Service Charge That Isn't A Tip
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Thanks to AA Gill, we're in the know. His Sunday Times Magazine reviews almost always include the restaurant's tipping policy (and his opinion on it). As a result, we act accordingly when we go out. But a recent article in The Independent reminds us that not everyone knows what's up.
It's actually a total racket.
A 12.5% discretionary service charge is added to your bill and unless you ask, you won't know where it goes.
The possibilities are:
Because it's discretionary, you can ask to have it removed and leave cash, and ensure that the tip actually goes to your waiter. If you ask to have it removed - or just add an additional amount to the bill - then put the tip on your credit card, you're adding another level of uncertainty, since at many places, it will never make it to the server.
If you've received great service at an expensive meal, this is absolutely the way to go.
They get the money and you get a truly heartfelt 'thank you'.
Plus you can feel satisfaction that you're not only in the know, but also helping to buck a system that isn't fair, is fooling the public, and will never encourage service to be as good as it could be.
A 12.5% discretionary service charge is added to your bill and unless you ask, you won't know where it goes.
The possibilities are:
- Directly into the waiter's pocket as a tip (meaning on top of their wage, which is where you think it's going)
- Into a pool which is shared by all wait staff
- Into a pool from which the restaurant pays their wait staff
- Or a little of both - half to the waiter and half to the wage pool
Because it's discretionary, you can ask to have it removed and leave cash, and ensure that the tip actually goes to your waiter. If you ask to have it removed - or just add an additional amount to the bill - then put the tip on your credit card, you're adding another level of uncertainty, since at many places, it will never make it to the server.
If you've received great service at an expensive meal, this is absolutely the way to go.
They get the money and you get a truly heartfelt 'thank you'.
Plus you can feel satisfaction that you're not only in the know, but also helping to buck a system that isn't fair, is fooling the public, and will never encourage service to be as good as it could be.
