A fifth of diners are opting out of paying a service charge, according to research from RSM UK.
A service charge is an optional fee which is automatically added to a bill which goes towards an organisation’s maintenance costs, insurance, communal facilities and staff members.
Despite the added charge being optional, if customers refuse to pay it there is often a frosty reaction from the industry. However, unlike in America all workers in the industry in the UK receive a basic minimum wage at least and then added tips on top. So why is it considered taboo to say no?
Speaking to MerseyNewsLive, Honest Burger manager, Sam Ealing said that the majority of people paid, and that there were only three types of people that didn’t: “Someone that has travelled abroad and don’t really speak English as they don’t know what a service charge is so they have to have it removed; or someone who is on a budget so they can’t afford it.
“Then there is literally the one percent who say that they don’t believe in it.”
The charge is usually a fixed percentage of around 10%-12% of the cost of the total bill. However, this can fluctuate on where you decide to eat out – for instance, Fat Hippo on Bold Street in Liverpool do not include a service charge.
If you are concerned about whether you will be charged the extra cost, then make sure to ask a member of staff before you eat.
A fifth of people have admitted to opting out of paying a service charge.
The optional fee which is automatically added to a bill which goes towards an organisations maintenance costs, insurance, communal facilities and staff members.
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— MerseyNewsLive (@merseynewslive) January 8, 2025
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