12.5% Sevice Charge in London
Discussion
First time in London for a number of years and noticed that all restaurants I have been in have a 12.5% service charge added to the bill.
Maybe a bit old school but I like to tip if I have had a good service, seems as though it’s just a given now to charge for the service irrelevant of the service.
What’s others thoughts on the service charge being included in the bill.........
PS. Have just tipped a waiter because because he was great all evening and very attentive, seems wrong that it’s now just a given.
How long now before every eatery charges for service.........irrelevant of the service.
Maybe a bit old school but I like to tip if I have had a good service, seems as though it’s just a given now to charge for the service irrelevant of the service.
What’s others thoughts on the service charge being included in the bill.........
PS. Have just tipped a waiter because because he was great all evening and very attentive, seems wrong that it’s now just a given.
How long now before every eatery charges for service.........irrelevant of the service.
Edited by tighnamara on Sunday 18th March 21:34
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Why is that relevant, just not used to everyone charging for service at 12.5%.I thought it was a valid question but maybe not.
It has been every restaurant we have been in, some more expensive than others but not nothing exterionate.
My issue, and I may be wrong is that any tips / service paid on the bill may never be sen by the staff, whereas handing over any money has to be seen by the staff.
Edited by tighnamara on Sunday 18th March 21:24
It's pretty normal in London tbh. I have a friend that always requests for it to be taken off and also doesn't tip, I think it's pretty petty and cheap plus brings a damper to the end of the meal.
I personally don't tip if the charge is applied. If it is not, I tip. I've also had instances where I've tipped the waiter even though the service charge was applied because they've been very helpful and gone out of their way to help out.
I personally don't tip if the charge is applied. If it is not, I tip. I've also had instances where I've tipped the waiter even though the service charge was applied because they've been very helpful and gone out of their way to help out.
tighnamara said:
That is my issue, that added service charge may never be seen by the staff, hence why I like to give tips that they have to get.
They don't 'have' to get FA tighnamara said:
Why don’t they just include it in the price of food
Amen to that. Transparent pricing, fair service, and no more excuses to underpay staff.http://jayporter.com/dispatches/observations-from-...
tighnamara said:
First time in London for a number of years and noticed that all restaurants I have been in have a 12.5% service charge added to the bill.
Maybe a bit old school but I like to tip if I have had a good service, seems as though it’s just a given now to charge for the service irrelevant of the service.
What’s others thoughts on the service charge being included in the bill.........
PS. Have just tipped a waiter because because he was great all avenging and very attentive, seems wrong that it’s now just a given.
How long now before every eatery charges for service.........irrelevant of the service.
I am with you.Maybe a bit old school but I like to tip if I have had a good service, seems as though it’s just a given now to charge for the service irrelevant of the service.
What’s others thoughts on the service charge being included in the bill.........
PS. Have just tipped a waiter because because he was great all avenging and very attentive, seems wrong that it’s now just a given.
How long now before every eatery charges for service.........irrelevant of the service.
When I go to London my London friends are embarrassed by my refusal to pay 12.5% when the service is poor. They are the same friends who, as students, refused to pay 10% if the bill was large.
I always tip at least 10% and sometimes 20%, unless the tip is automatically added at 12.5%. In that eventuality I stop to consider whether the service was worth it. If it wasn't impeccable I remove the tip.
In summary, I decide what the tip i. Not the restaurant.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
That's the trades fault. Not mine. They do this so they appear cheaper and known almost everyone will pay it because no one wants to look like a t
t whilst eating out in public. I'm glad it's not a common thing where I live I'd not pay it.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
What do you mean by “ we don’t want to pay the actual cost” ?I am happy to pay for what I order which should include delivering to my table and picking up the plates.
If I think the service was beyond what I expected I will tip.
tighnamara said:
My issue, and I may be wrong is that any tips / service paid on the bill may never be sen by the staff, whereas handing over any money has to be seen by the staff.
Correct. It goes to the restaurant owner who doesn't pay the staff well and they can choose to pass on some. Cross out the SC and give the staff the tip in cash.They will say, "Oh, but then the kitchen staff get a share of the tip." I call BS on that.
Its v odd that the restaurant business model is based around deliberately not including a large percentage of their costs into the price of the good being sold, but rather adding it as a surcharge right at the end, like its a 'oh we forgot to tell you, we don't want to pay the wait staff, we'll leave that to you'. I was amazed that companies like Fedex got away with their fuel surcharge years ago, again, another pretty basic cost that should be factored into the price(I know this is not a perfectly direct comparison, but it does share many similarities).
I would much rather that restaurants actually priced the food to include all their overheads, thereby removing a dishonest practice from the industry, but that would not appear to be on the cards.
I would much rather that restaurants actually priced the food to include all their overheads, thereby removing a dishonest practice from the industry, but that would not appear to be on the cards.
Rick101 said:
tighnamara said:
That is my issue, that added service charge may never be seen by the staff, hence why I like to give tips that they have to get.
They don't 'have' to get FA tighnamara said:
Why don’t they just include it in the price of food
Amen to that. Transparent pricing, fair service, and no more excuses to underpay staff.http://jayporter.com/dispatches/observations-from-...
My gripe is we went for an expensive meal for the anniversary at name restaurant in the west end, they auto-stick on 12.5 service (I prefer to be given the option, but whatever) then the bill makes a somewhat blatant suggestion of gratuity? Are we now up to adding 25% to the bill then? Are the staff getting the service or not? A little clarity would be nice.
wibble cb said:
I would much rather that restaurants actually priced the food to include all their overheads, thereby removing a dishonest practice from the industry, but that would not appear to be on the cards.
Sounds just like the sharp practice used by the entertainment/ticketing industry now under a fair bit of scrutiny by the CMA about 10/20 years too late. As suggested do they legislate as they have now done on CC charges and who/which dept would oversee it all ?
Hoofy said:
tighnamara said:
My issue, and I may be wrong is that any tips / service paid on the bill may never be sen by the staff, whereas handing over any money has to be seen by the staff.
Correct. It goes to the restaurant owner who doesn't pay the staff well and they can choose to pass on some. Cross out the SC and give the staff the tip in cash.They will say, "Oh, but then the kitchen staff get a share of the tip." I call BS on that.
IME, because staff don’t get it, they are quite happy to remove it if you ask.
Countdown said:
What ^^ said.
IME, because staff don’t get it, they are quite happy to remove it if you ask.
Noticed one had written on the bill, 100% service charge will go to staff. IME, because staff don’t get it, they are quite happy to remove it if you ask.
It is absolutely crazy and customers shouldn’t be put in the position to ask for it to be removed.
We were charged the 12.5% for two drinks in one place, stupidly paid it as didn’t want the hassle to have it removed.
Will get wiser to it ........
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