Is it compulsory to pay a service charge in a restaurant (UK)?

Question

Is it compulsory to pay a service charge in a restaurant (UK)?

Answer 1

No, the should be no Service charge, as for tipping you tip if the meal or service is good, anything up to 10%.

Answer 2

If your service was rubbish don't pay service charge. If your service was OK and they ask for a service charge, don't leave a tip. Therefore if your service was OK and they don't ask for service charge, leave a tip.

Answer 3

No it isn't. I only pay it if I have had good service.

Answer 4

not compulsory - but its nice to tip for efficient service

Answer 5

when you go to the restaurant you must have the money on you to pay the full bill. eg cash, credit card etc.

if the menu says that service is to be added to your bill and you receive poor service, do not pay that part of the bill.You must pay for your food and drink.

you must be prepared though to leave your name and address as the restaurant may want to sue you for the money through the civil courts. they have no guarantee of winning the case .

Answer 6

no its not compulsory

but it is frowned upon otherwise

Answer 7

It's not compulsory at all. However it is customary to pay about 10 to 15% of the bill as a tip.

If you are unhappy with the service leave less or none. If you are especially happy with the service you may wish to leave more.

Remember that most waiting staff are not highly paid and rely on these tips to supliment their income.

Answer 8

No, though it's polite to give a 10% tip where a) service charge is not included in bill and b) you feel that the service deserves it!

Though I sympathise with the apparent stress of being a waiter/waitress, I do feel that tipping is just a reminder of how expensive it is living in the UK - rip-off Britain!

Answer 9

don't pay anything service or tip wise if the service you receive is c**p

Answer 10

No it's not compulsory, especially if the restaurant is self service. A lot of restaurants automatically add a gratuity. Britain is becoming more like USA and waiting staff do expect tips. If the meal is poor it is often the chef's fault.

Answer 11

No it isn't compulsory or obligatory.  c**p service, c**p tip.  After all, you've already paid for your food, and the waiter/ess has already been paid to serve.  Just depends if you think you have had good or exceptional food and/or service and then if you want to reward.

Answer 12

No..only pay a service charge if you have a good service.  Refuse to pay and let the restaurant send you an invoice or sue you for any service charge

Answer 13

There is an obligation to tip, and its very hard not to tip at least a little, even if the service has been terrible.

But why is it only restuarant-workers, taxi-drivers and paper-boys that expect tips?  What about the rest of us who serve the public in our work but never get any tips?  I guess I'm in the wrong job!

Answer 14

No it's usually included in the bill, but it is appreciated.

Answer 15

No it is a discretionary charge, if it is automatically added to your bill you can ask to have it removed. Although probably the case anyway I wouldn't go back there as waiters can hold a grudge forever, I was that waiter!

Answer 16

no.  if the menu says "service included" or similar, and you think the service was appaling, you have no legal obligation to pay the service part of the charge.  It's best not to do this much though.

Answer 17

What  mystifies me  is   how  it became   the "thing to do"  to tip  waitresses,   cab  drivers,  hair dressers,  hotel porters,  etc. for   the  services they have  put themselves into the business  of  rendering.   We  do not   tip  our  flight  attendant when  we   go  by air.   We  don't  tip  the  person  at the grocery store  checkout.  When  we go into ANY  kind of  store   to buy something,  we don't  tip  the    store  associate   we've  had to  ask  help us find something.     I'd  just like to know  how  only these certain ones  it has become    traditional  to  tip, over and above what  we  are already paying

                                                               I  get  really  galled  at my husband's tipping habits.      I  think  his  most outrageous was  when  he  tossed down a  $5  in one of those self-serve   eateries, for the waitress who  just brought our  coffee and picked up a  couple of dirty plates and   the  whole bill for the  actual   food  was   only  seventeen doillars  and  some change.   It's  been  a  while  since   he did that,  lol,  but   it  still galls me  every time I think  about it.

Answer 18

NO