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Original poster

Service Charge plus tip??

33 replies

nomorechoco · 12/11/2024 15:51

Is this a thing now? I don't get out much so maybe I'm out of step but 3 times in the last month I've been given the bill including service charge and then been asked for a tip too. Today it was an online payment, 12.5% service plus a tip option for the waiter of either 3, 5 or 10%. No option to not give a tip. At the weekend it was 14.5% service plus tip requested! Surely, the service charge is the tip? AIBU to not add the tip? I did as I hate for waiting staff to miss out but think they should get the service charge...

Service Charge plus tip??
OP posts:
Bibi12 · 12/11/2024 16:08

Don't get me started on service charges!
I went to place where you literally serve yourself and there was still service charge added to the bill.
It's extremely bad practice.
Tipping made sense when restaurant customers tended to be wealthy people and waiters were underpaid. It was also meant to encourage and reward better service.

It's completely different now when you're expected to tip same amount regardless if you're happy with the experience and even if you earn less then a waitress.

Spondoolies · 12/11/2024 16:05

Service charge is ridiculous, just add it to the price of the food ffs.

FupaTrooper · 12/11/2024 16:02

If there's a service charge I don't tip. If they have no option for not tipping then I will tell them to take it off and either give the wait staff cash or nothing.

Bloody ridiculous how they count on people being too embarrassed to say no. They are forcing you into it and a lot of people say anything less than tipping 10% is not okay.

So with service charge that is 22%. And PP is right. Staff in the UK do get a minimum wage. It isn't the same as America.

It is making going out something barely anyone can afford which will end up affecting these businesses in the long run.

LauraNorda · 12/11/2024 16:00

What the hell is a 'Sunday Checkout Fee'? I wouldn't ever return to such an establishment if faced with this fee. Just build the 69p into the prices.

RadioBamboo · 12/11/2024 15:58

MarketValveForks · 12/11/2024 15:54

Yanbu if a bill includes a service charge then that is the tip as far as I am concerned. It's cheeky of them but they lose out from me as if they don't add a service charge they'll more from me - I would otherwise tip 15% for good service.

they lose out from me as if they don't add a service charge they'll more from me - I would otherwise tip 15% for good service.

Don't worry, 15% is rapidly becoming the norm, it will be twenty within a couple of years!

RadioBamboo · 12/11/2024 15:57

nomorechoco · 12/11/2024 15:51

Is this a thing now? I don't get out much so maybe I'm out of step but 3 times in the last month I've been given the bill including service charge and then been asked for a tip too. Today it was an online payment, 12.5% service plus a tip option for the waiter of either 3, 5 or 10%. No option to not give a tip. At the weekend it was 14.5% service plus tip requested! Surely, the service charge is the tip? AIBU to not add the tip? I did as I hate for waiting staff to miss out but think they should get the service charge...

I mean it's defined to be gratuitous, so no obligation to add it! I never do. More bizarrely am I misunderstanding something, or did they charge you an extra fee because it was Sunday?

Zimunya · 12/11/2024 15:54

That's cheeky. If there is a service charge included I don't expect to tip. Unless teh service was brilliant in which case I will tip too. But I always assumed it was one or the other. And, as my Austrlian sister in law says, "Why do you tip at all - isn't there a minimum wage in the UK?" I still tip, but it's a fair point.

MarketValveForks · 12/11/2024 15:54

Yanbu if a bill includes a service charge then that is the tip as far as I am concerned. It's cheeky of them but they lose out from me as if they don't add a service charge they'll more from me - I would otherwise tip 15% for good service.

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