Service charges and the law

C_Mababejive

Service charge is optional...
am more than happy to leave a tip for good food/good service.

I will not be bullied into paying it.

For example..restaurant in USA..

first visit..nice waitress,couldnt do enough,good food etc,bill came for food and drinks only,left good tip on table for waitress.

Second visit..different waitress...bill came with food,drinks and service charge already added..!

Borrows pen..crossed out service charge.

Went to till to pay..

Till-"you crossed out the service charge sir"

me-"yes thats correct"

Till man walks away,has conversation with colleage then returns..

Till-" I dont think you can do that sir"

me-" I just did "

me-pays and leaves...

You gotta have balls..never leave anywhere feeling like you have been shafted.

sheer_vanilla

Quentin wrote: »

If you want to discuss posts in another thread, then use that thread! (Though the 2 posts I made there 3 weeks ago weren't "picking" on you at all!)

In this thread her original problem was addressed 3 weeks ago.

Now she has a new thrust though!

This is the point she is making saying that her taste card 50% off has been reduced to just 33% off.

It hasn't.

The 50% off relates only to food!

Despite me pointing this out, her reply was then to say she knows she only gets discount off food!

Now you come on pointlessly saying I point my finger at her. !!!!!!???

*sighs* never mind. you win.

Sharon87

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Service charge is optional...
am more than happy to leave a tip for good food/good service.

I will not be bullied into paying it.

For example..restaurant in USA..

first visit..nice waitress,couldnt do enough,good food etc,bill came for food and drinks only,left good tip on table for waitress.

Second visit..different waitress...bill came with food,drinks and service charge already added..!

Borrows pen..crossed out service charge.

Went to till to pay..

Till-"you crossed out the service charge sir"

me-"yes thats correct"

Till man walks away,has conversation with colleage then returns..

Till-" I dont think you can do that sir"

me-" I just did "

me-pays and leaves...

You gotta have balls..never leave anywhere feeling like you have been shafted.

Yeah in American they always tip. It's part of their culture.

Here though, service charges shouldn't be added automatically to bills. There were 4 of us who went to this brilliant restaurant with 2 for 1 vouchers. One person was sat waiting for food for ages, and they added the service charge at the end. They questioned us why we hadn't paid the full service charge (we paid some), and told them. This is what service charges are for, to identify good/bad customer services.

You have to watch out for service charges in other countries, I went to Rome and it was extortionate, and so was the price of the food! (only 1 place was the exception, and it wasn't even an Italian place)

WickedWolfie

Sharon87 wrote: »

You have to watch out for service charges in other countries, I went to Rome and it was extortionate, and so was the price of the food! (only 1 place was the exception, and it wasn't even an Italian place)

It is rather unusual to have a service charge in Italy. What is almost universal is a "coperto" (effectively a cover charge) to cover linen, bread, olives etc. This is a flat rate (normally €3-4 per person) and is always charged whatever you eat. It is particularly poor from the customers perspective if you have a pizza as bread is then not offered, and you can find the effective rate of charge is 25%+:mad:

My other half is of Italian origin and I have spent LOTS of time there.....

Sharon87

WickedWolfie wrote: »

It is rather unusual to have a service charge in Italy. What is almost universal is a "coperto" (effectively a cover charge) to cover linen, bread, olives etc. This is a flat rate (normally €3-4 per person) and is always charged whatever you eat. It is particularly poor from the customers perspective if you have a pizza as bread is then not offered, and you can find the effective rate of charge is 25%+:mad:

My other half is of Italian origin and I have spent LOTS of time there.....

I guess it's just the touristy areas. There was this one restaurant not in a tourist area that was fantastic, didn't add service charge to bill. But we tipped them 10 euros for a 50 euro meal for the 3 of us as the place was so good! (and cheap)

Surreystarlet

Quentin wrote: »

If you want to discuss posts in another thread, then use that thread! (Though the 2 posts I made there 3 weeks ago weren't "picking" on you at all!)

In this thread her original problem was addressed 3 weeks ago.

Now she has a new thrust though!

This is the point she is making saying that her taste card 50% off has been reduced to just 33% off.

It hasn't.

The 50% off relates only to food!

Despite me pointing this out, her reply was then to say she knows she only gets discount off food!

Now you come on pointlessly saying I point my finger at her. !!!!!!???

Quentin - I don't like the tone of your posts either. I have never stated that a Taste discount should cover a discount off everything (look back at my previous posts) so I'm not sure what your point is, other to be rude to me.

I had a problem with a particular restaurant which I posted on here so other people didn't experience the same problem, as sheer_vanilla kindly pointed out to you on my behalf.

The point you are missing is that a discretionary service charge shouldn't be a set amount that the restaurant tries to impose on you - it should be an amount that you feel is applicable to the service you received, and an amount you can afford to give.

Thanks for backing me up sheer_vanilla.

Quentin

Surreystarlet wrote: »

I have never stated that a Taste discount should cover a discount off everything (look back at my previous posts) so I'm not sure what your point is, other to be rude to me............................ The point you are missing is that a discretionary service charge shouldn't be a set amount that the restaurant tries to impose on you - it should be an amount that you feel is applicable to the service you received, and an amount you can afford to give.

You actually stated this regarding the taste card discount being reduced following you getting a service charge:

Surreystarlet wrote:

the service charge i was charged was 35% which is a lot and means effectively I only ended up with a 33% discount, rather an 50%

This would seem to be you saying you have not been given the 50% off to which your taste card entitles you.

So where/how am I being "rude" to you by pointing out that your taste card gives you 50% off the food only?

And by pointing this out, how am I "missing" your point that a discretionary service charge should be that (ie discretionary)?

If it's discretionary, then we can use our discretion on whether to pay it as suggested, pay more, pay less or pay none!

The taste card discount has no bearing on your "discretion" as far as the s/c is concerned!

Surreystarlet

Quentin wrote: »

This would seem to be you saying you have not been given the 50% off to which your taste card entitles you.

The taste card discount has no bearing on your "discretion" as far as the s/c is concerned!

The taste card DOES appear to have a bearing on the service charge. In the restaurant I had a problem with they said I could EITHER use my taste card and get 50% off my bill, but pay the full 15% service charge (this amount wasn't stated anywhere....) on the total amount and drinks OR if I didn't want to pay the full service charge then I couldn't use my taste card. And if I didn't agree to one of these then I wasn't allowed to leave the restaurant.

Therefore I wasn't given the 50% off food that the taste card entitles you to, and the taste card certainly did have a bearing on the 'discretionary' service charge in this case, which is what this thread is about!

Quentin

The taste card only gets you discount off your food!! The s/c is a separate item!!

The restaurant seemed not too keen on allowing you to use your discretion, but haven't you got over this yet? (Isn't this the restaurant you had to escape from 3 weeks ago in your OP?)

You told us there you did get the 50% off food, but didn't want to pay all the s/c.

Thought you did a runner and got away from the restaurant without paying them the full s/c??

Maybe you would be better not to use your taste card in future, then you'll understand the s/c! (Though your bill will be higher, so not a very moneysaving suggestion. sorry!)

Surreystarlet

Quentin wrote: »

The taste card only gets you discount off your food!! The s/c is a separate item!!

The restaurant seemed not too keen on allowing you to use your discretion, but haven't you got over this yet? (Isn't this the restaurant you had to escape from 3 weeks ago in your OP?)

Maybe you would be better not to use your taste card in future, then you'll understand the s/c! (Though your bill will be higher, so not a very moneysaving suggestion. sorry!)

Have you read my previous post? You are completely missing my point, and once again insulting me in the process.

I am well aware that a service charge is a separate item. I don't care if the service charge is 10%, 12.5%, 15% or whatever and if it's on the full bill or the discounted bill. The point I will make again for your benefit, is that you shouldn't be forced to pay a fixed service charge if you want to use your taste discount. And if the restaurant do want to enforce this, then it should be made clear before you eat.

And both Taste and Trading Standards agreed with me when I contacted them about it, even if you choose not to.