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?

I’ve just been out for a fab Christmas Eve meal in a relatively expensive steak restaurant Generally visit this restaurant 4 times a year Christmas birthdays

cost roughly £215 for a 4 course meal for 2 inc a few drinks
service is always first class and irs a lovely setting
we had to be wait 15 mins for our table but it he staff explained and apologise so so it was fine
we left 220 for the meal in cash and a 20 tip

I’ve always been a generous tipper and would generally say 10 percent as we are easy to please customers 😂

Well fucking done! Where do we send the medal?

I hate this and yet I never send it back because I don't want to cause a fuss. I eat often at the same restaurant and have eaten there once a month for almost 2 years, in that time I've only once been informed that a service charge is added but I can choose to remove it if I wish.

At our Christmas meal recently the restaurant had added a decent service charge and then when we went to pay, had added on a tip! My manager told them to take the tip off. Plus we weren’t too happy with the meal - waited over an hour for pre booked starters and one turkey parcel still had blue string in it etc

So why did you say working out the tip caused stress?

Because in the UK you don’t have to tip and it’s not always 10% - you can choose any amount. It’s the part of the process that requires me to evaluate the whole experience and decide how much to give or if to give at all.
Also some restaurants keep the tips and don’t share amongst staff so I feel I have to ask about that too or it seems pointless tipping when they won’t even see it.
I’m autistic and it can make me feel uncomfortable so I prefer the service charge included so I don’t need to think about it or discuss with the staff.
I hope that it’s clearer for you now and I’d appreciate you not asking me about this anymore

If i went on a date with a tip/service charge quibbler, it'd be the last one

I think some are missing the point - it's the service charge being added automatically that the poster doesn't agree with, not the act of tipping. The costs of being served are already taken into account in the cost of the meal - you don't just pay for food, the bill includes all overheads including staff wages and utilities. Unless it's a large group of people where the restaurant should tell you there'll be a service charge, I always ask for it to be removed. I've had occasions where the server has literally just put the food on the table with no acknowledgement of us or any interaction, then just come to take away the plates at the end. Why would I pay the service charge or any tip at all? If there's been a bit of friendly interaction with the server and the food has been good, I would leave a 10% tip. But it will always be my choice. I worked in a pub with a restaurant serving food, I would never have wanted anyone to feel pressured to leave a tip by means of an automatically applied service charge.

That’s an exaggeration isn’t it? Unless you took your own order.

Could have ordered at the bar. That was the last situation I had where an automatic service charge was added. Then deducted because the service was terrible.

To add insult to injury the blanket service charge was even applied to drinks I had carried from the bar myself, and taken the empty glasses back.

You gave good reasons - thanks for that. But I'd appreciate you not telling me what comments I can post. I'll ask questions if I want to.

I think I served someone that's read this thread and been annoyed by it last night.
Totally bizarre interaction, accusations of the service charge we don't apply anyway and my apparent expectations of a tip, I mean who am I to know what my own expectations are and my own thought process when a customer tells me what they are, it was quite surreal, I don't expect a tip and we don't add a service charge, but that didn't stop her tearing a strip off me regardless.
Merry Christmas hey!

Do you have children?

What on earth has that got to do with it? I'm not the one who was telling others what to do.

When did I tell anyone what to do? I just made a statement that it’s easier and saves the stress of working it out - that’s my personal preference.
You’re the one giving unwanted advice on how to work out basic percentages 😂
I understand if others don’t like the service charge included - because I have the capacity to put myself in others shoes and appreciate we’re not all the same.
How bizarre that you’ve made such a massive presumption consistently with every one of my posts.

You: 'I'd appreciate you not asking me about this any more.'

Are you alright?

I’ve explained that I’m autistic and why it’s easier for me but you keep quizzing me. It’s making me uncomfortable. Perhaps you’re having a difficult day - I hope you’re ok.

Why is this thread getting weird and personal?!!

No need to be patronising. I am fine. I just don't see why I should be obliged to do what's easier for you!

it’s perfectly reasonable to ask someone to stop something if it’s making them uncomfortable. I asked you very politely but you keep pushing for some reason. I don’t understand why you’re so upset by me inserting a boundary there.
I have looked at your other posts though to see if this was repeated behaviour so I now have more insight.

I'm glad I gave you something to do. Set all the boundaries you want. I don't have to honour them.

“I don’t care about considering other people's feelings” is a weird hill to die on @Lastfroginthebox

Professionally trained waiting staff also do "casual work" so the cheapo diners get the better service because we are so trained that the customer satisfaction is the only service we are able to do. If you get minimal service then it shows in cheapo eating places, so service "shows" and professionals are only able to serve the customer that way. It is the same with engineers or any other "service" industry.

I have, as a professional, that it is the ignorant who complain or under tip!