DINERS have vowed to boycott a restaurant after discovering another added fee on his receipt.
The added 18% charge represents a steady change to tipping culture in America, with more customers pushing back on the increasing charges.
A new mystery fee has been discovered on a restaurant receipt in the US, and it’s not a substitute for normal tipping.
On social media, one diner went mad after finding he had been charged an extra 18% in a “Living Wage Fee”.
The extra $5.94 added to his bill stunned the customer, who used Instagram to reveal his confusion.
In the caption of his post, he asked: “WTF is a living wage fee?”
A description on the receipt explained the fee as a way to ensure its staff are paid a living wage, and is added to each dine-in receipt.
The explanation read: “This fee goes directly to staff payroll and provides a living wage to our team.”
This is also not a replacement for traditional tipping, as it was also confirmed that tips are collectively pooled among the entire staff team.
Many have reacted negatively to this charge, claiming if they were hit with it they’d never eat there again.
One person claimed: “I’d never ever eat there again and would challenge that charge if not shown beforehand.”
But others suggested it was a way for the restaurant to tackle inflation and pay its staff fairly.
A defender of the policy said: “Y’all been asking for no tipping – this is what it looks like.
“It could reflect in drink/food prices but then y’all would say the place was too expensive.
“No one is trying to trick you – if they were transparent about the service fee.”
MYSTERY CHARGES
As inflation is being felt in the restaurant industry more and more, others are reporting similar added charges on bills.
Top 5 receipt checking tips from a lawyer
Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, spoke to The U.S. Sun about receipt checks and customer’s rights and options when it came to being asked to show your receipt.
- There has been a lot of debate around the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it is within the store, it is completely legal. “There’s seemingly nothing illegal about that. You’re still on the company’s premises and their reason to do it is to prevent thefts,” Dowlatshahi confirms.
- However, if they are chasing you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location matters,” he explained. “If you’re outside of the store you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of theft and that you have to show your receipt, I think that’s a bit of a different situation because now you’re on your way.”
- While customers are allowed to say no to receipt checks, it may cause issues if you do and the store suspects you of stealing. “You can say no, maybe it creates an unnecessary hassle for yourself because now you may have the police come to your house and follow up,” said Dowlatshahi.
- If you are being barred from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you could have a legal case — but the store must have held you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus for doing so,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a customer has been emotionally traumatized by being held for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] to sue.”
- “I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s just a really simple thing to do. If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.
(According to Camron Dowlatshahi, a founding partner at Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP)
One patron shared that he was billed for an “S Charge”, which added 2.75% onto his receipt.
In the comments, many believed that this was added as a fee for using a credit card to pay.
One person theorized: “It is Stated as a generic service charge (% of pre tax total) used for various restaurant operating costs.
“Used widely by small business owners to try to stay in business during these hard economic times.”
But this explanation didn’t stop those angered by it from voicing their opinions.
One person exclaimed: “Yeah, that’s a bunch of BS! I wouldn’t go back.
“I’d probably go back and show them my receipt and ask him for that money back. It’s not the money at all. It’s the audacity!!”
And another added sarcastically: “I’m surprised there wasn’t an up-charge for the hamburger patty and the bun on your hamburger.”
On social media, one diner went mad after finding he had been charged an extra 18% in a “Living Wage Fee”[/caption]
