Unwanted extras in bill.

Mudball

Mudball

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On an early flight from Heathrow for business. Dived into Gordon Ramsey Plane Food restuarant for Breakfast (Yup, i lead the high life). Anyways, the bill comes and I pay and dash as flight is announced and all that. Putting my travel expense thru and had a look at the breakdown
1) Full English
2) Orange Juice @ 4.25!!! (must be special oranges)
3) Toast @3.75 (Yup, full english acc 2 Ramsey does not have a toast).

Anyways, further down..
£ 1 as donation to GOSH (Great Ormond)
12..25% Op Service Charge all ready added. (I was a party of 1 with not many people eating at that time in the morning). Its not very optional if you add it and send it over

The bill goes onto say if you want the GOSH donation removed then please talk to server. As if anyone would do it.

I am all for supporting causes and tips but not in this fashion. Everytime i order Domions pizza, it rounds off the last 99p and asks me if I want to donate.. I tick yes.
 
So annoying. I donate but who I donate to and how much is a private matter for me. If I had seen the donation on the Bill - and TBH like the OP I probably wouldn’t have seen it - I would have had it removed.
I always leave a tip but wouldn’t have if I had seen the service charge included.
I find this kind of thing all a bit underhand. The end result would be that the next time I fly I would eat elsewhere.
My measure on this kind of stuff is usually “could I get away with this in my business and with my customers?” Adding “optional” service charges and charitable donations to every invoice would see me lose customers hand over fist.
I don’t think customers should have anyone telling them who they should donate to or be made to feel bad for not wanting to donate. Ramsey should be making customers feel good. Eating there should be a pleasurable experience.
Oh, and you can bet that the restaurant will take all the kudos for the donation when they hand over the cash.
 
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How much was the full English please?

Everybody know what a rip off airport food and wine is. We travel often an dThe Mrs had a glass at Manchester£9.99. Glas NOT bottle. Water is just the same now.

As you say donations should be optional. Expect you will check the bill in future!
 
I check the bill most of the time, usually looking for "service charge." I always ask for that to be taken off. I choose if I want to tip, and how much. If a place is exceptional they may get more than the % that was originally on the bill. Most places get a tip. I have had one place where the service was exceptionally bad, including the waiter grinding black pepper onto the wife's lap because he was too busy talking to another member of staff. He kicked off when I asked for the service charge to be removed.

Not seen the donations thing before. I give quite a bit to charity anyway, not sure I like someone else choosing who I give to.
 
Hobbit said:
I check the bill most of the time, usually looking for "service charge." I always ask for that to be taken off. I choose if I want to tip, and how much. If a place is exceptional they may get more than the % that was originally on the bill. Most places get a tip. I have had one place where the service was exceptionally bad, including the waiter grinding black pepper onto the wife's lap because he was too busy talking to another member of staff. He kicked off when I asked for the service charge to be removed.

Not seen the donations thing before. I give quite a bit to charity anyway, not sure I like someone else choosing who I give to.
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The whole service charge/tipping comes over from the States where they can’t be bothered to pay people a minimum living wage.. I do tip (provided the staff gets the money (yup I ask)) .. we unfortunately seem to be heading that way.

The donation one was new for me..
 
You want to get your self in the lounges, much nicer and its free. Not many pikeys in there either, i have a Priority Pass and a DragonPass.
 
Rooter said:
You want to get your self in the lounges, much nicer and its free. Not many pikeys in there either, i have a Priority Pass and a DragonPass.
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Agree... used to do that when i was a frequent flyer.. Also we could expense the priortiy pass, now we cant. Havent come across Dragon Pass.. Is DP better than PP? Valid in LHR esp T5?
 
Rooter said:
You want to get your self in the lounges, much nicer and its free. Not many pikeys in there either, i have a Priority Pass and a DragonPass.
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When I am going on holiday, I pay for the Virgin Clubhouse. Not cheap but you get a good cooked breakfast, good service, tea, coffee, champagne, cocktails, whatever you want. Even some free beauty treatments if my wife wants one (OK I had a manicure last time). It is a great way to start a holiday and I suspect that I would spend nearly as much just getting basic airport food and drinks.
 
Mudball said:
The whole service charge/tipping comes over from the States where they can’t be bothered to pay people a minimum living wage.. I do tip (provided the staff gets the money (yup I ask)) .. we unfortunately seem to be heading that way.
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The difference in US is that there's an incentive to provide good/great service. In UK, the 'plus service' expectation has crept in in spite of (often) relatively poor service.

I'll tip (often quite well) where I consider service is good/above expectations, but definitely reserve the right to eliminate 'service charge' from the bill! The only issue I have with this approach is that the 'back room guys' might miss out, so also like places that have a communal 'tip jar' that is sometimes on display/used in a few places. Oh and the very occasional place that has explained their 'service charge' policy is for ALL employees does normally get a 'bung' when overall quality of service is good or better. Cash then goes on the table for face-to-face service reward.
 
Mudball said:
Agree... used to do that when i was a frequent flyer.. Also we could expense the priortiy pass, now we cant. Havent come across Dragon Pass.. Is DP better than PP? Valid in LHR esp T5?
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PP works in T5, the lounge near gate 20ish. I find Dragon pass slightly better though and their T5 lounge is nicer.
 
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