Restaurants unilaterally add a 20% tip to the bill without informing customers beforehand

[Talktime]

Recently, when dining out in the UK after returning from overseas, I treated a client and his wife to dinner. Upon checking the bill, I discovered that the restaurant had applied a gratuity of 20%, approximately £70, without my knowledge. When I raised the issue with the waiter, I was informed that by entering my PIN, I had consented to this charge and could not receive a refund.

While I value good service and don't hesitate to tip appropriately, I found it unsettling that the restaurant had automatically included a gratuity without me knowing. On a subsequent visit to a steakhouse, I noticed the card machine prompting me to select a tip percentage before finalising the transaction. Feeling uncomfortable with this practice, I cancelled the automatic gratuity.

The waiter seemed surprised by my decision and questioned if there were issues with the service. I assured him that the service was satisfactory but expressed my discomfort with being compelled to choose a tip percentage at the point of sale. As we were leaving, I observed some staff members passing by our table, shaking their heads with disapproval.

Although I might not be fully versed in contemporary restaurant etiquette, I'm curious about the increasing prevalence of predetermined gratuities at the time of purchase, especially considering the discomfort it can cause diners. If this trend persists, is there any indication that the government might intervene to require restaurants to disclose their self-gratuities policy before reserving a table?

 

[japancool]

You should always check the bill before paying!

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'm wholly opposed to the practice - and always check the bill.

If they've added 10%, I'll probably pay, if it's more (20% is excessive), I'll ask for it to be removed or changed.

 

[MikeJ]

It is, in part, because people don't carry cash these days. 20% is excessive though, it's generally 10 or 12.5%.

 

[WaveJumper]

It was excessive, but sounds like a bit more of an upmarket establishment where its common practise and customers don't quibble

 

[ctrlbrk]

It is precisely because customers don't complain that this is becoming more and more an established practice.

It seems to me that the UK is headed towards the US route, where tipping is seen as almost mandatory.

This is wrong.

 

[japancool]

In Japan, you must not tip. It's considered insulting, and they will return your tip - they'll sometimes chase you down the street to give back the "change" you've forgotten.

 

[DontAsk]

I never tip, especially not when eating out with Tesco vouchers.

The staff should be paid a proper wage, reflected in the food prices.

 

[DontAsk]

In Japan, you must not tip. It's considered insulting, and they will return your tip - they'll sometimes chase you down the street to give back the "change" you've forgotten.

In the US they might chase you and gun you down if you don't leave a tip.

 

[bovine]

This is something we deal with all the time for our customers. The most common form in a restaurant is the "optional service charge", which has typically been 12.5%, but some places are creeping up. It is usually automatically added to the bill but if you ask they will remove it. There is also a service charge, which is not optional but forms part of meal pricing. This needs to be stated on the menu to be compulsory. The restaurant is not obliged to remove this if you ask. There are also gratuities/tips. There are some differences in tax treatment/

Adding integrated card payments has meant it is necessary/desirable for the staff/restaurant to have prompts on the card device to add on suggested tip amounts, usually based on percentages. You can select one to add on the amount.

Sounds like you had the service charge added on and didnt notice when you paid. I do think they should have refunded it when you asked.

 

[Nathanto]

I'm wholly opposed to the practice - and always check the bill.

Ditto. If a restaurant automatically adds a service charge then I simply vote with my feet, don't return and leave a public review stating why.

We practically always tip (I can't remember the last time we had bad service or food - actually I can but annoyingly someone else was paying the bill that time) but I normally decline when asked on the card machine and prefer leaving cash instead.

 

[HFE Signs]

I hate this method of collecting extra money, back in the day tips were shared amongst the waiters, does this happen when the money is collected in this way?

I always make a point of having some cash with me for the purpose of a tip, pay for meal by card and pay tip in cash.

 

[Nathanto]

It seems to me that the UK is headed towards the US route, where tipping is seen as almost mandatory. This is wrong.

I remember being in a New York Yellow Cab once with some friends, someone else was paying and started counting their cents in order to pay the exact fare with no tip... when the driver realised this it almost came to blows.

 

[japancool]

I don't tip. I believe a job should pay sufficiently without the need for tips, and I can't say I've ever had anything I would call exceptional service. Most of the time, the waiter just turns up with the food and deposits it neatly on the table, which is what I expect them to do. And I'm afraid asking me if everything is alright with the food does not make the service exceptional.

The main times I've had exceptional service is on a plane - although not on British Airways.

 

[IanSuth]

I hate this method of collecting extra money, back in the day tips were shared amongst the waiters, does this happen when the money is collected in this way?

I always make a point of having some cash with me for the purpose of a tip, pay for meal by card and pay tip in cash.

It depends

In some establishments it is pooled and shared with the chefs getting some

Worse in others it goes to mgt who then decide what to hand out, famously last Autumn Miller& Carter introduced a scheme that apparently could lead to waiting staff being deducted pay to cover other staff if they hadn't earned enough tips

Miller & Carter under fire over 'unfair'...

Steakhouse restaurant group Miller Carter has defended its tipping policies over claims the system in some sites is unfair to staff.

www.thecaterer.com

 

[SillyBill]

I'm not shy about asking for a service charge to be removed but the point is I'm out for a nice time, not to make an (often) young waitress/waiter feel awkward and potentially feel they haven't done their job (not usually the case). So it detracts from the experience of all and I make a mental note not to return, simply for being put in the position.

We like to go to nice places, we always have 3 courses, enjoy the wine etc., as such its not uncommon to be over £200 (somtimes a lot more) for just a couple of us. I feel like I've paid more than enough at this point to support the place and its staff. And so if they're mandating a 15% charge on top of that then they're effectively putting a greater tax on the very diners who've spent the most with them. What kind of loyalty card is that? Are you are trying to encourage me to spend less if I have to pay twice?

I will do the maths and if I think a £30+ tip is too much (as it often is when taking as a % of the bill) I won't pay it. This is why I don't like %'s of the bill. If I've got cash I've no problem with giving a nice and friendly waiter/waitress a tenner tip. More is beyond my obligation and puts my back up to be frank. Its meaning I want to go out less. And I think restaurants will be shooting themselves in the foot. Clawing in the pennies today and costing themselves the pounds tomorrow. Most Brits are too polite too quibble but once stung they don't return.

 

[Picture Bute]

I never tip, especially not when eating out with Tesco vouchers.

The staff should be paid a proper wage, reflected in the food prices.

OK Mr Pink........

 

[DontAsk]

OK Mr Pink........

You'll have to explain that one for me.

 

[Picture Bute]

You'll have to explain that one for me.

You'll need to watch the restaurant scene near the start of 'Reservoir Dogs'

 

[Mister B]

I was on an ecommerce site at the weekend, and at the checkout stage, they actually asked if I was prepared to tip the staff-options were 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%

I was absolutely astounded and didn't bother completing the checkout.

 

[Greg PW Shearman]

In south east Asia they add service and basically staff don't get paid a salary they just earn tips.

In UK staff have to be paid minimum wage plus service but I suspect that because the money goes into the pot then they use some of it to pay wages.