British restaurant fined for 15% tipping fee: ‘Don’t fall for it’

Here is a Tip – Drop those ridiculous “service fees.”

Outrage over “crazy high” tips being arbitrarily added to restaurant bills has reached fever pitch among foodies who enjoy dining out.

While servers are often tipped as a token of gratitude for excellent service at the diner’s discretion, new service charges – vague fees that can be added to the bill at the restaurant’s discretion – are annoyingly becoming more common.

And angry customers are no longer willing to avoid the tipping issue.

“Any There is no tipping in Great Britain. Don’t fall for this USA bullshit,” one angry cynic spat in a Reddit trending tirade about a 15% “discretionary service fee” shockingly slapped on a $63 (£51) check London’s long-standing French hotspot: L’Escargotover the weekend.

A snapshot of the beefed-up bill was shared on the social media’s “Rant” thread, giving groaning critics a virtual space to vent. U.K. residents, in the cybersea of ​​excessive tipping naysayers, expressed concern that surprise service charges ranging from 10% to 20% have now become routine thanks to a new wave of American influence.

In the United States, tips for restaurant staff can account for more than 25% of the bill because hospitality workers rely heavily on tips to earn a livable income.

But that doesn’t mean people like rolling out the extra dough.

A Vietnamese restaurant in California was recently criticized for charging guests an 18% service fee “for groups of one or more people.” The unfair fee sparked an uproar online, with angry potential customers writing: “Then you don’t care. Just another place where I wouldn’t have to eat out.”

And the refusal to submit to the shakedown is gaining momentum across the country.

In fact, a June 2023 report from mortgage data service Bankrate found that 66% of Americans – namely Generation Z – have a “negative attitude” towards tipping. The survey also found that 41% believe companies should be responsible for paying their employees appropriately – which is also the case across the pond.

According to GlassDoor, the average salary of a waiter in London is around $37.00 per year. Tips are usually only given in recognition of exceptional service.

And complaining Brits who frequent lively bistros and trendy tourist spots don’t want that to change.

“We must combat this problem that originated in the US before it becomes the ‘way,’” stressed one passionate anarchist on Reddit.

“15% is crazy high,” argued another.

“Make this illegal. Either state the prices up front or screw it,” barked another naysayer.

“I like to tip for good service. However, I don’t think the restaurant team did [should] You always get the service fee,” said another.

“I always tip 10%. However, if there is a service charge, I neither pay it nor tip,” one guest added.

“‘Discretionary’… but added without prompting using psychological tricks and assumptions that they will never ask for it to be removed,” wrote an equally angry commenter.

The renewed furor over tipping follows controversy over whether it is rude for Londoners to do so request that service fees be eliminated from their restaurant checks.

“We should do our best to reject this Americanism,” one red-hot Reddit user demanded in August. “[Tipping] Must be one of the worst cultural exports to come out there.”