Can tips be compulsory?

GentleGiant_2

Considering a cruise.

They say they add a 15% tip to all drinks and a suggested service charge to the cabin steward etc.

No issue on the cabin steward as with my kids they earn the money!

However why should I pay say a 15% tip from a bar or even from the minibar in the stateroom!

The cruise is sold by Royal Caribbean, which is listed on both the Noweigan and USA stock markets but also sold in pounds from their UK office and is within the EU.

Just wondered if legally they can charge the 15% tip.

They have to charge 8% spanish tax apparently on drinks so abide by European law. So guess my question then is can tips be compulsory under European law?

Any thoughts?

halibut2209

It might depend where they are. I don't know if it's still the case, but there are different laws on international waters. I went on a crossing from England to Sweden when I was 9 and was allowed into the ship's cinema to see a 15 film as the relevant laws didn't apply

(And it was Gremlins and it scared me ****less, and I had to leave and go back to the cabin to walk in on my parents erm, er, not sure what they were doing but I had a new brother 9 months later)

Jennikay

I don't know if you've been on cruises before but I wouldn't advise drinking too much anyway :eek: was nearly sick after a few pints once!

I would've thought 'add a 15% tip' meant that if you got rubbish service (or none, in the case of the minibar!) you could ask to take it off anyway? I mean, slightly embarrassing but there'll be MSEers here who've done more embarrassing things

It also depends if the prices are inflated to begin with, when I had my 'few pints' they were at nearly £4 :eek:

fluffnutter

Basically any company can charge you what they like, and it's up to you to refuse or agree to the service. However, it's a bit silly to call these charges 'tips' as tips are understood to be optional. Rather they're hidden charges and whilst they might not be illegal, there are certainly issues around such charges and the OFT might be interested. It's misleading to quote a price as being £1000 but in fact it's £1200 once you've paid the compulsory tips. A good example of these kind of 'optional extras' are all the extra charges you realistically have to pay when travelling with a budget airline, e.g. fees to book, fees to take luggage etc. There's been lots of complaints about this type of practice, and compulsory 'tips' is one such other example that, if enough consumers complain, might be looked into.

That's my understanding anyway. I'm not a legal expert on such matters.

fluffnutter

You might also find that, buried in the small print somewhere, it does advise that you can ask for these tips to be deducted from your bill (if you know to, and you can be bothered). Which company is it?

cardinalbiggles

The question doesnt relate to the UK but in the UK it is not legal to add a compulsory tip.

So next time a resturant tries to add 10% service you can ask for it to be removed, I cant remember the exact legal ins and outs but its not technically allowed.

squeaky

The MSE Restaurant article covers service charges. (link below). Presumably it will be fairly closely related to E.U. regs. But once outside territorial waters most taxes shrink/disappear, so even with a surcharge that you may not be able to duck you should be on a reasonable price level.

Restaurant Rights: Bad service/food, what can you do?

Empty_pockets

Thomson don't charge tips.

NCL do but you can 'opt out'

Each liner has it's own rules. The American ones such as Celebrity tend to have higher charges.

Check out http://www.cruises.co.uk/ for a full breakdown.

GentleGiant_2

fluffnutter wrote: »

You might also find that, buried in the small print somewhere, it does advise that you can ask for these tips to be deducted from your bill (if you know to, and you can be bothered). Which company is it?

Thanks,

Royal Caribbean.