service charge at our local restaurant but the service charge only gets added for parties of 10 or more so there's a lot of work going in to co-ordinate meals coming out at the same time, lots of glasses to keep an eye on etc.

Eh ?

Shouldn't that be included in the cost of the meal ?

Cant believe a business would penalise for getting busy and taking more money.

Ive never come across a service charge yet thank god, are they legally enforceable ?

GlasweJen

I have absolutely no idea if they are or not. Like I said this is a small local restaurant and they can usually squeeze all 14 of us in at 10 mins notice and cater to 3 specialist diets. Only place that we can all have a desert without a trip to A&E so we don't quibble over the cost of another bottle of wine.

giraffe69

Ive never come across a service charge yet thank god, are they legally enforceable ?

They are pretty common and some restaurants put them at 12.5% not 10%. First off if they charge then there is no reason at all why a tip should be left on top of this. My pet hate is restaurants who make a service charge and then if you pay by card leave the total open to see if you add more. I think that is sneaky. I believe you can refuse to pay this element if you feel it is not worthwhile and some places refer to it as an "optional" service charge but do their best to get it if they can.

A_Name

Where I work, we add 10% for parties of 10 or more simply because they rarely tip as well as 10 people split between 2 or 3 tables. We have to re-organise the restaurant, it's far more difficult for the kitchen and they usually come on friday or saturday nights when we'd be full anyway. If they book for a usually quiet day, someone extra will have to come in on their day off to help. Basically, it is more work than serving the same ammount of people split between more tables and history has shown that the staff get penalised for it.

It is optional, about 50% of people ask for it to be removed. All tips, whether left optionally or a service charge are equally split between everyone working both front and back of house - I know this hugely varies from place to place though. I don't like 'service charges for everyone!' places, but if it's stated on the menu - find somewhere else to eat if it bothers you that much!

lucylucky

Had a meal the other night with a service charge of 10% included so we left no tip.

Have also been to a restauarant where the service was so bad we removed the "compulsory" 10% service charge.

missile

A_Name wrote: »

Where I work, we add 10% for parties of 10 or more simply because they rarely tip as well as 10 people split between 2 or 3 tables. We have to re-organise the restaurant, it's far more difficult for the kitchen and they usually come on friday or saturday nights when we'd be full anyway. If they book for a usually quiet day, someone extra will have to come in on their day off to help. Basically, it is more work than serving the same ammount of people split between more tables and history has shown that the staff get penalised for it.

It is optional, about 50% of people ask for it to be removed. All tips, whether left optionally or a service charge are equally split between everyone working both front and back of house - I know this hugely varies from place to place though. I don't like 'service charges for everyone!' places, but if it's stated on the menu - find somewhere else to eat if it bothers you that much!

It may be more work but you get paid more.

I would be offended, if a service charge was not stated on the menu or agreed in advance. I would not pay it and nor would I leave a tip as I usually do.

If it was agreed in advance I have no problem with paying a service charge and might add extra but only if I felt the service warranted it.:T

treacle

As long as the service charge is made clear on the menu or in advance then it is payable and would form part of the contract between you and the restaurant. If the "service" was rubbish you could pay under protest or refuse to pay and then argue breach of contract (either party). My experience is that they usually have compulsory service charges for large groups.

anared

I think most restraunts have a 12.5% service charge for parties of 6 or more.

Most fine dining restraunts automatically add 12.5% to every bill (at least in London they do).

Personally, being a former bartender/waitress I don't mind paying it. I sort of think if you can't afford to pay for the service, you can't afford to eat out. I normally leave a tip in cash as well as service charge if the service has been extremely good but I don't think you are any obligation to do this. The service charge is the tip. I think places do it because some people think it is acceptable to leave £5 or £10 on a bill of £200 for 6 people for example!!

I would only ask for the service charge to be taken off if the server was extremley bad or rude (not for things like that are out of their control, like the kitchen making a mistake).