AIBU to request a service charge is removed before service?

[Globules]

Went to a lovely restaurant yesterday. We began by ordering at the table using the app. We expected to pay before recieving our food.

The app automatically added a 12.5% service charge to the order. There was no option to remove it.

So I went to the bar and ordered. The server put the order through the app I'd just used, therefore the total was the same. I asked her to take off the service charge. She seemed surprised, but did so.

Inside I was thinking I haven't had any service yet, how can you charge me for it now?

The server poured the 2 drinks at the bar. I carried them to our table. Another server carried our plates of food 3m from the hatch to the table.

There was no other interaction with servers at all. The servers were pleasant enough, but 20 seconds of announcing food was all it amounted to.

The food was really tasty but nothing service wise to justify the £7 service charge they asked for upfront, before you'd even experienced the service!

I think it's completely up to you. I've never seen it added prior to the service.

I had drinks at our local pub and they charged 12.5% on a coffee, a diet coke and a plate of chips for a 3 year old. Drinks were carried back from the bar myself. Chips were plonked on the table while they passed by to serve a bigger table (totally fine). I wish I had asked for the service charge to be removed but I was too embarrassed (why?!).

Sad thing is, it's a local independent restaurant. Does food very well.

We figured that the service charge was going towards paying for the app development rather than the table service.

I ordered drinks and food via my phone (QR code on the table) at Dublin airport the other day. Non alcoholic drinks and food are delivered by a robot in this bar. The website automatically adds service charge but thankfully I was able to take it off. Adding service charge when being served by robots is seriously taking the piss.

When you get a bunch of private equity chains opening up in your area in the next 3 years, replacing your "local independent restaurant", you'll hopefully know why

YABU @Globules

They are trying to make the headline price look cheaper.

My daughter works in hospitality. If you want to take the service charge off because you prefer to leave a cash tip, that’s fine and often better for the individual server. But taking it off and not paying it at all is a dick move as far as the servers go, since they rely on that as part of their income. And before anyone goes off on one about how that’s a structural issue for the industry or government to rectify - yes it is, but it is how it is and these people work hard for minimum wage.

I’ve had this experience too - independent Italian restaurant asking for orders to be done via an app - why? One of the reasons for going to a local restaurant is for the atmosphere. Service was included upfront but we took it off. The food wasn’t great either, so glad I didn’t pay it.

I keep going to loads of other independent cafes though, so I don’t think not giving this one my business will move the chains in.

I don’t mind when they do work hard and will give good service, when they are disengaged and just plonk the food on the table with no words or acknowledgment as they are more interested in talking to their friends or other customers why should I? The kitchen staff yes if the food is good should get something

The meal I had out the day before, the server was pleasant, friendly, engaged me and was service with a smile all through.

When the bill came after I'd eaten with the automatic service charge added, I asked her before paying the bill if the money went directly to her. She said it did, so I added more than the automatic 12.5%.

Don't try to make this thread about paying/not paying service charges.

It's about how ridiculous it is to add a service charge for a meal before you've received the service.

So called ‘service charges’ should be built into the food costings in that case.

Literally every single restaurant adds a 12.5% service charge. They all say so on the menus you read before you choose and eat your food. I don’t understand what point is being made in saying “it’s ridiculous to add the charge before you’ve had the service”. The charge is only levied at the point you pay. You are notified of it when you read the menu.

They legally have to give all of a service charge to employees now since new legislation came in, so it’s definitely not app development.

But I agree it’s ridiculous to add it upfront and there should be an option of leaving a tip after if you choose to . YANBU.

No they don’t… I was out for dinner last night in our local pub / restaurant and they don’t add service. Same as many others.

You're missing the word optional.

Lots of people work hard for minimum wage but don’t get tipped. The person who picks your online shopping order at Tesco, the staff who look after your babies in private nurseries, the HCAs who change your parent’s nappies in their care home,

Ok. I’d suggest that any restaurants which don’t add it automatically are these days in the minority. I haven’t had a meal out in this country where a service charge wasn’t added in at least a decade.

Certain industries always relied on tips in the past, however, as minimum wage has risen significantly over the last few years I feel that both adding a service charge or expecting a cash tip is not on. I’m happy to tip someone who has gone over and above but not otherwise. Servers need to have knowledge of the menu and know how to serve to get a tip from me. I asked what fish the fish and chips was in one restaurant an was told. ‘Oh I can’t remember but I think it begins with P’.

If restaurants want their staff to receive part of their pay in tips they need to put the effort in to training them.

While on the subject of service charges - just giving has a service charge of about 17.5% for donations (enough to wipe out the gift aid) you can reduce it to 10% or if you scroll right down then can just enter a fixed amount.
I know they have costs etc but £85 for a £500 donation.

I was out for dinner yesterday, the bill came to about £50 and I paid on card, then gave the waiter the £4 cash I had in my purse. I know it’s not 10%, but I don’t like adding a tip to a bill as I’m not sure the serving staff actually get it all. But he gave me a dirty look! Surely £4 in your hand is better than the tip you might get passed on by the employer ?

YANBU. I used to work in hospitality and I wouldn't pay service charge on pre payment. I even asked for it to be taken off bill few times when service was bad.
We have nmw not weird pay structure like in US, tip is just a top up and should be voluntary. If there is service charge, I consider that being done with tipping unless my server was absolutely amazing.

They still get minimum wage. They are not underpaid. Like every other retail worker and many many other jobs, which people also work hard at.

They don’t need to be tipped. The restaurant isn’t charging less on food because they expect tips. It’s not like the U.S. We pay full prices on food because they need to pay minimum wage. We don’t need to tip extra and your daughter does not rely on that for her income. She already gets fully paid.

Lots of people work much harder than restaurant staff for NMW and they don't get tips.

I know it's hard to run a restaurant profitably but they're not helping themselves and it all feels a bit dishonest with service charges, upselling and 'app fees'.

I had lunch out last week and there was a QR code at the table so you could pay your bill online, I was going to do this because predictably all the staff who'd been hassling me to order the second I'd sat down and kept interrupting me to offer extra things I didn't want had disappeared when I wanted to pay. But when I tried to use it, it wanted to add a 99 p fee on top of a 10% service charge. So I went to the counter to pay my bill instead.

Do you tip till staff at Tescos or people collecting your bins or carers or people working in a shop? They all get minimum wage and provide a service as well.

I have seen a few restaurants do this but by no means the majority. I will always ask them to remove any charge they call optional off If theyve added it automatically. If waiting staff have been miserable or unhelpful I wouldn’t tip anyway.

Pay hospitality staff better and do away with tips. My son took a job years ago in a venue that hosted weddings. He was told he had to work a month before he could have a share of the tips. For about 3 shifts he complied and then one particular night he was on his own doing all the bar work. Big drinkers and big tippers. He pocketed the lot and rang them next day and told them to shove the job up their rectum 🤣

Never again will I eat at gourmet burger kitchen after they sneakily tried to add not only a service charge but a tip on the portal thing at the table before I'd even interacted with a real human! I managed to get it removed but it's outrageous.