The bloody service charge!

[Ilovemychocolate]

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?

nah. shan't.

Maybe waiters should get a better job and stop whining?

(the waiters who feel entitled to tips, which despite your moaning, isn't a universal view. When I worked hospitality I fully accepted that tips were completely optional and to be honest were quite low down on whether I liked/stayed in a job. I also definitely didn't find it harder than retail).

wait staff aren’t whining though you are

They add it most of the time, not just because it’s Christmas.

no ones is forcing you to eat out

They’re not on “very low pay”.

minimum wage is very low pay.
You can’t get lower

Yes - it's post Brexit visa rules. There are extensive industry reports on this factor

No, it's not 'very unkind'. It's a (bald) statement of fact

Oh give over. If you knew anything you'd know there was a shortage in all industries, and most, don't get tips.

It's not my, or anyone else's responsibility to top up someone's wages.

'if I knew anything' 🙄

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/datasets/vacanciesbyindustryvacs02

Data says Accommodation & food service activities has had the highest vacancy rate (ratio) pretty much every month for the last 10 years.

There's not much stress involved in dividing by 10. Just move the decimal point one place.

When I was young I worked in a supermarket for £3.50 an hour but I didn’t get tipped for doing my job by customers, disgraceful really as for young people they really do make a huge difference.

Maccies do table service now. And often that involves trudging outside in the cold trying to find peoples vehicles. So this is a perfect one for “team tipping” to explain why someone bringing food on a plate deserves extra cash for no reason, but someone bringing food on a tray, at a 24 hour food establishment so potentially working shitty hours, doesn’t? also likely having to deal with much worse customers too (to the degree that some maccies actually have security staff!)

I can’t wait for the well thought out explanation as to why, that leaves no room for question or argument?

They are employed, and paid, to deliver food to tables or vehicles.

Why should anyone be expected to pay them extra for the job they are paid to do? It doesn’t happen in any other industry.

That’s literally my point…. try reading the post again

Jesus

I am fine with it, as I always tip at least 10%. But I always check with the waiter/waitress that they actually get the money! If not, I would have it removed and give cash.
I've been a waitress( in my far away youth!) and tips meant so much to me. My dd was a waitress and the management kept the service charge and gave them hardly anything!

Jesus …

I don’t tip and never will. Judge me all you like.

Exactly that, pointed out many times. There’s no need for a long explanation - it is simply that the waiting staff are already paid to do their job well so it’s not necessary to pay them extra, no matter what the establishment is, the type of customers they deal with etc.

Op came on to drop the miserly bomb just before christmas and then fucked off, strange behaviour

Completely agree with this. I am more than happy to tip and regularly do so fairly generously when staff have gone above and beyond in some way even if that’s relatively minor, or if the food is excellent etc. Prices are inflated so much already and do cover staff costs etc (which in the UK is a fair wage), so to be expected to pay even more for an absolutely standard service (that I’m already paying for as it’s included in the menu prices!), I disagree with.
If the amount is minimal I usually don’t make a fuss but there has been occasions where the service charge has been a high % of the total bill, and when it was for example just for drinks, so I’ve asked for it to be removed. They are literally banking on people being too embarrassed to ask for it to be removed and hey presto, extra profits. I am doubtful how much of this actually goes to staff anyway.

Thanks - I know how to work out percentages 🤣

This has to be rage bait? Sweetheart, people like you are why they are adding service charges. If you are spending £200 in a nice place with table service then £20+ is the appropriate tip. £5 is just an insult 🫣

The only time I have been caught out by this to a level that made me angry was in a highly regarded four star hotel in South Kensington . Room was £400-500 a night (prepaid) and on check out I was charged 5% per night service charge which was not on the booking paperwork?? It wasn’t tax or anything like that, it was a service charge on something that ordinarily would include the cleaners etc. It wasn’t even a satisfactory stay, they down-graded us and argued the toss about a refund.