Compulsory service charges in restaurants.....

[rudebhoy]

I was down in London a couple of weeks ago, and every single place we ate had an automatic 12.5% service charge added.

The hotel bar also added 12.5% onto our drinks bill which I thought was really taking the proverbial.

 

[Deleted member 25172]

Never tip if there’s a service charge on the bill. Have never asked for the service charge to be taken off either.

 

[Deleted member 25172]

I was down in London a couple of weeks ago, and every single place we ate had an automatic 12.5% service charge added.

The hotel bar also added 12.5% onto our drinks bill which I thought was really taking the proverbial.

Yeah, standard here I’d say. Regarding adding service charge on drinks I’ve only encountered it once at a posh roof top bar. It was a double shocker. First I saw that I had paid £6 per 33cl bottled Heineken, and then another 12,5% service charge. Haven’t been back... ?

 

[rudebhoy]

Yeah, standard here I’d say. Regarding adding service charge on drinks I’ve only encountered it once at a posh roof top bar. It was a double shocker. First I saw that I had paid £6 per 33cl bottled Heineken, and then another 12,5% service charge. Haven’t been back... ?

to be fair it was happy hour, and it was only £6 for any large gin and tonic, so naturally we were on an expensive one (Monkey 47 iirc), but even so ...

Gin Palace in the Strand Palace Hotel, not a bad spot.

 

[GB72]

If the option is there, I will take off any compulsory service charge and tip in cash to maximise the chances of the staff actually getting the money.

Not a fan of a compulsory service charge. As others have said, the service should be included in the price of the meal and any gratuity for service should be voluntary.

Interesting when it comes to the American way of tipping. Went on holiday to a Sandals resort where tipping is banned and the American guests were finding that really difficult to copy with.

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

Wait staff gets paid next to nothing in America.
They depend on a 20% tip to make a living.
I don't hold it against wait staff if the people in the kitchen screw up.

I would favor paying the wait staff a lving wage, add the cost to the menu, and do away with tipping altogether.
As it stands now, though, not tipping wait staff means that they're working almost for nothing.

As an aside, what's a compulsory service charge?

 

[Jamesbrown]

I tip around 15%, missus hates it I have to explain they’re wages aren’t great, have to deal with the great unwashed demanding public and work awful hours.
I always ask if the money goes to them and not the rest of the staff though as that isn’t fair.

No tip if service charge.

 

[IanM]

At Sawgrass the car parking guy was shocked to see me drive into a space right by the entrance. Sorry, said I, not used to Valet Parking in UK, we manage to walk the 30 yards from the parking lot!! The following day, he parked the car, and got a tip! "When in Rome eh?"

I tip good service, it's good manners and makes a difference to folk on low pay. Be sensible about the amount, if 10% is less than the price of a half a pint, surely a bit more won't hurt of you can manage it.

Compulsory Service Charge is where a business adds a percentage to the bill....hopefully it goes to the staff as gratuity. But I wonder if it does in many places.

 

[Smiffy]

We eat out quite a bit but have not been charged a service charge before now. I know that they exist of course, I have seen them on menu's before but as has been mentioned above, normally for large parties. I just wanted to double check the protocol involved. I didn't tip on top by the way.

 

[williamalex1]

Someone told me that if you leave a tip in Japan, they see it as an insult and return it to you.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Does anyone else tip takeaway drivers?

We normally do keep the change but if by card try and tip 10%

Doesn't hurt

 

[rudebhoy]

Does anyone else tip takeaway drivers?

We normally do keep the change but if by card try and tip 10%

Doesn't hurt

I always do. Delivery drivers get paid a pittance. If you tip them, they are likely to remember and bring yours first next time they are taking a few out.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I always do. Delivery drivers get paid a pittance. If you tip them, they are likely to remember and bring yours first next time they are taking a few out.

Thats my view aswell, I always think I'm lucky to do what I do so make the world better for others

Awkward other day when the Chinese take away was paid and I handed her a fiver and she refused as was paid had to explain was for her lol

Plus when a group order take away normally 10 in our family gatherings what's £1 each.. that £10 could cover the drivers fuel for the night

 

[SocketRocket]

I always have asked for them to be removed. I will tip but like that to be my decision.
The last time I refused a service charge was in a Pub in Winchelsea, we had a Pub type Meal which was Ok but just that. After paying I looked at the bill it struck me it was a bit expensive for what we had then noticed a 15% service charge. I got them to refund me the charge, they didnt like it but also didnt like me complaining in front of a bar full of people who were nodding their support.

 

[Del_Boy]

A lot of places I go to add 12.5% optional service charge. I always pay it never leave anything else. If a service charge is not added will add around 10% - 15% rounding it up to the nearest fiver and always pay on card.

Delivery drivers pay cash tip around 10% rounded up. Used to be a delivery driver myself back in the day and as others have said you always remember the good toppers and look after them if you have a few orders on one trip

 

[Del_Boy]

On a bit of a tangent was making a reservation at one particular restaurant who wanted to charge my card an amount per head on the day of my reservation. I said I’m happy to give my card details and you charge the card if I don’t turn up or cancel within 48 hours. That is as not their policy so I booked elsewhere

 

[Orikoru]

If service charge is included on the bill I won't tip more on top. Not least because I think it's a bit presumptuous of them.

 

[Hobbit]

Someone told me that if you leave a tip in Japan, they see it as an insult and return it to you.

Spain used to be the same, and definitely still is out in the sticks. Even places that will take a tip will give you money back if you tip too much.

 

[backwoodsman]

Spain used to be the same, and definitely still is out in the sticks. Even places that will take a tip will give you money back if you tip too much.

Spain used to be the same, and definitely still is out in the sticks. Even places that will take a tip will give you money back if you tip too much.

Am I right in thinking that tipping is generally not expected in Spain - but that if one actually does, a few small coins is usually more than enough as a gesture?

 

[rulefan]

Am I right in thinking that tipping is generally not expected in Spain - but that if one actually does, a few small coins is usually more than enough as a gesture?

At bars in France or Spain I usually leave the small change if the coins or note I put down is just over the bill. I always use a card to pay in a restaurant as the exchange rate on the best cards are far better than cash bought over here. I tip up to 10%. Never seen add on service there.

As an aside never choose to pay in sterling if abroad. The exchange rate is obscene. Always choose the local currency.