OUTRAGED customers are warning others to look closely at their Dunkin’ receipts after a shopper spotted a new charge slipped into the bill.
The unexpected fee sparked an online storm as fans accused the chain of sneaking in hidden costs without telling buyers upfront.
Dunkin’ customers are being urged to check their receipts (stock image)[/caption]
A customer in New Jersey spotted a 3% “employee retention” surcharge added to their bill[/caption]
A 2022 Reddit post showed a bill for $5.95, including food, tax, and an extra $0.16 fee with little explanation[/caption]
One incident came at a Dunkin’ location in New Jersey, where a receipt showed a 3% “employee benefits & retention charge” added at checkout.
The line read: “3% surcharge has been applied to your purchase. This charge is for employee and retention program and is not gratuity.”
The discovery, shared online, quickly spread across Facebook where one diner vented: “Now wait just one darn minute. Am I late??? I usually don’t get a receipt and the one day I do. I noticed that I am being made to pay a 3% surcharge for employee retention for Dunkin’ employees. I mean ask me or tell me so I can make a decision.”
Another frequent customer replied: “Now I gotta check my receipt, I go there EVERY MORNING.”
Others accused the company of passing the burden onto buyers instead of properly funding staff.
“It’s not professional and poor customer service,” one post read.
“They need to take some of that c-suite bonus and give it to their employees if they are truly concerned about retention. Skimming off my purchases cannot be the strategy.”
Some commenters suggested the fee shows up only with card payments, advising others to try cash.
“They mostly do that when you pay with a card. Next time pay with cash and check your receipt,” one person said.
Another added: “I agree with all and will be using cash but I feel like a complaint is in order.”
The backlash echoed a viral Dunkin’ controversy three years earlier, when a Los Angeles airport location was called out for tacking on a 3% “employee wellness” charge.
That 2022 Reddit post showed a bill for $5.95, including food, tax, and an extra $0.16 fee with little explanation.
At the time, angry diners said the fee was unfair because it didn’t go directly to staff.
One user slammed it as a way “to raise money for the owners,” while another raged: “Instead of them handling the 3% they’re throwing it on the consumers. Nice!”
Surcharge Explained
- What is a surcharge?
An extra percentage or flat fee added to a bill on top of listed prices and tax. - Why do businesses use them?
To cover rising costs such as healthcare, higher wages, or credit card processing. - What is a retention fee?
A charge some restaurants add to fund employee benefit or retention programs. It is not a tip or gratuity. - What was the “wellness” fee?
A similar 3% fee spotted at some Dunkin’ locations in 2022, meant to offset health-related costs. - Who decides?
Often individual franchise owners or local operators, not national corporate policy.
Others branded the wellness charge “highly immoral,” “disturbing,” and even “criminal.”
Dunkin’ later confirmed the charge was not a tip but a franchise-level program used to cover healthcare and labor costs.
In the latest uproar, Redditors weighed in again, pointing out the fee was spotted at an airport where “they throw fees on fees on taxes on fees and call it a day.”
One joked: “Looks like they forgot to add 401k and social security benefits.”
Another blasted: “If there’s self-checkout they should be paying YOU employee benefits.”
Airport food prices were also slammed, with one user saying: “I got Wendy’s at Newark recently and a burger, fries, drink and one additional thing I don’t recall was like 26 bucks.”
Others defended the move as an airport-driven surcharge, with claims the 3% is actually tied to Port Authority rules and higher minimum wage requirements.
Neither the retention nor the wellness fees appear to go directly into workers’ pockets, since both are listed as company programs and not gratuity.
While no nationwide Dunkin’ policy has been confirmed, it appears some franchisees are introducing the extra charges to offset ballooning operating expenses.
The controversy has left many customers frustrated, saying they should be told upfront before paying, not forced to find out only after checking the receipt.
Dunkin’ didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
