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?

This makes no sense whatsoever.
No restaurant ever issues a bill for service separately.

OK i genuinely take that on board as a few have said similar and will stop tipping for just "ok"

We're getting more American by the day.
NO tip or service charge!

As predicted, the OP @Ilovemychocolate hasn't returned yet.

No drama, but I'm just saying, if we don't know if the OP actually tipped after removing the service charge, and how much, then we don't really know anything etc.

It’s not untaxed.

Why comment if you know so little

I would continue if you want to - why should someone else lost £5 because some entitled people say its not enough?

I'd rather have £5 than £0

It's not a big deal, its an "optional" service charge

It annoys me so much and it should not be allowed. Most times the boss just keeps it anyway. They act like you have done something terrible if you ask for it to be removed. In Australia where I live they have no tipping at all. Fo you know what happens instead? The staff get paid a decent wage, and penalty rates for Sunday's and Public holidays. Even in a fancy restaurant you pay the exact amount and leave no issue.

The way UK is copying America with its tipping is so annoying. It's just a race to the bottom. Why are we trying to be more like America where wait staff earn absolutely fuck all and rely on subsidies from the general public instead of actual wages from their business owner boss? I would absolutely ban tipping in the UK if I could. Not in restaurants, hairdressers, taxis. It's not socialist at all. Just give a decent wage and we can all be happy.

You're describing the situation in the USA and increasingly in the UK. This is not the norm in many European countries (or in Australia according to the post immediately above) where hotel and restaurant staff are skilled, well paid and respected, and where people expect to pay for good service and good food.

One feature of US and UK hospitality is that many hotels, pubs and restaurants are owned by corporate entities that operate on tight margins and rapid turnover and rely on low paid, semi-skilled staff. These companies have driven the independent hotels and restaurants out of the market by undercutting them and have created a situation where re-heated food is now the norm, supplied in bulk from huge catering factories, and customers no longer know how to value the food that they are being served. Staff are seen as being disposable - there's always another desperate soul willing to work for the minimum wage and countless stories (including here on MN) of young people working "trial" shifts and then not being paid.

"For that to happen prices would have to be increased - how would those of you too tight to tip feel about that?"

I have no objection to paying more for better food and service - the objection is to finding that sometimes over 20% of the bill is just a charge for a level of "service" which is often not justified.

Usually 10% as a guide is it not ?

Tbh I also only ever tip (cash only) after asking if the person gets to keep the full tip themselves so I thought £5 direct to the waiter/waitress for "service was fine, not brilliant, but alright" was ok .

It’s pretty standard practise for anywhere with table service. It’s also usually stated on the menu.

the only time I ask for it taken off is if the service has been bad (went out a few weeks ago and my friends meal had to be chased up 3 times, to finally be told after the rest of us had finished that she needed to re-order).

if you would normally tip, why are you being so petty about it?

This is why I no longer eat out at all.
Last time I stopped for a coffee somewhere, they tried to add a service charge on just for handing me a cup over the counter at the till, so I don't even use cafes now.

We are not the US, where wages are traditionally lower and it is understood that without tips people couldn't do the job.
There is no need to tip someone in the UK who is being paid the same money as most of their customers, just because they carried some crockery from A to B.
I have, in the past, worked as a waitress and in various bars or pubs so I do know what the job entails.

I also resent being told that if I order a more expensive meal, the person who carried the plate somehow deserves more of my money for carrying it than they'd get if I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu.

It doesn't really change the amount of work waitstaff do, whether I order the most expensive or cheapest thing if it fits on one plate or in one glass, so why should I give them more because I'm spending more on my meal?

Just because someone has gone out to eat, doesn't mean they didn't save up all year to afford that one meal out or that they are loaded enough to throw money at randoms who happen to work in a restaurant, quite likely on the same wage.

I used to tip if service was particularly good or the wait staff were pleasant, but as soon as the service charge stuff came in I completely stopped.

I still tip in cash rather than opting for the added on the bill.

One of my DC’s works in a cafe, in an expensive city. His tips keep him afloat.

The service charge is usually below what I’d normally tip so I don’t mind!

I dont think there is a guide

So still no answer as to why wait staff should be singled out for tipping when it doesn't apply to others doing equally hard jobs with lengthy hours ...?

I asked the same thing upthread. Not sure anyone has an answer to this…

If you don’t want to tip eat at Maccie D’s or such like

An extra £5 for maybe 10 minutes they spend taking the order and bringing the food, drinks and bill isn't bad considering they're also getting paid a normal wage, I wouldn't scoff at that personally, they'll be serving multiple tables if all of them tipped £5 it could be a very good hourly rate
It's not a highly skilled job, there are many minimum wage jobs just as hard work with no tips

Service is added separately at garages isn’t it.
labour and parts?

Same for a painter and decorator right
labour and materials

But you dont as the consumer get to decide how much the man hours cost at a garage, and its not optional.

If restaurants put the whole price on the menu and no tips, that would be great

Thats not the same at all, the labour is part of the job youre paying for and isnt optional.

I never quite understand the 'American import' take on tipping culture.

I'm in my late 40's. As kids we ate out a lots with our parents and friends, in restaurants. My parents always tipped, leaving a note of whatever value on the plate. That's 40 years ago.

I really don't think tipping is a new thing at all.

It's not "added", no ... it's part of the price, and having paid the price there's no expectation that you'll bung them more