Tipping is not the done thing.

[Lyndaishistory]

You are not expected to tip in the UK! I'm not sure why some people think otherwise.
I would only tip if service was above and beyond but it is not an expectation and I wouldn't "cave" if it was crap service.

Husband and I had a rubbish meal at a well known resturant chain for our anniversary. I complained at the time but nothing was done about it.
Left husband to pay the bill and he tipped them. Bloody hell, I want my fiver back!
Seriously considering LTB over this.

[WorraLiberty]

It's not compulsory but I'm not sure where you got 'it's not an expectation' from? It kind of is here, especially restaurants, takeaway deliveries and taxis.

YANBU to be angry that he tipped for rubbish service and even worse that he used your money.

[Lyndaishistory]

WorraLiberty

I shall rephrase that to "should not be an expectation," no one should expect a tip.
My husband is a bit "conditioned" by the system, I reckon.

[tinstar]

I hate the concept of tipping - feels so patronising.

[ForTheGram]

@Seniorcitizen1 You clearly have no understanding of the service industry. Hope circumstance never dictates that you or anyone you consider friend or family finds themselves in the lowly position of working as wait staff. Dickhead.

[PizzaPower]

What @ForTheGram said.

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

If the service is shit do you still think people should tip ForTheGram?

[MsChanandlerBoing]

Agree with @ForTheGram

Out of interest do people tip for delivery? A friend of mine does but I usually find they’re so quick I can’t give them the money - how do you do it?? 😂 or is it just not a thing?

[SandyY2K]

I only tip for very good service. It should not be an expectation...staff are being paid and a service charge is often included.

I wouldn't too on top of a service charge. If I get bad service, I ask for the service charge to be removed. You don't have to pay it...a lot of people don't realise this, but I worked in the hospitality industry so I know.

[Lyndaishistory]

SandyY2K

I knew could ask them to take off a service charge. I've never done that though.
I find it annoying that they are trying to make tipping conventional and convenient by making it an option to go through when paying by card.

[SweetSummerchild]

You are so right. I don’t tip anyone either here or abroad, even in America. They are just doing their job and parr of it is to provide very good service. I know they are low paid but perhaps if they had worked hard at school to get a better paid job or not done a mickey mouse degree at a crap university they wouldn’t need to eaiting tables. I deliver great service to my clients, and they pay me a hefty day rate, and would never expect a bonus/ tip for simply doing my job

I’m assuming this is tongue-in-cheek. This must be a piss take?

[PollyMycroft]

I tip for good enough service -always 'and your own' at the bar and a tip in restaurants with waiter service. I rarely don't tip because service is generally good enough and I've worked in a bar and in restaurants so I know how crap conditions and job security are. It might not be expected but I don't think that's relevant.

[birthdaygirls]

Good grief, tipping is as British as you can get! Have you ever read Dickens? Shakespeare? A history book?!

OP do you ask for the service charge to be removed every single time?

[2up2manydown]

The thing is, restaurant prices are generally a bit lower in the US, to take into account the customer paying a portion of the server’s wages.

Prices here are higher to take into account all costs and overheads. There is no justification for tipping unless restaurants start lowering their prices. It’s become part of our culture thanks to our exposure to America and its culture. It’s a joke really. The worst if the option service charge that’s added but you can ask for it to be removed if you want everyone to think your a tight-fisted miser. It’s extortion really.

[RobinEggs]

senior you don’t tip in America? Why not? It’s totally expected and not leaving a tip is like not paying the full price.

[SandyY2K]

I just skip past the tip thing with card payments. It's annoying.

Good enough service is doing what you're paid for . It has to be better than good enough for me to tip.

When I've waited ages for a meal and struggled to get the attention of waiting staff... that's when I get the service charge removed.

The British are generally to polite to do that.

[Lyndaishistory]

OP do you ask for the service charge to be removed every single time?
I've never asked for a service charge to be removed, have you?
I do tip good service. This happened to be crap service that I wouldn't have tipped.

[MarthasGinYard]

'Husband and I had a rubbish meal at a well known resturant chain for our anniversary'

There lies your problem

[Thisnamechanger]

I tip unless service is bad. Have always tipped hairdresser, waiters and taxi drivers (although less so now Uber is a thing).

I remember how much I valued tips when I was a waiter!

[RiverTam]

Was the meal rubbish or the service? If the meal is rubbish speak to the manager, that’s nothing to do with the server.

If the service is ok I tip around 10%, If good I tip 15%, If awful I wouldn’t tip at all but it would have to be really awful. Usually I would tip 10% and simply not go back.

[Lyndaishistory]

'Husband and I had a rubbish meal at a well known resturant chain for our anniversary'

There lies your problem grin

haha, you're right, we shouldn't eat!

[ILoveMyDressingGown]

I used to work in a pub and I ws never given a tip. Possibly because I'm a miserable bastard, granted. I rarely leave a tip unless the service was very good.

[Jayfee]

Can someone explain the percentage thing. E.g. hairdresser does bob cut..£35 in one salon, £55 in another. Why should one get £3.50 and one £5.50 for the same service??

[RhiWrites]

I’ve been tipping for twenty years. So does everyone I know.

[JennyBlueWren]

How much do people tip? I've always just rounded up the bill (keep the change) or left whatever loose change I had but dh believes in a strict 10% minimum even when that is awkward due to lack of change.