17%

[JimmyTheMook]

How do you feel when you're hit with the 10% service charge & 7% VAT on your bill at the end of a meal in an "upscale" eatery.

[jdinasia]

I feel just fine!

I do make sure that I don't add any tip unless the service is exceptional (and if so I give it to the server OUTSIDE of the change/cc wallet)

[junkofdavid2]

I hate it.

I don't mind paying the higher price including tax, but it should be clear from the beginning and already incorporated into the price.

Pet peeve is when they quite obviously try to make the writing as small as possible

"subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax."

[Ulysses G.]

I find more and more that most restauarants either don't give the "service charge" to the staff at all, or they use it towards salaries, so they avoid paying it out of there own pockets. I never know whether the staff is getting my tips or some fatcat owner.

I've also heard that the VAT charge being added on to the bill is actually against the law, but I don't know it for a fact.

BOTH should be illegal.

Edited June 22, 2007 by Ulysses G.

[jdinasia]

I hate it.

I don't mind paying the higher price including tax, but it should be clear from the beginning and already incorporated into the price.

Pet peeve is when they quite obviously try to make the writing as small as possible

"subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax."

I have never once been surprised by those numbers .. and I have always seen it printed. But really ... going into a fine dining restaurant (or even oishi it does not surprise me at all

[Jdietz]

Actually it ends up being even 17.7% as the VAT will be calculated over the total + service charge...

[JimmyTheMook]

Actually it ends up being even 17.7% as the VAT will be calculated over the total + service charge...

Very Keen To Add That Up!