A WOMAN has sparked a furious debate, after she revealed that she always asks to have the service charge taken off when she eats out in pubs and restaurants.
In recent years, many restaurants and bars have taken to adding a service charge on to customer’s bills.
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The charge is usually around 12.5% and it often says in small print that it is “discretionary” meaning that you can ask for it to be taken off.
As the UK is not traditionally a country where tipping is part of the culture (as opposed to places like the US) the sudden appearance of the charge has come as a shock to many Britons.
And some, like Shan, are refusing to pay it.
Taking to TikTok, the 19 year old said: “Something I’m not afraid to admit.
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“I will ask restaurants to remove the service charge with no shame”.
The TikTok, which was posted under the username @shanneikaxx, has gone viral, racking up three million views, and TikTok users sparked a huge debate in the comments section.
One person said: “Why would I pay you 12.5% extra to do a job you already get paid to do?”
Another person said: “I’m a waitress and the service charge can make a massive difference to our pay cheque.”
A third person said: “With the salaries we get in the UK how do they have the audacity to charge us service charge?”
A fourth raged: “And the service is never that good”.
Another person snapped: “I remove it every time and I’m not ashamed.
“If I feel the waiter/waitress deserves a tip, I will give it to them”.
A sixth person remarked: “How have I only just found out you don’t have to pay service charge”.
Many hospitality workers in the UK earn minimum wage, and rely on tips and service charge money to be able to live.
Whilst cash tips are often kept by the staff members they are given to, some businesses don’t give the service charge money directly to their staff.
However, this is set to change as of July 1, 2024 when the Employment (Allocation of Tips) law comes into force.
Under the new laws businesses will be required to give all tips and service charges to their staff.
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