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Original poster

Do you tip if a service charge is included?

31 replies

WTAFFF · 19/09/2021 16:26

I went to a very nice restaurant today for lunch and the bill included a ten percent service charge which was stated on the menu as being ‘for the hard work and dedication of the staff’

I have no problem paying this as the service was excellent (as was the food!) however I am now wondering if I should have also left a tip?

I’m just wondering what other people do in this situation please?

OP posts:

SquatBetty · 19/09/2021 16:28

Nope, I never leave a tip if the service charge is included

happytoday73 · 19/09/2021 16:29

Why would you pay it twice?

Bargebill19 · 19/09/2021 16:30

Nope. A tip is an extra given if, I think the service went above and beyond. A service charge is not voluntary - yet is supposedly added for good service - wether I think the service was worth it or not.

CraftyGin · 19/09/2021 16:32

No - no tip if there is a service charge.

I have a friend who always returns the bill and asks for the service charge to be removed.

I have found that with the pandemic routines, there is little opportunity to add a tip to the electronic payment.

Winnona · 19/09/2021 16:32

My husband is a chef. He gets a share of the service charge, but doesn't see a penny of cash tips so I wouldn't.

StarlightLady · 19/09/2021 16:37

No! But l always make a point of asking if they actually get it.

I tip cash where there is no service charge. In an ideal world, l would like tips to be confined to history and everybody paid properly.

As for chefs getting a cut of the service charge, that’s a difficult one. You would not normally tip a chef and you would expect her or his salary to reflect that.

maofteens · 19/09/2021 16:48

No, but I normally give 15% tip so if they do this they are missing out! But I think a lot of people here (UK) don't tip so maybe it evens out.

Kite22 · 19/09/2021 16:57

No, of course not.
In truth, if I see that on a menu in advance, I wouldn't go to the restaurant.
Just be honest and upfront - price the items so the staff are paid properly. Don't pretend you are charging less than you are, and then make out everyone has to chip in a bit extra for the staff's wages.

DismantledKing · 19/09/2021 16:59

As others have said, a service charge is an ‘enforced’ tip. I don’t leave anything extra if there’s a service charge.

Ashitaka · 19/09/2021 17:24

nope - I have also had service charges removed when the service wasnt up to scratch

lljkk · 19/09/2021 17:46

Only by accident, when I didn't read the receipt well enough to see service charge already included.

Fifthtimelucky · 19/09/2021 18:11

No. We had a 12.5% service charge included somewhere yesterday and didn't leave a tip as well.

museumum · 19/09/2021 18:13

At 10% I’d probably leave a small tip / round up. Less so at 12.5% and by 15% I’d probably not add anything.

Sorka · 19/09/2021 18:22

No they already have a tip. I think tips are for good service and should be at the discretion of the customer. I hate it when places add tips onto the bill. It also annoys me that I consider a fair tip to be 10% and most places put on more than that!

MancMum2000 · 19/09/2021 18:25

I’ll round up but I don’t tip even if there isn’t a service charge, unless the service is really exceptional. This isn’t the States, it annoys me that people are trying to introduce a tipping culture here, even tipping hairdressers etc.

Babababababybelll · 19/09/2021 18:51

No , i have even asked for a sevice charge to be removed.

Its naughts to sneek it in imo and it should be really obvious.

A small tip if the service is good.

Rude to hope people wont notice and sneek it on

TrickyD · 19/09/2021 18:55

We recently went to a restaurant where the service charge was 12.5 %.
I had seen this when researching so was not surprised and was happy to pay.
As we left our waiter said 'Thanks for the tip' in such a way that he seemed to have expected more. I thought this was cheeky.

girlmom21 · 19/09/2021 19:03

No. I hate service charges. I think a tip should be reserved for good service - not a standard service.

It's different in countries where staff aren't paid a fair wage.

WeAreTheHeroes · 19/09/2021 19:06

@StarlightLady

No! But l always make a point of asking if they actually get it.

I tip cash where there is no service charge. In an ideal world, l would like tips to be confined to history and everybody paid properly.

As for chefs getting a cut of the service charge, that’s a difficult one. You would not normally tip a chef and you would expect her or his salary to reflect that.

I would expect tips/service charge, whatever you choose to call it, to be cut between the staff working the shift. They've all played their part. What I don't like about service charge added to the bill is restaurant owners pocketing it or taking a cut. It's for the staff.

dearmrpresident · 19/09/2021 19:36

@CraftyGin

No - no tip if there is a service charge.

I have a friend who always returns the bill and asks for the service charge to be removed.

I have found that with the pandemic routines, there is little opportunity to add a tip to the electronic payment.

Why?! Does she at least tip in cash instead? how embarrassing

Kite22 · 19/09/2021 20:39

Why is it embarrassing?

The restaurant should advertise the price they are going to pay, not advertise things at one price then add on 10 / 12 / 15% and hope people are too embarrassed to challenge it.

If there is ^any 'embarrassment' it should be from the owners / managers of any restaurant doing that, not people who have gone for a meal out.

dearmrpresident · 19/09/2021 20:48

@Kite22

Why is it embarrassing?

The restaurant should advertise the price they are going to pay, not advertise things at one price then add on 10 / 12 / 15% and hope people are too embarrassed to challenge it.

If there is ^any 'embarrassment' it should be from the owners / managers of any restaurant doing that, not people who have gone for a meal out.

it’s embarrassing if she removes the service charge and doesn’t tip at ALL. which is why I asked

Mysterylovingboy · 19/09/2021 21:08

No, we don't tip on top of a service charge, unless someone went out of their way to be helpful for some reason.

whynotwhatknot · 19/09/2021 21:42

No to me that is their tip

girlmom21 · 19/09/2021 21:49

@dearmrpresident why is that embarrassing though? Not all service deserves a tip.

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