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AIBU?

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Original poster

The bloody service charge!

434 replies

Ilovemychocolate · 23/12/2025 08:55

Went out to eat twice yesterday…we are in Bath for a festive visit.
Both times our bill came with service charge added.
Both times I sent it back and requested they remove the service charge.
Now I know it’s Christmas, but adding the service charge, without informing the customer it’s completely their choice to pay it, is a year round practise.
I am not against tipping, but it infuriates me when it’s automatically added to my bill with the expectation I will pay it!
An I unreasonable to ask the restaurant to remove it every time?

OP posts:
Lennonjingles · 23/12/2025 09:03

It’s totally your choice, most menus do mention what service charge is added.

pinotnow · 23/12/2025 09:04

I don't see the big deal tbh. I would just pay but not add another tip, obviously. If the service had been bad, or the food, I would get it deducted, but, no, I wouldn't be getting so angry about something so minor.

TheOccupier · 23/12/2025 09:22

Did you tip instead? If so, how much (as a %)?

DinoLil · 23/12/2025 09:31

Urgh, drives me mad! I went on a works Christmas do a few years back, everyone had left a tip. There was just me and one colleague left at the end because we were having a good old gossip, everyone else had gone. We were presented with a service charge of £70! Really ruined a great night out and we never went back. The two of us had to point out that everyone had tipped and paid well over the bill amount (there were a few of us) and we weren't going to pay £70. The manager came out and argued with us, said we had to pay. We didn't, we just got up and left.

Megifer · 23/12/2025 09:34

Ive never paid service charge and would tip about £5 if the bill was say £200 and service was good.

ColdAsAWitches · 23/12/2025 09:38

Megifer · 23/12/2025 09:34

Ive never paid service charge and would tip about £5 if the bill was say £200 and service was good.

I don't know if you are deliberately stirring, but that is a miserable tip.

Megifer · 23/12/2025 09:41

ColdAsAWitches · 23/12/2025 09:38

I don't know if you are deliberately stirring, but that is a miserable tip.

Show quote history

Id have said I dont tip if I was stirring 😬

If service was good I.e. bare minimum thats what id tip. If it was great id tip more. If it was crap I dont tip.

PersephonePomegranate · 23/12/2025 09:53

Jesus, I rarely go out these days but even I expect a service charge these days! I can't believe people are scrooge-like about it. If tge service has been bad, I'd request to take it off.

PersephonePomegranate · 23/12/2025 09:54

DinoLil · 23/12/2025 09:31

Urgh, drives me mad! I went on a works Christmas do a few years back, everyone had left a tip. There was just me and one colleague left at the end because we were having a good old gossip, everyone else had gone. We were presented with a service charge of £70! Really ruined a great night out and we never went back. The two of us had to point out that everyone had tipped and paid well over the bill amount (there were a few of us) and we weren't going to pay £70. The manager came out and argued with us, said we had to pay. We didn't, we just got up and left.

Thesis very odd, its usually included on the bill not ussued separately? Who paid the bill?

Vedar · 23/12/2025 09:55

For a proper meal out, I’d usually tip 15-20%, so I’m always quietly pleased to see a 12.5% service charge!

For a cafe or an order-at-the-bar type pub I think it’s a bit of a pisstake.

KindnessIsKey123 · 23/12/2025 09:57

10% standard service charge isn’t bad in my opinion. It saves working out yourself.

I would add that we once went to brasserie Blanc for Christmas Day and paid about £120 per person for 2 of us and they added a service charge on which I’m sure it was 40 or 50 quid. I was gobsmacked. The staff will have been getting double time, and we paid a fortune, it was a bit uncomfortable, I did go to The bar and said please can you remove this and I gave them 20 quid. That’s the only time I’ve ever been offended by a service charge.

JacquesHarlow · 23/12/2025 10:04

I won't even bother answering this thread until the OP @Ilovemychocolate states if they gave a tip, and how much.

Perhaps once we have this answer, the OP will also then realise why some restaurants add a service charge...

MaybeNotNo · 23/12/2025 10:06

Vedar · 23/12/2025 09:55

For a proper meal out, I’d usually tip 15-20%, so I’m always quietly pleased to see a 12.5% service charge!

For a cafe or an order-at-the-bar type pub I think it’s a bit of a pisstake.

So why dont you tip 12.5% as a rule then?

Your post makes no sense

berlinbaby2025 · 23/12/2025 10:08

When eating out alone, I tell them to take it off, always met by a look of slight disgust. Sometimes I tip. The establishments need to properly pay their staff.

Maigllolo · 23/12/2025 10:09

10% tip as a minimum if the service was good and not already included.
I will only ask to remove it if the service was appalling.

OverlyFragrant · 23/12/2025 10:10

berlinbaby2025 · 23/12/2025 10:08

When eating out alone, I tell them to take it off, always met by a look of slight disgust. Sometimes I tip. The establishments need to properly pay their staff.

They do!
Its just to boost their profit margins.

Tipping culture is an American import.

MaybeNotNo · 23/12/2025 10:10

JacquesHarlow · 23/12/2025 10:04

I won't even bother answering this thread until the OP @Ilovemychocolate states if they gave a tip, and how much.

Perhaps once we have this answer, the OP will also then realise why some restaurants add a service charge...

Not really.

Why should they tip at all. The server will be paid at the very least minimum wage. Why tip there? Do you tip the cashier at Next when youre shopping, or the customer service agent on the phone when you call them about your electricity bill?

ScaryM0nster · 23/12/2025 10:12

It usually says on the menus when they do that.

To me it’s unnecessarily demanding to make them
go back and take it off. You can tell beforehand, so when you ask for the bill ask for it to be removed then if you’re not intending to pay it.

itispersonal · 23/12/2025 10:13

We aren’t American, we don’t have to tip! Staff are paid a wage which is at least the minimum wage. I agree with tipping if the service is very good, but to have an added service charge is annoying- especially when they also say you can tip as well!

Truetoself · 23/12/2025 10:13

I like it when the service charge is added on. Saves us the hassle of wondering how much to tip. If the service was poor, I would ask them to remove it.

on a side note, in the US where tipping for services is expected as normal, the standard of service in restaurants have been much higher than UK and it’s always been a service with a smile whereas sometimes in UK I felt the waiting staff felt they were doing us a favour!

Hadalifeonce · 23/12/2025 10:15

Had the same thing in Bath a few weeks ago, I think the most galling thing is that it seems to be a standard 12.5%.
In one place, the service was appalling, we had to ask if our food wast actually going to arrive, people had arrived after us and had been served their's.
When we asked for the bill, in my head I was thinking, no way will I pay a service charge.
The waiter apologised for us having to wait for our food, and told us they had removed the service charge, I chuckled. DH asked why, and said it was nice of them to do that. I told him, there was no way we were going to pay the SC anyway; a nice thing to do would have been to knock one of the coffees off the bill. He really couldn't see where I was coming from.

Ellie1015 · 23/12/2025 10:17

Did you tip with cash after service charge is removed? If you agree with tipping then penalising the server for a policy outwith their control seems very harsh and wont make any point to the restaurant either.

Personally I like it as more efficient. If I didnt agree with it I would pay it (unless poor service) and email head office or wherever to let then know your opinion, or vote with your feet and not go back there.

berlinbaby2025 · 23/12/2025 10:18

ScaryM0nster · 23/12/2025 10:12

It usually says on the menus when they do that.

To me it’s unnecessarily demanding to make them
go back and take it off. You can tell beforehand, so when you ask for the bill ask for it to be removed then if you’re not intending to pay it.

How is it unnecessarily demanding? They remove it the same way. It’s no big deal to go back a few yards to the counter to deduct the charge.

santapaws24 · 23/12/2025 10:18

I thought I had stumbled on to an American thread for a moment!
since when did tipping become expected in the UK?
The minimum wage exists and staff are already properly reimbursed for their time unlike in America, A tip is purely optional and if the restaurant is adding a service charge to the bill, they are simply using this for extra profit.
If the service charge is needed by the business in order to stay afloat then they are clearly not charging enough for the items provided and should instead raise their prices so everyone can make an informed decision on cost before ordering.

LittleBearPad · 23/12/2025 10:22

Megifer · 23/12/2025 09:34

Ive never paid service charge and would tip about £5 if the bill was say £200 and service was good.

2.5%? Probably better not to bother!