Eat out to help out

Grumpy_chap

Quite a lot of venues have misunderstood that type of element of the scheme.  Maybe confusion because it is such a new scheme.

silvercar

Grumpy_chap said:

Quite a lot of venues have misunderstood that type of element of the scheme.  Maybe confusion because it is such a new scheme.

It is really very straight forward. Available with any menu, any discount deals, eat in only, claim 50% of any non alcohol drink or any food up to £10.
Trying to claim it doesn't work with special menus or deals is being unfair to the consumer.

onwards&upwards

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

Jeremy535897

"If you offer your own discount

A group of 2 diners have a bill of £120, which includes £40 on alcoholic drinks at your establishment. Your establishment has its own 10% discount promotion on the entire bill (including alcohol), bringing the total to £108 (£72 on food and £36 on alcohol).

You must apply your discount before applying the Eat Out to Help Out discount.

Description	Price
Bill before discount(s)	£120
Other discount (10% of 120)	£12
Bill after your discount	£108
Amount spent on alcohol	£36
Amount that the discount can be applied to	£72
Capped discount (£10 per diner)	£20
Bill after discount is applied	£88
The amount you can claim	£20

VAT will be due at 20% on the alcohol amount of £36 (the amount after the restaurant’s own discount has been applied), so applying the VAT fraction of 1/6 = £6.

VAT will be due at 5% on the amount for the rest of the meal of £72, this amount includes the scheme discount, but not the restaurants own discount, so applying the VAT fraction of 1/21 = £3.43."

JCS1

onwards&upwards said:

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

The guidance on HMRC website does state it can be used after other discounts have been applied.  The pub needs to read up on the scheme rules.

"If you offer other discounts to diners

You can use the scheme alongside other offers and discounts you are offering.

To calculate the value of the transaction and make a claim to HMRC, you must first apply any special offers, vouchers or discount schemes you might be promoting or accepting and deduct any service charge.

You will only be reimbursed for the qualifying discounts you provide as part of the scheme."

jon81uk

JCS1 said:

onwards&upwards said:

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

The guidance on HMRC website does state it can be used after other discounts have been applied.  The pub needs to read up on the scheme rules.

"If you offer other discounts to diners

You can use the scheme alongside other offers and discounts you are offering.

To calculate the value of the transaction and make a claim to HMRC, you must first apply any special offers, vouchers or discount schemes you might be promoting or accepting and deduct any service charge.

You will only be reimbursed for the qualifying discounts you provide as part of the scheme."

The important word there is CAN, they can offer their usual discounts as well. They can also choose not to.
I think they should clearly communicate that, such as a sign saying Eat Out to Help Out, 50% off, usual discounts do not apply.

jon81uk

JCS1 said:

onwards&upwards said:

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

The guidance on HMRC website does state it can be used after other discounts have been applied.  The pub needs to read up on the scheme rules.

"If you offer other discounts to diners

You can use the scheme alongside other offers and discounts you are offering.

To calculate the value of the transaction and make a claim to HMRC, you must first apply any special offers, vouchers or discount schemes you might be promoting or accepting and deduct any service charge.

You will only be reimbursed for the qualifying discounts you provide as part of the scheme."

The important word there is CAN, they can offer their usual discounts as well. They can also choose not to.
I think they should clearly communicate that, such as a sign saying Eat Out to Help Out, 50% off, usual discounts do not apply.

silvercar

jon81uk said:

JCS1 said:

onwards&upwards said:

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

The guidance on HMRC website does state it can be used after other discounts have been applied.  The pub needs to read up on the scheme rules.

"If you offer other discounts to diners

You can use the scheme alongside other offers and discounts you are offering.

To calculate the value of the transaction and make a claim to HMRC, you must first apply any special offers, vouchers or discount schemes you might be promoting or accepting and deduct any service charge.

You will only be reimbursed for the qualifying discounts you provide as part of the scheme."

The important word there is CAN, they can offer their usual discounts as well. They can also choose not to.
I think they should clearly communicate that, such as a sign saying Eat Out to Help Out, 50% off, usual discounts do not apply.

If you aren’t giving your customers much of an incentive to take advantage of the government scheme, then you won’t encourage many people to visit you, particularly if your competitors are using the scheme. So you risk losing out on potential customers.

If a restaurant I haven’t tried before is offering £10 off I may as well go there and keep a visit to you for when the scheme ends and your discount scheme will apply. 

jon81uk

silvercar said:

jon81uk said:

JCS1 said:

onwards&upwards said:

rose28454 said:

Went to a local pub this evening with my sister and husband. She has a loyalty card for this place and it gives you 25% discount on a Wednesday . Ate our lovely meal and when the bill came she gave them her card but they did not take off the 25% discount. We asked the manager and he said oh that doesn’t apply with the Eat Out scheme . We said it’s supposed to but he said you’ve already had 50% off . We pointed out that money was coming from the government not yourselves! Shame as my
sister lives nearby and regularly eats there. It’s not what the scheme says should happen 

The scheme is there because the businesses would struggle to survive without it.   It does seem rather thoughtless to try to demand extra discounts on top of the £10/50% just at the moment.  If she has a loyalty card presumably she likes the place and wants it to stay open! 

The guidance on HMRC website does state it can be used after other discounts have been applied.  The pub needs to read up on the scheme rules.

"If you offer other discounts to diners

You can use the scheme alongside other offers and discounts you are offering.

To calculate the value of the transaction and make a claim to HMRC, you must first apply any special offers, vouchers or discount schemes you might be promoting or accepting and deduct any service charge.

You will only be reimbursed for the qualifying discounts you provide as part of the scheme."

The important word there is CAN, they can offer their usual discounts as well. They can also choose not to.
I think they should clearly communicate that, such as a sign saying Eat Out to Help Out, 50% off, usual discounts do not apply.

If you aren’t giving your customers much of an incentive to take advantage of the government scheme, then you won’t encourage many people to visit you, particularly if your competitors are using the scheme. So you risk losing out on potential customers.

If a restaurant I haven’t tried before is offering £10 off I may as well go there and keep a visit to you for when the scheme ends and your discount scheme will apply. 

On the other hand if they are plenty busy enough with just eat out to help out then why offer the usual discount in addition. Especially as most places can only fill half the tables due to distancing. If you need both the 25% and the 50% to eat somewhere then either you aren't that bothered about the food and are just looking for a bargain price or the restaurant is overpriced at normal times.

RobM99

Being philosophical - half price curry? I'm there!