NAME AND SHAME. Restaurant service charges

gunsandbanjos

Poppy9 wrote: »

but the real issue is that the waiter is paid to provide great service and the management should factor it into the food price not leave it for the diners to ensure the staff earn a decent wage.

Do waiters receive min. pay?

I wouldn't tip £10 for two of us for a meal. I also ask waiters if they pool tips or keep it an depending and my tipping will depend on the attitude of the waiter and any other staff I've encountered. I particularly hate bossy, fussy managers barking at waiters!

A lot of restaurants now limit you to 2 hours at a table so if a waiter has 10 tables of 4 and gets £10 per table thats an extra £50 an hour!

Yes Waiters are on minimum wage.

All the staff were lovely.

We sat for over 3 hours and being a nice establishment the waiter definitely didn't have 10 tables.

Roger_Rampant

This shady practice is still continuing. We went to The Vine House Hotel in Northamptonshire tonight, the menu said £33 per head and then they tried to tell us that there was a compulsory 12.5% service charge on top. I refused to pay it and left a £10 note on the table instead. 12.5% is excessive, especially when you are already charging £33 per head.

barryboris

Renya wrote: »

A few years ago I went to a Chinese buffet shortly after it opened with some friends which was completely self-service, even if you wanted a drink you'd be given a glass and have to get it yourself (no alcohol, soft drinks and water only).

Anyway, of course they added on a 12.5% service charge, which we all thought was ridiculous, and just left a couple of pounds as a 'tip' and left. One of the waitresses then chased after us and told us we had to pay the service charge! We tried arguing with her but after a while the manager came out and backed the waitress up. We eventually gave up and paid.

Should have stuck to your guns! How ridiculous of them to charge for that!

Roger_Rampant

barryboris wrote: »

Should have stuck to your guns! How ridiculous of them to charge for that!

Definitely. Even if they called the police I still wouldn't pay it, simply because the law says that I don't have to.

ak27cr

I had a meal at a small Italian restaurant (Sapore Italaliano) and they added a 30% service charge is this the biggest reported so far?. I tried to say it was illegal and not pay but they insisted and unveiled a hidden small sign behind the counter. At no time did the waitress inform us and there was no indication on the menu. Beware fellow customers!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Once went it pub in Cornwall, reknown for its sausages. We had quaff of ale, and nice meal. Time came to pay, and they did not accept cards. Eh? Nor cheques! Had a cash machine that paid out in £30 lots, and charge £5 for the privilege! Bill was just a tad over £30. Not only one who stood their ground. Local gendarmerie turned out, not in force. Minded us customers of bill, though we had offered to pay.


Was advised by orfisor of the law to drink up and leave. We, and a few others did so. Never been back, nor paid.

[Deleted User]

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Had a cash machine that paid out in £30 lots, and charge £5 for the privilege!.

Of course they did. :think:

Cuilean

The chain "Bill's" (website here) adds a 10% service charge to their bill. It's not mentioned anywhere until the bill comes, although if you read Trip Advisor, there are plenty of customers warning about it. Given that they ignored us for 55 minutes after we arrived, except for a quick "Can I get you some drinks?" from a passing waitress, I was tempted to debate paying it with the manager, but OH, ever the diplomat, pointed out that he'd eaten possibly the best steak of his life, and insisted we pay it :mad:

DKLS

I don't mind tipping for good service, But I want to tip the person who has served me and not everyone else behind the scenes.

I hated it when I was a waiter and told I had to share tips, screw that I wasn't working hard to give my tips away to those too idle or daft to know how to earn a decent tip.

flashg67

DKLS wrote: »

I don't mind tipping for good service, But I want to tip the person who has served me and not everyone else behind the scenes.

I hated it when I was a waiter and told I had to share tips, screw that I wasn't working hard to give my tips away to those too idle or daft to know how to earn a decent tip.

All well and good, and my 2 waitress stepdaughters moan about this too,

However, part of you being able to give good service relies on so many others behind the scenes, so why shouldn't they get a share?
Also, they have often worked their bums off for no tips and sometimes got a huge tip for just doing their job - surely it's fairer to share in these instances as what goes around comes around?