Service charges for food

[upsidedown]

Played at leading well know chain of hotels and golf course attached venue yesterday and on the bill for food there was " Service charge 12.5% " It was for us £4.33 .

Is this new thing ? Can you ask for it to be refunded? I'm more than happy to tip if service is good but taking it off up front just rankles !!

Thoughts :thup:

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Played at leading well know chain of hotels and golf course attached venue yesterday and on the bill for food there was " Service charge 12.5% " It was for us £4.33 .

Is this new thing ? Can you ask for it to be refunded? I'm more than happy to tip if service is good but taking it off up front just rankles !!

Thoughts :thup:

Plenty of eateries show a separate S/C, personally I always ask the waiting staff if they receive this, if not I knock it off and give them cash.

 

[Tarkus1212]

Were you told before ordering that a service charge would be imposed? Some restaurants will automatically apply a service charge to groups over a certain size, this should be clearly stated on the menu or elsewhere. If it isn't printed on the menu or clearly displayed then feel free to remove the service charge from your bill and give whatever gratuity you think applicable. Personally it doesn't bother me much unless the service has been poor.

 

[Fish]

Were you told before ordering that a service charge would be imposed? Some restaurants will automatically apply a service charge to groups over a certain size, this should be clearly stated on the menu or elsewhere. If it isn't printed on the menu or clearly displayed then feel free to remove the service charge from your bill and give whatever gratuity you think applicable. Personally it doesn't bother me much unless the service has been poor.

But that still doesn't mean it goes to the right people, I prefer to tip/reward based on the service I receive, not have a charge/tax put on my visit come what may!

 

[Hobbit]

You can ask for a service charge to be removed, and they have to remove it. I always ask them to remove it, and then tip accordingly if its 'earned.'

 

[philly169]

i think you are well within your rights to ask for a service charge to be removed, unless its stated on the menu that its for a large party.

I normally only tip cash/coins, i don't like doing it on a card payment as you don't know where the money goes.

We had a meal in our local last week, as we hadn't booked we offered to sit in the bar area. They brought over menu's and said they would come back for drinks, but after 20 minutes or so we ended up ordering our own drinks and food at the bar. Service was slow getting the dessert menu and they forgot to bring the bill over when we asked. So we didn't tip on this occasion. They did forget to put 2 drinks on the bill, which i didn't realise until after, so they infact tipped me for my service.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Played at leading well know chain of hotels and golf course attached venue yesterday and on the bill for food there was " Service charge 12.5% " It was for us £4.33 .

Is this new thing ? Can you ask for it to be refunded? I'm more than happy to tip if service is good but taking it off up front just rankles !!

Thoughts :thup:

They did at Prezzo - I asked for it to be removed and they gave me own tip afterwards.

 

[MegaSteve]

Prefer to eat out at an independent rather than a chain restaurant where I think this is less of an 'issue'...

More importantly... Food is usually better as well...

Aberdeen Angus, for me, was the worst of the chains but think they've now been usurped by Frankie & Benny's...

 

[Val]

I stay at a lot of hotels and it's becoming common and for me when travelling for work I like it as it means on its on the receipt for reconciling expenses. For personal use in with the majority, remove it and give a separate cash tip