Gratuity

[Bathjelly]

I'm jut looking for some advice (be kind to me......first aibu).
Went out last night, big group of us, lots of wine, bill came, paid bill, all fine.
I was looking at the bill this morning though, and just realised that an 'optional gratuity' (for a considerable amount), had been added to the bill, which we paid. That's all fine and well, but we also left a large tip. Would I be unreasonable to ask for the 'optional gratuity' back? Do I have any legal grounds to stand on?
Thanks for your advice.

Yes, you would be unreasonable, you should have checked the bill at the time. Your mistake.

YABU, you should have checked the bill properly.

It fairly standard for a gratuity for large groups to be automatically added. Tbh if you were all happy with the service and the amount you paid on the night then I think you should let it go.

YABU you should have checked, sorry!

It's pretty standard for an automatic 10% tip to be added to parties of 8 or more. I don't know any restaurant that doesn't do this.

The bill will always say whether service is included or not, so you know whether to add a tip.

and just realised that an 'optional gratuity' (for a considerable amount)

How much? 12.5% is normal fas a service charge.

YABU because you didn't read it at the time.

Also I've worked a waitress and clearly remember looking after a table of 30 and there was no gratuity policy. They were my only table for the whole evening and they left no tip at all!

God no, you cant go and ask for it back now. Crikey. Your mistake, just be more wary next time.

You can't ask for it back now, but you have learned a lesson for next time. Check if the tip has already been included, and if it has, don't pay any more!

Jumpingthroughhoops- it was the normal 12.5%, it was just a really big meal!
Catsdontcare- I know how you feel- it's happened to me too, so we left a hefty tip for the waiter (unaware of the gratuity!)

Thanks for the advice- I overlooked it, I just hope it went to the waiting staff (at least that would soften the blow!)

Ah well just think how very very pleased your waiter would have been! It's a hard job and you don't always get treated that well!

Thanks catsdontcare .........it's getting me through my hangover (I'm just hoping my dh will see it that way too!! )

I've never heard of an optional gratuity being added to a bill automatically. Of course some places add a 10% service charge which somebody told me you could refuse to pay if you weren't happy with the service. Never tried this though. I think it was sneaky of the restaurant to do this. You could try phoning Trading Standards. Don't think this is on really. It's misleading in my opinion.

Don't think you'd get very far with Trading Standards as it is a normal thing to do and they were very clear about it. I always check to see if there is a service charge before leaving a tip. Though I do think it's cheeky when they add a service charge and then the credit card machine asks you if you want to add a gratuity.

I think you'd be unreasonable to ask for it back now. Put it down to experience and read bill properly next time it will mean a lot to the waiting staff to have the extra and you obviously weren't objecting at the time.

A group of 16 of us recently went to pizza express at lunch - parents and children and we intentionally added a tip over and above the one on the bill as the staff had been amazing especially with the children. They worked hard and earnt it

I've not paid a service charge before, we asked them to remove it, they refused to saying we had to pay it, so my friend popped out to find a shop that gave her some change so we could just leave the right money for the bill.

I always tip the waiting staff in cash if I'm paying with my card since I found out that the staff do not get tips put on the card, the company do .

Kalddkaka- apart from my own stupidity, that's what's annoyed me the most!

Do you have to tell OH? Just chalk it up to experience and read the bill more carefully in future.

kaldakka, that's not true, ime anyway, and certainly in my restaurant all the tips whether cash or credit cards go to the staff.