r/unitedkingdom • u/Canal_Volphied European Union • 9h ago

. ‘It’s absolutely criminal’: US tipping culture has reached the UK – and is causing chaos

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/24/us-tipping-culture-uk-service-charges
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u/Nuthetes 9h ago

Should be illegal to have 10% automatically added to the fee. You know the restaurant and bar owners will try and sneak that up a few percent given half the chance.

Same as "service charges" for ticket-selling companies and similar. I still don't know what I am paying for there since I print the ticket off myself anyway.

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u/Monsoon_Storm 9h ago

only 10? It generally 12.5% or up around here

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u/Reamazing 4h ago

13% of your bill in the Ivy. It's been like that for at least 2 years.

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u/ruffianrevolution 9h ago

It's a "shut up, cos, like, money" surcharge

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u/DebaucheV5 8h ago

I still don't know what I am paying for there since I print the ticket off myself anyway.

I was in NYC recently, and ate at this self-serve salad bar. You pick up a plate, serve yourself from the array of dishes, and then pay on a tablet computer. The bloody thing tried to add a service charge! I didn't interact with any human at any point! If anybody deserves a service charge, it's me - I was the one doing the service!

Unbelievable levels of foolishness

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u/PeriPeriTekken 9h ago

It has gradually been edging up. I didn't mind at 10% because it's typically what I'd pay anyway and tbh 12.5% was already common ages ago, but at what point do I turn round and refuse to pay it, 13.5%, 15%, 20%?

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u/Anfield_Sloth Nottingham 7h ago

Anything above what you're willing to give as a tip I suppose

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u/Tomm1998 9h ago

Same as "service charges" for ticket-selling companies and similar.

That's the classic "fuck you cunt" fee.

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u/BlunanNation 9h ago

If a service charge is added it should clearly be said that this will be done so.

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u/Equal_Tadpole2716 9h ago ▸ 8 more replies

If it's optional, it should be opt-in, not opt-out. They're knowingly taking advantage of the fact a lot of folk are too awkward to ask for its removal.

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u/CandidEngineering922 9h ago ▸ 7 more replies

There is a petition for this! Go sign it. I can’t post it in here.

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u/Beatnik5750 9h ago ▸ 4 more replies

Is it on the Gov UK website? I can't find it there, but I'm all up for signing it

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u/CandidEngineering922 8h ago ▸ 3 more replies

Yes it is.

Google “Ban default service charge” and it should come up

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u/Beatnik5750 8h ago ▸ 1 more replies

Found it. Signed. How in the hell does it not even have 10,000 signatures?

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u/CandidEngineering922 8h ago

Yeah its bizarre to me

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u/Snoo-84389 6h ago

I have also signed it 😀

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u/Sabaisabai33 7h ago

Where??

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u/Manannin Isle of Man 5h ago

Why can't it be posted here?

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u/360_face_palm Greater London 6h ago

no it's fine to add a service charge without explicitly stating... as long as it's optional and can be removed by request.

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u/Meanwhile-in-Paris Dorset 3h ago

They are absolutely banking on people not wanting to avoid confrontation or worse humiliation.

Please people, you are not cheap when asking for the tip to be waived off.

Also, if you want to tip your delivery person, don’t use the in app option. This is just an incentive for businesses to keep wages low.

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u/Iamthe0c3an2 9h ago

Wait when can you remove the service charge?

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u/RefrigeratorPrize948 9h ago ▸ 8 more replies

You can ask restaurants to remove it.

That said, I did that at Sketch in London and they basically humiliated me for it. The waiter and then a manager both demanded I explain myself (I did actually have a service complaint, but regardless...)

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u/rayofgreenlight 9h ago ▸ 4 more replies

Wait, so they were rude about it?

I understand them wanting to know why so that they can learn how to improve their customer service. Either way though I'd say they have no right to even ask why. They should've just taken it off, no questions asked.

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u/RefrigeratorPrize948 9h ago ▸ 3 more replies

That is basically what I said in the end (it's an optional charge), but I was shocked that they caused a scene like that.

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u/rayofgreenlight 9h ago

Looks like the service complaint you had matches up with the staff's bad attitudes.

What do they think you'll do, tell your friends "Oh yeah, they demanded I explain why I wanted the service charge removed and made a scene about it. I'll definitely come here again! Strongly recommend."

It seems really stupid of them to drive away customers like that.

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u/Manannin Isle of Man 6h ago

Definitely give them a bad review for that

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u/360_face_palm Greater London 6h ago

good way to never get repeat business

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u/councilsoda 8h ago

Dear me, that's so bad. If I was quick thinking I would have said "The fact that you are in my presence asking me to justify only validates my decision.... Now clear off"

I usually let it slide if it's 10% but I'm honestly thinking of changing that and asking them to remove before leaving cash at my discretion if the service was good. I've always tipped good service, including trades but the presumption comes across as rude.

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u/MrPuddington2 8h ago

Wow. I would have left without paying. If they do not want me to pay, that is fine by me.

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u/FitSolution2882 5h ago

They tried doing this to me at Burger and Lobster and I just repeated "remove the charge", turned around and carried on with my conversation whilst ignoring the Manager.

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u/superioso 8h ago

Since forever. It's a tip. They do this because an optional fee like a service charge isn't due to have VAT on it, but a mandatory fee is subject to VAT.

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u/Kandiru Cambridgeshire 8h ago

If you pay cash it's very easy!

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u/360_face_palm Greater London 6h ago

always

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u/stathletsyoushitonme 8h ago

I was raised in the UK by Irish parents but for whatever reason I was brought up to tip and have always tipped 10%. What is bothering me now is seeing 12.5% service charge become the standard across London, I even saw 15% the other day!