Woman sparks debate about tipping after asking for 10% charge to be taken off her bill despite ‘good service’ – as some brand her ‘mean’ but others argue the customer should get to decide
- An anonymous UK-based mother sparked a debate online about service charges
- She was annoyed by a 10% gratuity charge which automatically added to her bill
- The woman explained she had asked for the service charge to be removed
- People shared their thoughts on the situation on parenting forum Mumsnet
A woman has sparked a debate about service charges while dining out, after admitting she was so annoyed about £23 being added automatically to her bill that she asked it to be taken off.
The woman asked people for their thoughts on the situation in a post on parenting forum Mumsnet.
She explained that she enjoyed good food and service at a seafood restaurant in the North East of England, but was annoyed to spot a £23 tip was automatically added to the £230 bill, when she was planning to leave £10.
However she asked for it to be removed, which she said ‘soured the evening a bit’, and she ended up leaving nothing.
Someone people argued that it is ‘disgusting’ that she decided not to tip when she had a ‘good service’, saying 10% automatically added to the bill is standard practice.
Others claimed restaurants shouldn’t presume people want to tip and should let the customer decide the amount.
A woman has sparked a debate online after asking whether it is unreasonable to be annoyed by a 10% gratuity charge automatically added to her bill at a restaurant (stock image)
The UK-based woman asked people for their thoughts on the situation in a post on parenting forum Mumsnet
Explaining the situation the woman wrote: ‘AIBU to be annoyed by a 10% gratuity charge being automatically added to my bill at a restaurant?
‘Seafood restaurant in the North East, a little town, not a city. For four of us our bill came to about £230 and a £23 tip was automatically added to the bill.
‘It did state at the bottom of the menu an optional charge would be added but they didn’t ask me before actually adding it.
Many people were fuming that the woman decided to not leave a tip with one person saying it’s ‘pretty disgusting’
She continued: ‘When the waitress brought the bill over she reminded us about the gratuity and said she would remove it if we prefer but I think I should have been asked if I wanted it adding in the first place.
‘It was quite embarrassing to ask for it to be removed. She was polite about it but did seem a bit surprised.
‘Food was good, service was good and I would have left £10 but it soured the evening a bit so I left nothing. I don’t think tips should be expected in this country.’
Many people were fuming that the woman decided to not leave a tip with one person saying it’s ‘pretty disgusting.’
They wrote: ‘I find it appalling that people who are happy to spend £230 on a meal begrudge someone on minimum wage a tip for good service.
Others claimed restaurants shouldn’t presume people want to tip and should let the customer decide the amount
‘It’s pretty disgusting that you decided not to tip on the basis of something that the waitress had no control over when she had given you good service.
‘I am guessing that you are in the fortunate position of never having had to work for minimum wage in the hospitality industry.’
Another agreed saying: ‘So you were happy enough with the service provided by the waitress that you would have left a tip, but didn’t because you didn’t care for the management rules?
‘Poor waitress- she’s the loser here. And next time you get bad service somewhere you’ll be scratching your head wondering why.’
One person agreed with the original poster saying: ‘Its fairly standard nowadays – but yes I agree it always annoys me and I have sometimes asked for it to be removed. I want to decide what to tip not have it automatically added on.’
Many argued that the service charge being automatically added to the bill is ‘standard practice’
Another wrote: ‘I think it’s perfectly reasonable to want to decide if and how much to tip. I think a £23 tip is enormous and would never tip that amount!.’
While someone else said: ‘Service charge is 12.5% here almost everywhere. It annoys me, just put your prices on the menu including the service charge!!’
Another person agreed saying if restaurants want to ‘increase their prices by 10%, they should increase the actual price’ instead of adding it on the bill after.
They wrote: ‘I’m impressed she actually brought it up and gave the option of removal. Usually they’re just presented to you.
‘I agree, OP. If restaurants want to increase their prices by 10%, they should increase the actual price, not hide it as a later add-on.
‘I really resent when gratuity charges are added. The worst I’ve seen is when (it didn’t even say optional! so presumably wasn’t? I don’t know if they can make them actually binding as a charge) it was a fee applied to a buffet. ‘Service charge’ when there’s no serving!
‘I think it’s ridiculous to call it ‘tight’ for people to pay just the prices charged and object to extra charges being levied.
‘Are you being ‘tight’ when you go to a shop and pay what is charged instead of adding on a %? Are you being ‘tight’ when you go to a shop, see something has a price tag of X and query it when it’s being charged at the till for a higher price? There’s no justifiable reason for certain business sectors to expect to be paid more than they charge.’
Many argued that the service charge automatically added to the bill is ‘standard practice.’
One person wrote: ‘It’s standard to add it but you can ask them to remove it if you want. It’s been like that for at least 20 years in most decent restaurants.’
Another said: ‘Is this your first time at a restaurant int he last decade? This is standard practice now. If you cant afford to tip a waitress for good service then you cant afford to eat out.’
While someone else said: ‘Was this your first time out? Its pretty standard practise to have 12.5% added to your bill as a service charge? You ruined the poor waitresses day. If you can afford to spend 230 quid on a meal why begrudge a tip?.’
While some people said restaurants should just pay their staff fairly so they don’t need to rely on tips
While some people said restaurants should just pay their staff fairly so they don’t need to rely on tips.
One person wrote: ‘I don’t mind leaving a tip HOWEVER I object to being told how much they would like. It is such a horribly outdated habit. Just tell them to remove it and then pay a tip (if you want) in cash. Just pay your staff properly.’
Another said: ‘If you are in UK you don’t have to tip. Wait staff should be getting at least minimum and paid for all hours worked. Not in USA where tips top up wages. We shouldn’t be forced to tip.
They continued: ‘If I see gratuity added I ask for it to be removed. I want to pay for what I receive. I don’t get top ups on my wage for giving good customer service. When I went though we went as a family so 2 adults and a child and we spent enough as it was without a tip being added.
‘These restaurants need to just pay their staff properly. Don’t be embarrassed by having it removed from the bill. If you don’t want to tip you don’t have to.’
The original poster clarified: ‘Maybe I was unreasonable to not leave the £10 but I was just annoyed. Ridiculous to make us ask for it to be removed.
‘She was a good waitress, quite attentive and did look after us but we weren’t a demanding table and for £23 I would have expected a bit more.
She continued: ‘She only presented the wine but didn’t pour it, cocktails were a bit slow to arrive, I had to ask twice for more ice as she was too busy chatting to another table. A few issues like that.
‘If they want a tip like that they need to work harder. Like others have said, nobody else gets extra money like that.’
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